Chapter Text
Jayce is not a jealous man.
It’s something that he prides himself in. As he finds distaste in the way some of his peers talk about their partner’s exes, or worse, their friends. How they leer and pout at the mere mention of a past lover. Or seem to seethe in quiet anger at the idea of them choosing to spend time with someone else.
It is obscene, and if Jayce is being honest, a little insulting. Because jealousy doesn’t come alone. It always comes accompanied by an older, taller, and broader friend. It’s a disguise– a bad one at that. An attempt to hide a more treacherous, primitive feeling. One that should only spring up with objects. As people are not something you can keep, and much less own.
Possessiveness.
The need to always hover around them, to have them in their sights. To try and appear bigger in a room– like a bird opening their wings as it tries to scare off those who dare breach their territory. Resource guarding like a badly trained dog.
He is no psychologist, but he is sure that if he were to pick apart the seams of someone's brain when they feel this way, he will find insecurity right along with those two.
Never, not once, has Jayce felt insecure in his relationships. It all comes down to pure logic. If a person chooses to be with him romantically and sexually, then he is going to assume their loyalty and commitment to him. And if he feels like it’s faltering, then that means that there are other more pressing problems in the relationship that caused it. And he will feel sad– maybe even angry at it having to come to an end. But never at the sight of someone flirting with his partner, or them going out without him.
Then again, Jayce doesn’t really know these types of people, as those closest to him don’t tend to show these emotions outright. Who knows, maybe they have been cheated on a few too many times to count. Maybe they believe it’s natural to act that way.
It doesn’t really matter, as it’s not a problem that Jayce has to deal with.
Or at least, that’s what he thought.
The tinkering sounds of the lab work as a nice lull that blends comfortably in the background. They have been working on the failsafe for the Hexgates for the past month. Jayce has been soldering the bigger and sturdier parts of the machine, while Viktor has been busy with the smaller, more delicate parts. His elegant hands and lithe fingers made for precise movement.
Jayce stretches in his chair, his back hurting from the hunching position he has been in for the past hours. He groans in relief as he feels his muscles taught and then relax, rolling his neck so he can attempt to get rid of any knots.
When he looks at the clock, he is not surprised to see it’s fifteen minutes to two in the afternoon. He sighs, massaging his own nape, and thinks that this should be the perfect moment to take a break. His stomach rumbling just in time with his thoughts.
He turns to look at Viktor, who is still working none the wiser that Jayce’s attention has shifted from his task.
The sun shines on Viktor’s face, giving his profile a glimmer as it reflects on his pale skin. His sharp features are perfect for this type of harsh light, enhancing the angle of his cheekbones and jaw. A pretty frown of concentration blesses his expression, eyes narrowed and brows scrunching together as he places another tiny part onto the prototype. Jayce takes advantage of the opportunity he is given to gawk and stare at his partner for as long as he wants, as Viktor usually tends to hide or get flustered if he catches him when he does it for too long.
They have been together for a little over eight months now, and Jayce doesn’t think he will ever get tired of staring.
Jayce likes to say that he doesn’t believe in love at first sight. The amount of times he had lied to Cait about reading her romance novels and side stepped her poking him about it had been too many to count. Always in his ear about how one day she will find the perfect girl that will sweep her off her feet, and that she will just know when their eyes meet for the first time.
God, he would never hear the end of it if she knew.
Jayce is sure that he had developed a crush on Viktor that same night as they stood on his destroyed apartment. It had been so fast, so damn jarring, that it had shook Jayce to the core. Of course Jayce had tried to push down these feelings immediately, as they posed a danger to their work relationship and Hextech. But his feelings kept growing exponentially as the months passed, as they became closer as friends, as Jayce got the privilege to peel back the careful layers of Viktor’s defenses. The more time he spent with Viktor, the more he was attracted to him, and the more he felt like he would go insane with longing. His heart always pitter pattering at a fast pace when he was around him.
Two years in was when Jayce couldn’t take it anymore, and after weeks of trying to create the perfect set up so he could confess, it had all come to a boi at a completely random moment. They had been exhausted after staying until four in the morning working. Viktor’s cheek had been stained with some kind of soot, and– unthinkingly, Jayce had listened to his wants, and had gently cupped his face so he could rub it away with his thumb. Viktor’s eyes had widened in surprise, and then he had blinked– Jayce had watched as the gears in his head clicked into place.
In less than a second Viktor had his lips pressed against Jayce’s.
Surprisingly, besides the new label, and the added layer of intimacy and sex, their relationship didn’t change much. Sure, they had become much more touchier, as a new way to show their affections for each other had opened. But they still worked together in synergy. Still stayed up until late in a mess of calculations and theoretical equations.
It was like their relationship had progressed in a natural way.
Jayce has never felt this strongly about anyone, not even close. He didn’t know that this type of love existed outside of fairy tales or wishful thinking. Most of his life he had thought people were exaggerating when it comes to it. All the wax-poeticism in songs and novels about it had felt like a naive scam. Now, as he stares at his partner’s beautiful features, he thinks that the strength of his affection is capable of consuming him.
Standing from his chair, Jayce approaches Viktor’s side of the lab, stopping once he is right next to him, and leaning his hip on his desk.
“Vik.” Jayce calls for his attention.
Viktor doesn’t turn to look at him, too enraptured with the prototype in front of him. Jayce smiles, endeared at his boyfriend’s steadfast focus.
“Viktor…” He tries again, his voice lower, and he carefully graces the back of his fingers on his arm, so as to not scare him.
“Hm?” Viktor answers, and still doesn’t look at him.
“It’s close to two.” Jayce informs him, his hand moving up his arm so he can place it on his nape. “Wanna have a break and eat lunch together?”
Viktor blinks, and his eyebrows scrunch in an adorably confused expression.
“It is?” And he finally settles his honey eyes on Jayce.
“Yes.” Jayce gives him a patient smile, and he can’t help his fingers as they lightly dance on the back of Viktor’s neck. “We could go to the new place across the street, I heard they have really good Shuriman food.”
It has been some time since the two got to eat out, have a proper date. They’ve been swamped since the Hexgates are set to open in a couple of months. Their schedule is filled with meetings, supervising the building of the structure, and possible improvements of it. Plus, they have to finish the emergency failsafe prototype soon.
And even though Jayce would not dare to call going out for a sporadic lunch a proper date, it’s still better than nothing at all.
Viktor hums for a moment, as if he is picturing the dishes they could order at the restaurant. But after a couple of seconds he sighs in apparent defeat.
“I’d love to, Jayce.” He pushes away from the desk a little, making Jayce’s hand fall from where it had been, “But it will have to wait for another time.”
Jayce levels him with a knowing scowl.
“Viktor, you are not skipping lunch.”
Viktor has the gall to roll his eyes at him, as if Jayce is exaggerating. As if Jayce doesn’t have to make sure to remind him to eat almost every day.
“I’m not skipping lunch.” He says simply.
At that, Jayce frowns. His eyes go to the piece of the prototype sitting on his desk. Viktor had looked like he had been hyper focused on the task at hand before Jayce had interrupted him.
“Would you rather eat here today?” He asks.
“No.” Viktor answers, “I promised a friend I would join him for lunch, he has been wanting to… eh– catch up with me for a while.”
For some odd reason, his heart drops all the way to the bottom of his stomach.
Jayce feels as his frown deepens at Viktor’s words. It’s not the first time Viktor has rejected one of his offers to eat with him. Usually Jayce will order them food to the lab, and many times Viktor will not eat it until way after Jayce is done. Mostly because he is adamant about finishing his work before doing so. Sometimes because his stomach is not agreeing with him at the moment and his medication has not taken effect yet.
It is, however, the first time that he has rejected him because he has other plans.
The thing is that Viktor is someone who doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to– and this is especially true for any sort of social situation. Jayce can’t convince him to come to a gala with him if he truly isn’t feeling like it, no matter how much he begs him to. This also includes his graduate class yearly parties and most academy social events. He will complain that there is no one worth of his time in those spaces, so why bother going. In fact, the other person Jayce has ever seen Viktor gladly meet for a one on one outing besides him is, maybe, Mel.
The idea that there is another person fitting into that equation, leaves Jayce with a curious burn on the back of his throat.
“Oh.” Jayce says, and almost winces at how out of sorts he sounds. Viktor gives him a questioning look, and Jayce clears his throat, scrambling to explain his tone, “You should’ve told me earlier– so I’d make my own plans.”
Viktor blinks up at him, raising a tentative eyebrow.
“To be fair, you didn’t tell me you wanted to have lunch with me today.”
Jayce bites his tongue before he can blurt out something stupid like, isn’t that a given?
He hadn’t meant to sound accusing in any form. But by the look he is receiving, it seems like Viktor had heard it like that anyway. Jayce forces to soften his expression, because, why the hell is he scowling?
“No, I just assumed we would anyway.” Jayce says sheepishly.
Viktor’s expression doesn’t change at all, and it makes Jayce want to fidget. He feels as he starts getting more flustered– hot under the too many layers he wears.
“Not that I expect you to– it’s just always nice when we do.” Jayce scratches his own nape out of this odd nervousness that has appeared to hold onto him and looks away. “I always like spending time with you. And we haven’t had any real time together because of the workload we had, so I was kinda looking forward to it. Anyway, who is your friend–”
The feeling of Viktor’s soft lips as they press onto Jayce’s too warm cheek interrupts his rambling. Viktor’s hand rests on his chest, warm body leaning against his, and making him forget what he is saying. Jayce swivels his head at the touch, and is greeted by Viktor’s amused smirk as he takes him in with half-lidded eyes.
“You are adorable when you get jealous.” He mutters, the space between them small.
Jayce can hear the record scratch as all of his thoughts grind to a halt.
What.
“Jealous?” His eyes widen at the comment, his back straightening and his scowl coming back full-force, “I’m not jealous.”
To Jayce’s horror, Viktor snorts, chuckling as if he had been joking. When Jayce doesn’t join him, he blinks.
“Oh, wait.” Viktor takes a step back, “You are serious.”
“When have I ever been jealous?” Jayce tries his best to keep the pitch of his voice from getting high, but fails.
“Well, you are possessive–“
“Possessive?!”
Viktor frown slowly morphs into something more curious. His eyes inspect him with an abject intensity.
“You do go a little crazy when I wear your house colors to a gala.” Viktor tells him, voice a little prodding.
He fondly remembers Viktor wearing that cream billowy shirt adorned by those red shoulder pads with golden accents. Tapered dark red pants that cinched and built to accentuate the lines of Viktor’s ass and legs. He had worn that outfit to the last gala he had attended, and had practically driven Jayce insane the whole night. Besides the obvious fact that that get up looked gorgeous on him, he always liked when Viktor wore red. Jayce thought it contrasted beautifully with the pale tone of his skin.
“Those colors fit you extremely well.” Jayce explains, growing a little flushed at the memory. “Besides, I just like that we match.”
Eyes still narrowed at him, Viktor hums in agreement. He then crosses his arms, his expression gleaming in mischief.
“And the hand that never seems to leave my back or waist whenever we are in public?”
Jayce almost rolls his eyes at him. Instead, he just gives him a knowing look.
“You know I like touch.” He says, and to prove his point, he grabs Viktor by the waist, dragging him back into his personal space. Viktor huffs at the action, but lets himself be pulled. “I love touching you in any way, shape or form. That includes in public.”
Tilting his head back slightly, Viktor reveals to him the length of his throat, not overtly, but enough that Jayce’s eyes fall to it.
“What about the marks you love leaving in places where everyone will see.” He says, voice coy.
His attention focuses on a bruise peeking out of Viktor’s shirt, left there by Jayce a few days ago, and that unfortunately is already fading away. Jayce swallows the excess of saliva that is suddenly pooling under his tongue, wanting so badly to make it worse again.
It was too bad that they had to put down a rule about hooking up in the lab. They were strictly forbidden to do so because if they didn’t, then they would never get anything done.
As Jayce peers at the bruise, he remembers how that particular hickey came to be. With an arm around Viktor’s torso, pulling him up and flushed against his chest. Jayce’s face had been buried onto the juncture of his throat as he continued to fuck him from behind in a slow deep rutting that had made Jayce’s brain pour out of his ears. Viktor’s moans saccharine, only becoming louder once he had nipped and sealed his lips onto that sensitive skin.
Yeah. It is definitely getting too hot to wear this many layers in the lab.
“That’s different.”
He swears his hand moves on its own volition, as it delicately pulls Viktor’s collar aside, revealing more of that discoloured patch of skin.
“It’s not my fault you bruise easily…” Jayce’s voice is gravelly.
He licks his lips as he lets his thumb rub the area just so, enough to see the small shiver that goes through Viktor.
Jayce gives him a full toothed smile.
“And that you look really pretty wearing them.”
Viktor doesn’t seem impressed by his attempt at changing the subject. He just sighs, and after a moment of deliberation, uncrosses his arms.
“There is nothing wrong with being a little jealous or possessive, Jayce.” He tells him with a patient tone.
Immediately Jayce goes back to being annoyed.
“I never said there was.”
Jayce isn’t exactly lying. He does think it’s brutish and unnecessary, but he never said that outloud.
Viktor’s lips form a thin stubborn line. And Jayce, weak for him, almost folds.
In moments like this, Jayce wonders about the length of his devotion to him. He already knew that Viktor had a metaphorical leash around his heart, one that Jayce had put on willingly and happily. However, it led to Jayce acting too quickly to keep him happy, always wanting to please him. It made almost every argument they had– which weren’t that many to be honest– end with Jayce apologising first.
But now, even fully knowing he is getting on Viktor’s nerves, he refuses to stand down. Because– damn it, Viktor is wrong.
“Yet, you act like I just insulted you.”
“Because, I’m not jealous!” He exclaims, voice a little too loud, hands coming up and gesturing wildly.
At Viktor’s astonished face Jayce clamps his mouth shut. His wide eyes scan Jayce’s face, sporting an unreadable expression that tells him that maybe he had taken it too far. Jayce shuts his eyes, feeling embarrassed at his outburst.
He is about to apologize for his, frankly, idiotic behavior, before Viktor beats him to it.
“Okay.”
Jayce blinks, puzzled at Viktor’s too easy compliance. He carries a placid smile, eyes crinkling and perhaps a little too bright. Jayce narrows his eyes suspiciously, not trusting that Viktor would give in so fast. Especially knowing how competitive he is.
“Okay?” Jayce asks back.
Viktor shrugs.
“If you are so adamant that you are not jealous, then you are not.”
Jayce’s frown just grows deeper. Under Viktor’s glittering gaze, he squirms.
“Just like that?” He questions, a little incredulous.
Viktor offers him a smile that comes off a little too predatory. And Jayce, honest to God, feels like he is standing on top of a trap. Then, eyes lidded and a cocky grin, he breaches more of the distance between them. Like magnets, Jayce’s hands come to rest on Viktor’s hips.
“I do have to leave soon.” He says. Viktor’s nose scrunches cutely, hand petting away a small wrinkle on Jayce’s shirt. He then looks up, big brown eyes staring at him from under his lashes– and, for a second, Jayce forgets where he is standing. “I don’t want to leave my friend waiting.”
Jayce licks his lips. It takes him a while to process what Viktor said, and even longer to answer him.
“Yeah, okay.” He says, feeling a little dazed.
Viktor leans in to give him a kiss on the lips. By all definitions, it's chaste. Except– it’s one of those that are just on the edge of being too soft and pliant. One of those that linger with static, making Jayce sigh. The ones that come with a promise he knows too well.
When Viktor breaks it before that promise gets fulfilled, Jayce follows his lips blindly. Viktor expertly steps back, a satisfied noise coming from him as Jayce seeks him again, leaving him dumb and wanting.
“See you later, Jayce.” He whispers, smirk still proudly on show.
Before Jayce can even say goodbye, Viktor is grabbing his crutch, and he swiftly walks away and out of the lab.
The soft click the door makes as it closes is what snaps Jayce back to his senses.
He takes in the state he is in. Skin warm, cheeks burning, and sweat collecting on his nape and lower back.
His hands feel restless, as if someone had snatched something right out of his hands when he had been in the middle of using it. He still feels irritated and, if he is being honest, a little baffled by Viktor’s behavior.
Knowing him, this is not where this argument will end. In fact, they are far from the finish line. And Viktor could be miles ahead of him.
Thinking of the amused expression that hung onto Viktor’s face as he had watched Jayce’s stammering, he swallows hard.
Yeah. Jayce is fucked.
*
When Viktor comes back to the lab two hours later, he seems to be in good spirits. He gives Jayce a small kiss on the temple before he sits down in his usual spot on his desk, quickly sucked into his work now that he is back in front of it.
Still feeling slightly on edge after what had happened earlier, Jayce bites the insides of his cheek as he tries to keep his curiosity at bay. Purposely, he doesn’t ask much about Viktor’s friend. Just in case Viktor confuses his interest for something else. And since Jayce was already hoarding the win of their argument– even if he still wasn’t sure he could call it a win– he wanted to push back any possibility of proving Viktor right in his eyes.
So, even if he is itching to know who this person is, and what they wanted, he keeps his tongue tied.
Of course, he still asks how it went, because Jayce will always want to know when or if Viktor had a nice time, and how he is feeling in general. Always ready to remedy any bad mood Viktor might have developed for whatever reason.
When Viktor reveals that he, in fact, did have a nice meeting with his friend, Jayce ignores the odd weight that settles on his chest. Instead, he tells Viktor that he is glad, and then offers to make him some tea.
Once they finish their work for the day, they decide to go back to Viktor’s apartment for the night. Since they started being together, they always sleep over at each other's places. Most of the time they go to Viktor’s as it’s just a bit closer and it will just be more comfortable for Viktor in general.
As they walk in an easy silence, with Jayce’s hand on Viktor’s lower back, his mind wanders to how it would be so much better if they just lived together. They practically already did, by all intents and purposes. The amount of Jayce’s clothes in Viktor’s apartment were so many, that there were a couple of drawers separated for him in his closet. He had his own toothbrush sitting next to Viktor’s in his bathroom, and he even had a designated coffee mug he’d use in the mornings.
But Jayce wanted it to be official. To be able to say that he had a home, and for that home to mean the space he and Viktor shared. Whenever he went back to his apartment it just felt empty– hollow. His bed was cold and his sleep was always worse without Viktor by his side. It is the first time that he craved to share his space in any way. With his other relationships he had always been mildly territorial about his things, and he had thought that having time for yourself was needed in order for the relationship to survive. Now, he kinda dreaded it. The idea he had for 'alone time' always included Viktor sitting somewhere in his vicinity. Both quietly doing their own thing in the company of the other.
Jayce really just had to find the right time to ask. The lease on his apartment was about to expire soon, and it would create the perfect opportunity for Jayce to speak to Viktor about it.
The image of coming home after a hard day with the council, or a nerve wracking fundraiser, to find Viktor lounging on their sofa, in their living room, comfortable because he was in their space, created a tantalising picture in his head.
In bed that night Jayce might’ve been a little rougher than normal.
He doesn’t know why, but he felt the need to prove something. To whom exactly, he isn’t sure of.
“Fuck– Jayce!” Viktor is screaming, eyes rolled back as Jayce holds his cock down his throat.
Viktor squirms under him, hands gripping Jayce’s hair to the point where it stings deliciously. Jayce’s fingers are unrelenting as two of them thrust harshly into Viktor, curling them against that bundle of nerves deep in him. Viktor's face a deep shade of red and eyes damp with the overstimulation.
He had made him come once already, and even though they both like to go for multiple rounds, this is the first time Jayce didn’t let Viktor have some time to calm down after his first orgasm.
For some reason, it feels like Jayce is punishing him.
Viktor gasps and moans, trying to get away– or get closer, as the stimulation starts teetering to something much more intense.
He swallows around him, the inside of Jayce’s throat constricting his length in a way he knows feels mind-numbing. Viktor attempts to rut up, but Jayce has an arm placed over his abdomen, preventing him from doing much but accepting what he is getting.
Mind solely focused on Viktor, Jayce’s cock lays forgotten between his legs, so hard it aches and drips, soiling the blankets beneath him. Unconsciously, he humps the bed, seeking for any sort of relief.
“Jayce– shit, it’s too much– I can’t–” But Jayce doesn’t hear anything but the pleasure in his whines and cries, so he redoubles his efforts.
Creating suction with his mouth and applying even more pressure into his prostate does it. Viktor shouts Jayce’s name, and then floods his throat. Jayce groans as he swallows down every drop, eyes rolling back at the taste. He works him through his orgasm dutifully, coaxing every part of his release out until there is nothing left. Slowly and torturously, he pulls back, lapping at Viktor’s length, cleaning the overly sensitive head until Viktor is thrashing under him.
Once he is satisfied with it, Jayce rises, and crawls up Viktor’s body. He doesn’t stop until he is straddling Viktor’s shoulders, careful not to put his weight on him. Viktor looks up at him with a very dazed and furiously blushed expression from between his thighs. Jayce’s head is completely blank of almost any thought but this burning need to get Viktor to look at him.
Jayce holds his heavy cock and starts stroking it over Viktor’s face. His other hand comes down to gently graze Viktor’s jaw and chin, thumb pressing insistently onto his bottom lip. Viktor looks so cute as he gasps, eyes almost crossing as he tries to keep his gaze on Jayce’s length as it bobs close to him.
“Open your mouth.” Jayce growls.
And– holy shit, to Jayce’s delight, Viktor doesn’t frown at the command. He just whines and immediately does as told. Parting those enticing lips for Jayce as his eyes take on this glazed quality that makes them shine like molten gold.
Jayce groans at the sight, pumping his fist faster and tighter, pointing the tip down. When it starts slapping against Viktor’s pout– he just opens his mouth wider, tongue coming up to kitten lick at the head of his cock.
Never, in the past months, has Jayce seen Viktor acting like this. Pliant and malleable, seemingly eager to do what Jayce tells him. It lights up flames that lick and burn from the bottom of his spine.
“God– Viktor.” Jayce is awe-struck, brain fuzzy and filled with cotton. “Fuck– you look so fucking pretty–”
With the view of Viktor like that Jayce comes hard. He grunts, painting the inside of Viktor’s mouth and all-over his face with his release. He continues to stroke himself, making sure that every drop lands on the target, until the drag of his palm gets a little too painful.
Breathing ragged, he flops down next to Viktor, immediately grabs him by the chin and hauls him so he can lick into his mouth. Teeth clicking, tongues sliding as he tastes his own spent, stealing the air right out of his lungs. Swallowing the moans that spill between Viktor’s teeth. And– like an animal, Jayce then proceeds to lick his face clean of cum. Viktor gasps at the action, trembling as he holds onto Jayce’s wrists.
Once he is done, he presses his lips onto Viktor’s in a much more measured and calm manner. Giving him a chaste kiss on his cheek and temple as they both calm down.
Reaching for the box of wet wipes on the bed side table, he cleans Viktor with meticulous care. He is especially more gentle between his legs– Viktor hissing from how sensitive Jayce had left him down there, and he leaves a small kiss on his thigh as an apology.
He wipes himself down too before scooping Viktor up between his arms, soothingly rubbing his warm hand up and down his body.
“Jayce.” Viktor's voice is small and soft.
With cheeks still red, Viktor looks at him with hooded eyes. His body feels pliable under Jayce‘s touch, melting onto him. He licks his lips and blinks slowly, as if he is trying to get his bearings. Viktor appears much more relaxed than he would usually be after sex, like he could fall asleep at any moment.
“What was that?” He asks.
Now that he is finally returning to his senses after his post-orgasm glow is gone, Jayce's face heats up fast. He pushes slightly away from him, so he can look at Viktor properly.
“I– shit, that wasn’t too much, was it?” He asks, worried and embarrassed, “Are you okay? I swear l don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s alright, Jayce.” Viktor tells him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, “I quite enjoyed it.”
Jayce preens at the comment, and goes to kiss him again only to stop when he catches the impish grin Viktor is directing at him. Jayce pokes him on the ribs instead.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He asks, suspicious.
“Like what?” Viktor flutters his eyes with such obvious fake innocence that Jayce wants to point it out.
“Like you know something that I don’t.”
At that, Viktor barks a laugh, and Jayce’s blush comes back to him in a second. Still with that same smile on his face, Viktor presses his lips to the tip of Jayce’s nose.
“You are just a very interesting subject to observe.” Viktor tells him.
“I don’t know how much I like being treated as an experiment.” Jayce pouts, but still pulls Viktor closer to him.
Exhaustion bleeding into his limbs as he nuzzles himself onto Jayce’s body, Viktor hums. He yawns, his wet breath brushing Jayce’s throat.
“I’m jus’ teasin’ ya.” Viktor’s voice is low and slurring just a bit.
Jayce scoffs, and even though he can feel that this goes deeper than innocent teasing, he keeps his thoughts to himself for now. Unwilling to disturb Viktor as he is about to fall asleep in his arms.
Placing one more kiss on his forehead, Jayce drags a blanket on top of them. And as he drifts to sleep, he swears to himself he will follow the line of inquiry that had started earlier.
*
Jayce had been a spoiled kid growing up. As an only child, he didn’t have to share anything– not until his selfishness started getting him in trouble when he started primary school.
Most people called him a clingy toddler. Always plastered to his mother’s and father’s side, wailing when they stepped away for too long. According to anyone who had seen him at that age, he always acted in ways that would garner his parents' attention when it wasn’t on him. And he was much worse with his belongings. Holding onto his toys like they would grow legs at any moment and escape his sticky hands.
His mom always loved to tell the story of how he almost got kicked out of preschool after the first week. Apparently, another kid had attempted to play with him and had reached to grab one of the wooden blocks that Jayce had been using, and he had sunk his teeth so hard into her arm that it had bruised. It’s all funny now, but at the time, his mom was worried that he would not be able to make friends.
Unfortunately, it had not been the last biting incident. But slowly, he started getting better. Not at sharing– but at being careful at choosing what he could deem as his. He learned to be conspicuous about them, hiding his belongings in his backpack, or in a corner of the classroom where no one would get to them. He got especially good at it after Cait was born, as she had grubby little hands that would attempt to take anything from Jayce everytime he was around her.
Though Jayce was sure he had left behind these ways long ago, it has apparently bled into his adult life.
Viktor likes to call it 'single child syndrome'. The way Jayce hoards every single thing on his desk like they are all made of precious stones. How, at the beginning of their partnership, Jayce had shown trouble letting Viktor breach into the sacred space that was working together in the lab, or– worse, lending him his tools. How he had continued to sign the notes in his journal even after Viktor had mocked him for it. How he all but hisses at people when they ask to lend his things. To Jayce’s credit, sixty percent of the time he will let them take what they need. Viktor says that the tightness of Jayce’s cold smile in those moments made him worried about the possibilities of him shattering his molars.
Of course, the fact that Viktor was also a single child didn’t matter here. The issue was that Viktor was also territorial about his possessions. But, according to him, the reason why he was like that was because he had grown in a place where he had to be if he wanted to keep his things. And argued that Jayce was much worse about it anyway. With a smarmy grin, and having pulled the “you are being classist” card, he had beaten Jayce in that regard too.
It is important to point out, to no one in particular but himself, that this penchant for not sharing stopped extending to Viktor a long time ago. Way before they even got together. Now, Viktor could confidently stride to Jayce’s desk, rummage through all his drawers, take his favorite wrench and use it without asking. Viktor could barge into his room, sleep smack in the middle of Jayce’s bed like a starfish, and Jayce would probably coo and then wrap himself around him. Viktor could eat right out of Jayce’s favourite dish and Jayce would start feeding him with his own spoon.
His journals nowadays have Vs signed right next to the JTs.
If Jayce is being honest, he can’t picture the lab– or any of the other aspects of his life for the matter, without Viktor in it. Sharing everything with him actually sounds like a delight.
Especially if he gets to share his misery in one way or another too.
Viktor comes back into the lab after half an hour of being gone. He had had to step out for a bit, as he had a meeting with Heimerdinger. Usually, Heimerdinger was considerate enough to come to them, but today he couldn’t be away from his desk apparently. So, Viktor had to go to his office.
“How was the meeting?” Jayce asks.
Judging by the way Viktor had slammed the door shut, and by the way his whole face is scrunched into a frown, Jayce already knows how it went.
“Informative.” He says, scoffing as he plops himself onto his chair.
Breathing in deeply, Jayce stands from his desk and walks to stand in front of him. He starts shaking his hands and jumping slightly on the balls of his feet. Bracing himself as if he was about to receive a punch in the face.
“Okay, spit it out.” Jayce huffs and cracks his neck side to side. “Rip the bandage off in one go. I'm ready.”
He shuts his eyes.
“He wants us to have visitors.”
The hit is so hard he thinks his head got unscrewed from the rest of his body.
“Visitors?” Jayce echoes, baffled.
“There is a group of recent graduates who also want to pursue practical research, like we do.” Viktor sounds defeated.
“No–”
“Yes.”
Jayce inhales deeply, his lips forming a tight line. He thinks he might start screaming.
“When?” He asks instead.
“Next week.” Viktor pauses for dramatic effect. “Tuesday and Wednesday”
Jayce’s eyes all but pop out of their sockets.
“What?! Has Heimerdinger gone crazy?” He steps closer to Viktor, crowding him from behind as he reaches for his presence. Jayce might actually keel over from stress. “We don’t have the time!”
Dropping his head onto Viktor’s shoulder, Jayce groans in frustration. Viktor tilts his head to the side, making more space for him as he nuzzles onto him. Careful fingers start carding through his hair, and Jayce can’t help but lean into it, shivering a little at the feeling. When he wraps his arms around his middle, Viktor sighs, letting himself fall back into him.
“Oh, I made sure to explain to him that we have our hands full, but he was adamant that it is the perfect opportunity to show what we do in the lab.” Viktor tugs just slightly at his hair, making Jayce look up at him.
The bags under Viktor’s eyes have become more prominent in the past weeks, and Jayce wants to rub them away– make sure that they never come back to this level again. Although, he is sure that with the way he kinda wants to take a nap as Viktor scratches his scalp gently, that they might be matching at the moment. Viktor offers him a tired, private smile.
“At least you’ll get to present our work however much you want.” He says.
Even though the prospect of receiving people into the lab right now makes Jayce want to throw something, he will always be happy at the chance to show off what they are doing together. Jayce, unlike Viktor, had never taught at the Academy. And it’s not that Viktor hates doing presentations, but Jayce doesn’t have the same burnout he has when it comes to doing so. In fact, he always excitedly takes on those tasks when they come. It’s one of the reasons why he is the one who ends up in the podiums, or leading the exhibitions of what they have achieved.
“Don’t act like you don’t like showing off our inventions.” Jayce grumbles.
Viktor’s hand falls away from his hair and Jayce mourns the loss. He pulls away from Jayce, going to grab his notebooks, wanting to return to work.
“It’s not that.” He waves him away.
But Jayce has spent hours upon hours studying all the intricacies that made up Viktor. Including categorising every tic and minuscule change of his expressions, and what they mean. And the small space between Viktor’s eyebrows as he pulls them together into a small frown clearly indicates that something else is nagging him.
“Something is bothering you.” Jayce says.
Viktor shakes his head, dismissing his worried tone.
“It’s fine, Jayce. Don’t worry about it.”
Not believing him, and used to Viktor’s tendency to pretend things were okay, he decides to push the issue just a little more. With a careful grip on his chin he guides him to face Jayce again.
At Jayce’s searching eyes, Viktor deflates.
“I can speak to Heimerdinger.” Jayce offers, thumb caressing the sharp of Viktor’s jaw, “Tell him we won’t do it.”
Viktor shuts his eyes, letting the weight of his head fall into Jayce’s hand. Jayce can tell he really wants to accept the offer, but knows that at the end, he won’t. A moment later he is proven right when Viktor shakes his head again, releasing Jayce’s hold on his chin.
“No.” He tells him. “I’d rather get this over with now.”
Jayce wants to protest, but he has already asked Viktor to reassure him twice, and knows that he will not change his mind. And if he insists, he will just end up toeing the line of irritating him.
Probably sensing that Jayce is still reluctant to move on, Viktor sighs.
Sometimes it’s a dance like this with them. A waltz. One that both know how to do very well. Always shy of stepping on each other's toes, and managing to spin in perfect synchrony. Viktor knows when Jayce needs more from him, and Jayce knows when he is pushing too much. They, somehow, always meet in the middle without uttering a word.
“It’s just that some of them can get… enthusiastic.” Viktor tells him, sporting the shadow of a grimace.
“That’s an interesting word to choose.” Jayce chuckles.
Viktor shrugs.
“You know how they can get.”
“Do I?”
Okay, maybe sometimes their steps falter.
Viktor gives him an exasperated look, and Jayce winces at it. He bites his tongue, preventing the automatic apology that might spill out. Exhaling loudly, he finally relents.
Jayce steps back and does a show of groaning, hand running through his hair to land at his nape.
“I swear he does this on purpose.” Jayce says, going to sit back down at his desk. “Do you think he finds it entertaining?”
Viktor smirks, snorting.
“I think we definitely can be.” His voice is a little lower.
Even though it was aimed as a jab, something else draped over the words. A trace of a private joke. One that Jayce was not allowed into yet.
Curiously, Jayce watches him from his desk as Viktor’s attention is now on the unfinished prototype piece. There is this odd hue that has shifted over Viktor this past week. Shining so faintly, it might not be evident to most people. But to Jayce, it was obvious.
Viktor was up to something.
Jayce just doesn’t have the privilege of knowing what for now.
A thrum of anticipation begins to play under his skin.
Jayce can’t wait to find out.