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Chapter Text

Jayce hadn’t looked up from the ground the whole time. His eyes locked onto the concrete floor scattered with rubble from the walls and ceiling. His leg bounced at what felt like a mile a minute as his clammy hands fidgeted with themselves over the gap between his legs. He answered the questions that practically flowed out of the guard’s mouth as best as he could without stuttering, as his gaze continued to wander away from every person in what was left of the room.

Jayce tried to ignore the occasional clanking of what sounded like metal that passed through his ears. At the moment, it felt like nails on a chalkboard: maybe even the one that was only a few feet away from him, covered in equations, diagrams, and all of his recent findings. He hadn’t even glanced at the holder of the supposed cane. What else would it be? He had seen the shine of a brass edge on the stone. But he didn’t want to know who it was. One wrong move and the holder could probably make whatever criminal sentence he was doomed for worse. 

The gravel of the warden’s voice cancelled out after he heard the commotion of something other than that incessant moving of the cane. The glowing aura of one of his findings went through Jayce’s skull and he snapped out of his trance “Hey-Hey! Be careful with that, please?!” he retaliated. Then the cane thumped again.

“I believe someone should have said that earlier.” an accent rang out. It was…smooth. Not scratchy like the one that had been berating him for the past eternity. It calmed Jayce down, just a little. But when his head raised and his pupils focused on the source, he was met with the avoidance of eye contact from the cane-wielding suspect. In reality, Jayce was the suspect here, but in his mind, the calm that splashed on him momentarily raised up to anxiety again.

He could only see the left side of the man’s face. If he squinted hard enough he could make out a small mole above his lip, which, might he add, were somehow pointed in such a tidy cupid’s bow he couldn’t take his eyes off of them. They pursed as the subject analyzed all of Jayce’s boardwork. The man’s dark brunette hair neatly flowed in an angle on the side of his face, somehow kept nicely yet messily. Did the guy even bother to style it? Jayce instinctively reaches one of his (unfortunately) sweaty hands to slick back his own hair as he finally tilted his head up to meet the mysterious authority he was scared to contain in his memory.

Finally, he turned around. He was a frail man. No wonder he needed the cane. His leg tilted at an awkward angle as he gestured around the room. His vest, similar to Jayce’s own, still fit skimpy around his body. As Jayce’s field of view made its way up, another mole caught Jayce’s vision, and it lay right under his right eye. The eyes, Jayce noticed, sitting right above very darkened eye bags, resembled a golden amber. Quite a pretty color.

‘Oh god, he’s really pretty.’

“What happened here?” Jayce’s newfound interest inquired with another flick of his cane. Man, how Jayce wished it would stop making so much noise. His head was already crowded with the movement of all his belongings being shuffled about by guards. All of the ringing of his ears from the initial explosion. He held his head in his hand, leaning against his knee, as his fingers caressed at the bridge of his nose, trying to ground himself.

“Science, I guess..?” Jayce muttered. His vest and tie felt tighter against his chest and neck, as the warden continued her reprimanding. “Last time I checked, science didn’t require illegal equipment.”  He reached his free hand to pull at the scarlet fabric before letting out a strained exhale. “Nor was this approved by the Academy.” the accented voice spoke. Jayce was somewhat soothed by it again. He felt the glare of those eyes again and the thick eyebrows that lay above them furrowed. “Who authorized your research?” 

As Jayce opened his mouth to answer the cane glided with the owner closer to him. His heart pounded. He forced his bouncing maniac of a leg to cease just for a moment as the man stood in front of him with one last click of brass metal. He still couldn’t raise his head any higher than he managed, instead just took a quick peek over before slipping over some more words. “It was an.. independent study.” he said a little too quick for his liking.

Curiosity got the best of him. “Who are you, anyway?” Jayce slipped in, moving his hands as he spoke again. What a terrible habit. “I’m assistant to the Dean of the Academy.” the man said, now avoiding eye contact himself.

Finally the yellowed irises fell on Jayce and they spoke right into his heart, accelerating in pulses. Jayce still refrained from raising his head completely up, but he could feel the glare spear him right through his already tight chest.

“…Who it may serve you to remember is also head of the Council.” he adds.

‘Shit.’

“He sent me here to ensure that anything dangerous is removed safely.” His head made a few turns about the space before moving his eyes back to Jayce. “Which, according to my list, includes you.” 

“What?!” Jayce exclaims, his posture finally straightening as he tilts up to retaliate right at the man. His eyebrows furrow back at the matter-of-fact expression that meets his gaze. “How am I dangerous?”

“Eh, that’s for the council to decide.” he answers. A small nod is given to the warden and a glimmer of handcuffs catch Jayce’s eye.

☆彡

The council had decided that Jayce was indeed dangerous. But not dangerous enough to rot in a cell for the rest of his golden days, thankfully. Instead, simply robbed of his future as an engineer and scientist. No big deal, right? Apparently a big enough deal to stand on the edge of the rubble-covered ledge that his future had ended in. It was time to finalize that.

“Am I interrupting?” a voice called from behind him, followed by a soft ‘clack’..

That cane. 

That damn accent.

Jayce lets out a breath he definitely was aware he was holding in. His eyes widen and his hands tremble more than they already were as he turns around swiftly to meet the pretty boy from earlier. His hands move around as he talks, yet again. “The hell’s your problem?!” Jayce’s vision narrows into the notebook he holds in one of his bony hands. The other hand grips onto the cane, his free fingers playing lightly with the air.

“What’s that? Another list with my name on it?” Jayce says under his breath. He holds his head in one of his hands, still letting the adrenaline settle in his body. “Actually, yes. But, only because you signed your notes.” he said, unphased. “Every page, I might add. Ehh.. a little egotistical, don’t you think?” The words sparked Jayce’s fury up again and he wiped the sweat from his brow. “Is that why you came? To insult me?” he muttered, a little embarrassed now. Those golden eyes yet again stared him down.

“…No! No, I was—I was intrigued by what you said at the trial.” he reassured Jayce, who still had a peeved glare back at the perpetrator. The way he barely said his ‘r’s; it flicked something in Jayce’s mind. And he wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad flick. Then, came the cane’s gentle battering at the ground as the man approached. “That makes you the only one.” Jayce responded. God, how pathetic he must look right now. “Yes, well— I wanted to talk about your work. This.. Hextech theory of yours.” The notebook then closed with a tilt of his wrist.

Now the accent started to become a little annoying to Jayce. He had heard enough of his murmuring. “It’s not a theory.” Jayce bluffed, finally turning to meet him properly. His voice went calmer now. “I saw with my own eyes what magic can do. The lives it could save.” He was starting to talk with his hands again. “You have no idea how beautiful it is.” 

The assistant’s facial expression softened out, after finally seeing a more.. distinguished side of Jayce. Still, his eyebrows centered as he listened intently. “…And now it’s gone. No one believed me.”

“…Nobody’s ever believed in me.” he said with the same quality as Jayce, followed by the ‘click’ and ‘clack’ of the cane again as he approached. “A poor cripple from the undercity? I was an outsider the moment I stepped foot in Piltover.” Jayce looked at him for a moment, watching those eyes gleam as they looked across the buildings. Somehow, those eyebags made his irises brighter. 

“I didn’t have the benefits of a patron or a name.” he continued, breaking Jayce out of his trance. “I simply believed in myself. Which is why I’m here, because I think you’re onto something.” He gave a small smirk, raising the mole that lay above those sharp, yet, appealingly soft lips that Jayce couldn’t get his sight off of. 

“I want to help you complete your research.” Jayce didn’t bother to act unaffected by this man anymore. His face lit up ever so slightly, as his mind settled. “…No one thinks it can be done.” he says, still a little weary. “When you’re going to change the world,” Jayce watched as his vision flew over to him. “Don’t ask for permission.”

A rustle from the man’s hand came up as he held out his rune band. Jayce’s eyes lit up. He hesitated for a moment as his own much larger hand, he noticed, reached out to take what was already his. Why was he hesitating? Was he scared to be the same failure? Could he really live up to the expectations that not only Heimerdinger had made for him, but the ones Jayce circulated in his head every waking moment?

 His thumb grazed the pale palm of the other hand as he took the bracelet back. “But I don’t even know your name.” he muttered. …And those stupid, stupid eyes looked at him again. “It’s Viktor.” he responded, a smile growing bigger as they stared.

Viktor.

★彡

“Viktor!! Where’d you put the socket wrench?!” Jayce yelled from across the lab, patting his hand on the table repeatedly as if it would magically be there. The magnifying rod was positioned in front of his face, one eye closed and visibly enlarged on the other end of the glass to focus in on the trinket he had been tinkering with, his body bent over as he stood leaning against the workbench. “Did you check your pocket?” Viktor asked, his goggles firmly on his eyes as he soldered a box of disheveled yet organized wires.

 “…Why would it be in my pocket?!” Jayce replied, turning around and straightening up as his thickly gloved hands slapped against his thighs with a ‘snap’, and with a ‘clunk.’ “..Oh, wait.” He slips a glove off of his hand to reach into his front left pocket and lo and behold, there’s the tool. “You know me so well..” he says, chuckling as he points the wrench to Viktor. He rolls his eyes, and thank god the goggles hide it. 

“Ah..!— Posrat něco—” Viktor suddenly exclaims, shooting his hand up immediately, shaking it almost vigorously. He bites his lip, slipping off the goggles to rest on his forehead, as he holds his supposedly hurt hand in the other, clenching a fist around his wrist. Jayce rushes over to him, clanging the newly found wrench onto his bench before embracing Viktor from behind him, wrapping one arm on his shoulder and one hand on the injury. “Vik! Viktor, are you alright? Did you burn yourself?” Jayce caresses his thumb against the back of his hand and sighs. 

“I told you that I’d be fine without the gloves.” Jayce adds. “Seriously. I work with hot stuff in the forge all the time. You should have used them.” Viktor winces a little as he flexes his fingers a little. “S’fine, Jayce.” he says calmly, taking his wrist out of Jayce’s grip. “The gloves simply would have reduced my manual precision.” He brings his fingers up to his lips and blows on them gently. “I’ll live. It’s nothing more than a sting.” 

Jayce watches as he does this before glancing away. He got a pretty good look at Viktor’s angled lips, and boy did it make his mind wander. The two had been working on separate projects for a week now, and they’d slept here for the same time frame. He now craved any form of Viktor interaction. He thought of something. Something really stupid and cliche. And man, did Jayce want to do it. He can feel himself blush and he slowly takes his arm off of Viktor’s body. “Uh- uh huh. Yeah. If you say so.” He rubs the back of his neck. Jayce watches him before going back to his station, pulling up a stool so as to not stand on his now shaky legs. The right one starts bouncing on the bottom rung of the metal seat, shaking his head to come back to his senses before picking up his tools and getting back to work.

☆彡

“..Jayce? Ja~ayce?” 

He feels a slight shake on his shoulder, as Jayce mumbles awake, his head on folded arms. His gloves are still on and he shakes them off sloppily, then rubs his eyes. A small groan emits from his mouth as he stretches back, and Viktor backpedals so as not to be hit by his large wingspan. As he comes to his senses, he notices the lack of sunlight drifting into the lab. “Holy hell, how long did I—“ 

“Well, denoting that I heard a ‘thump’ at around 11:34 this morning.. I’d say more than 12 hours.” Viktor states. He smirks. “I thought I’d let you sleep. You looked peaceful. Just interrupting to let you know I’m finally going home for the night. Or, rather.. for the week.” Jayce looks at Viktor, who now has his coat and bag slung over his shoulder. He looks up at him, still a little dazed. “Well— I— I looked peaceful?! Why were-“ 

“I’m surprised I haven’t noticed your snoring sooner.” he jokes. “And the puddle of drool I had to wipe up occasionally. And the blanket I placed on you, well, it kept falling off. You tend to move a lot, yet you remained on the stool. If I were as strong as you were, I would’ve had the courtesy of moving you to the sofa.”

Jayce looked up at him in shock. He’s at a loss for words, unlike Viktor.

“I suppose I usually tend to fall asleep sooner than you do.” he continues. “Guess taking intermittent naps through our work schedule helps me, instead of going full throttle like you.” Jayce shakes his head. “Stop, Vik. Hold on.” He looks down to see the blanket. The navy one. The one he always puts on Viktor. His eyebrows furrow and he smiles lightly. “Why- were you watching me? Like some sort of.. caretaker?” 

“Well, you do the same for me.” Viktor says, shrugging. “And like I said, you’re quite the commotion. It only made sense for me to turn around occasionally. And to take care of my partner, just as he does me.” He smiles again. The gentle one he gives, no teeth showing, just curled lips. Jayce’s pupils follow the mole right above them as it moves ever so slightly with Viktor’s expression, before watching his eyes. They look.. somehow even more exhausted than normal, the golden hue beaming right back at Jayce, accentuated by his eyebags. He sighs, looking away as he reaches to grab the blanket now on the floor, dusting it off.

“I’m.. sorry we’ve been working so much this week. It’s just— Heimerdinger and Mel were really looking forward to this Hextech Demo, and I wanted to get it done as fast as I could. I should’ve just done it solo.” Viktor’s expression goes neutral yet again, maybe even a hint of disappointment. “Jayce.” he said sternly. “We’re partners. Not co-workers. We build as a pair. We work together. I am not letting you make magnificent wonders without me.” He reaches a hand out, holding Jayce’s shoulder. The smile returns.

“Thank you for your work this week. It seems… I work more efficiently around you. Although we may not have chatted much amongst ourselves, it has been nice in your company.” Jayce reaches his own hand to hold onto Viktor’s, making full eye contact as he smiles back. “Vik.. I—“ He feels cloth around his fingers, finding a bandage now on Viktor’s injury. Jayce brings his hand in front of his face, inspecting it. “So it wasn’t fine, hm?” He asks, cocking his slit eyebrow upward. Viktor opens his mouth to say something, but becomes doubly at a loss for words when Jayce brings it to his lips, placing a gentle peck onto the material, not breaking eye contact. 

They freeze for a moment before Jayce realizes what he’d done. He abruptly lets go of Viktor’s hand and clasps his now reddened cheeks into his palms. “Shit, V—I.. I don’t know why I did that— I’m so sorry-“ He covers his face entirely. “Nice going, idiot.” he said to himself. Viktor takes his hand back, holding it in his other. He too becomes a little flushed as Jayce starts to bring his head back out of his hold of shame. “I.. um.. my mother used to do that with me. When I got a scrape or something was hurt.” His worn hands fidgets over the air between his legs as he slouches.

Viktor holds the strap of his bag, clenching his fists around the leather as he scrunches his face in contemplation. After a few awkward seconds he tilts Jayce’s chin up with his hand projecting a hesitant expression onto Jayce’s shocked one. “It’s okay, Jayce.” Viktor leans forward and with a swift tilt places his own small kiss onto Jayce’s widow’s peak. “Get some rest, heal that brilliant mind of yours.”

Viktor’s hand lingers for a moment, his bandaged fingertips grazing over his lips. “I’ll see you in a few days.” he says as he draws away, with his cane clicking the sound Jayce grew to be happy about hearing. 

Except when it was leaving.

☆彡

Maybe it was about time to take a break. A lack of sleep, lack of interaction. It made them go crazy, it seems. Jayce finally packed up what he wanted to take home and lingered at the door, looking out at the lab. His eyes glided over to Viktor’s desk. He smiled, before locking up, and finally sleeping in his own bed.

…Later, he would. 12 hours straight sleeping propped up on a metal stool gives a man energy he didn’t know he could earn. As he closed the door of his not-blown-up apartment, it finally hit him. He dropped his bag with a ‘clunk’ and facepalmed with both hands.

‘You kissed Viktor’s hand.’

‘And he kissed your head.’ 

“HELL IS HIS PROBLEM?!” Jayce screamed. He slicked his hair back with the hands that occupied his face, gliding over his hairline… ‘That’s where Viktor’s lips were.’ He shook his head “GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF, TALIS!” he exclaimed, slapping his cheeks repeatedly. It’s like holding hands with your middle school girlfriend for the first time. But instead with the dean’s assistant Jayce fell for the moment he laid eyes on, who turned into his lab partner for his lifelong dream.

 At the same time, it’s not like him and Viktor haven’t been this close before. Sleeping practically toppled on each other on the lab couch to keep warm during winter, letting Viktor’s head fall in the crook of Jayce’s neck. Kisses slip when you’re that close to skin. And, when they went to conferences and board presentations, Viktor held close to Jayce in crowds so as not to lose him in the sea of people. If it was a dire situation, fingers intertwined. 

When sitting next to each other, Jayce found it necessary that some part of himself made contact with Viktor. A thigh resting against his knee brace, a shoulder leaned on the other. If he needed to ask his partner something, he’d make an effort to place his hand on the other’s shoulder, or an arm around his chest.

He liked being near Viktor.

So why was it so.. nerve wracking this time?

It felt different. Like it wasn’t an accident. There was meaning. Jayce had always wanted to be close and personal with him already, of course. He’s just a physically affectionate person, not to mention Viktor is a godsend to look at, in his eyes. But the latter.. had always just kind of accepted his praises and gestures. Never returned them.

So why now?

After a much needed shower, towel wrapped snugly around his waist, Jayce stands in front of the mirror to finally shave. He takes his hand and feels around at the stubble and facial hair he’d grown over the week, cooped up in the lab with nothing but blades too risky to attempt. With his dampened hair, Jayce can see his widow’s peak again.

It’s like it’s taunting him.

He exhales as he lathers his face with white foam before picking up the razor and gently beginning to start and scrape all of the fuzz that invaded his lower face off. Halfway through his process, he remembers it again. 

“It has been nice in your company.”

Jayce stops the blade. Then continues again.

“…heal that brilliant mind of yours.” 

His wrist jerks as it moves downward and he winces, dropping the blade with the same urgency as when he dropped the socket wrench. As his hands hover limply in front of his chest the air, the small blood drop drips down his cheek. ‘And Viktor isn’t here to kiss it better.’ he conjures in his mind, reaching for a rag to wipe the blood off.

‘Oh god, that was pathetic.’

☆彡

Two days go by, and after some home research, Jayce has what he needs to fix and finish his tech. As usual, Viktor is already in the lab; but.. not at work. Just sitting at his desk, looking out the window. There’s something in his hand. In the bandaged one. Jayce cocks his head forward and sideways ever so slightly, but ignores it for now as he heads to his own workspace. He sets his equipment down, some books and other metallic items he took to work on. 

“Viktor..?” Jayce says as he approaches behind him. “Whatcha doing, V?” He bends over and places his head near his left shoulder, looking down at the desk. Viktor is toying with the gear bit they had messed with during their first HexGem test. He doesn’t shift. He doesn’t look away. Just admires the metal as it tosses through his fingers. Jayce straightens his posture and furrows his eyebrows. “Vik?” he asks again. 

“What.. happened last week, Jayce?” Viktor mutters, pausing his fidgeting. He turns his head to look up at Jayce, eyes still as tired as they were the days prior. “Why did.. you feel the need to do that..? And why did I return it?” Jayce’s expression goes somber. “Viktor— Look, I don’t…I just..” He squeezes at the bridge of his nose, squinting his eyes. “It felt.. right, though.” Jayce responds. “Natural , even. Sure, I regret it. I-I mean, not really, but—” He then looks back at Viktor, seeing the surprise in his face. 

Those golden eyes, wide with awe.

It’s like a factory reset.

“…What was I saying..?” Jayce whispers, staring him down from the shoulders up. “Uh.. well, I mean that—“ “Jayce.” Viktor interrupts. “You’ve always been weary of me. I can never look at you.” Jayce, proving his point, glances away. His face gets a little red. “I-I promise you, Viktor. It’s nothing bad.” He covers his face. “Unless thinking you’re.. really captivating is bad.” 

Viktor looks to the floor, holding the gear in his lap. “No.” he says under his breath, catching Jayce’s attention. “…Quite the opposite. I find you.. charming as well.” 

“To be honest, I.. spent the time away thinking. About everything we’ve done together. Over analyzing every touch, every word. It made me realize how much I enjoy being around you. And I cherish you dearly. And as time went on, the feeling in my chest whenever you drew near became a repetition.” He brings the gear up to his tie, then looks up at the man next to him. “Jayce, I assume you.. feel the same?”

“Do I?” Jayce can’t help but laugh. “What do you think? I feel so confident, yet such a mess near you. You’re.. well, my partner. Maybe even more than that.” He takes Viktor’s shoulders in his hands and bends down to his level in the chair. “I’d, um.. like to be more than that. I have for a long time. Ever since I met you. I mean, I wish the circumstances at the time weren’t so unfortunate, but I’ve always found you so..” He caresses the fabric of Viktor’s dress shirt with his thumbs. “You’re just so great. I can’t even.. I’m not that great with fancy words like you are…Could I just show you?”

Viktor’s cheeks turn rosy and he looks up at Jayce, seeing the shine in his dark amber eyes. “How..? How would you do so?” he inquires. In his heart he knows. He just wonders if Jayce has the guts to do it.

And he does.

With a swift lean forward, Jayce rushes a kiss onto their lips, leaving Viktor’s eyes to widen, before fluttering closed. He drops the gear and grabs onto Jayce’s vest, bringing him closer. They linger for a while, melting into each other’s touch. Jayce backs up, watching how Viktor reacts. He opens his eyes, still a little droopy as he looks up at Jayce, mouth still slightly agape. And the spark Jayce feels when that golden color hits his mind ignites.

“…I’m doing that again.” he mutters, in a deeper tone.

Jayce, as gently as he can, yanks Viktor out of his seat, earning a small yelp out of the latter’s throat, before kissing him again, with a little more vigor. His arms wrap around his small body, one around his waist and the other around his shoulder, linking his fingers into the dark hair that lies on the back of his head. Viktor in return loops his arms underneath the other’s and places his hands on Jayce’s back, grabbing at the fabric of his vest.

“Jayce..” Viktor whines in between pecks. “I think.. you’ve proved yourself— Ja-Jayce-!” Jayce pauses, lips still barely a centimeter apart. He breathes heavily as his hand travels down from Viktor’s hair to the back of his neck. “Are you sure..? Every hypothesis needs more than one test run.” Viktor smiles, leaning his forehead to meet the others’s as best he can with their heights. “Well, don’t make me stand the whole time.” he laughs. Jayce chuckles in return before continuing to hold Viktor as they move a little closer to the sofa.

And so as they passed, that familiar cane made its ‘clank’ when Jayce tripped by it to lay Viktor on the cushions. Those pointed lips smiled back at him, instead of frowning contemplatively. His hair, although now much more disheveled, became more of a pleasantry than lazily styled. His two moles, received two touches from Jayce’s (now sort of sweaty) thumbs as he caressed Viktor’s face, looking into the sunset-hued irises that lay above the dark circles nearby. The man who he couldn’t bear to make eye contact with a few months prior now lay under his body, taking in every ounce of him. 

And of course, Jayce was still nervous. But at least he had something to keep his hands steady, even though he had nothing to say. And the tie that kept him from focusing slowly lost its knot. That crooked knee wrapped around him. Guess Viktor decided he wasn’t dangerous anymore.

Now hopefully, no one would interrupt.

Chapter Text

‘I can act normal.’ Jayce thought, tapping a pencil against his chapped bottom lip as he stared a hole into his notebook. In his defense, there was a hole-shaped sketch laid on the middle of the lined sheets, scribbled with graphite. A crude reimagining of the unpolished HexGem, scribbled over, as Jayce couldn’t get the shadows right for the life of him. He was more on edge today. 

‘I can be so normal, actually. It’ll be like nothing happened at all.’ 

But how do you keep yourself focused around the man you made out with the day before, the man who you’d had your eyes on since day one; when you have to work with him for more days to come? 

Viktor had left briefly for a coffee run, so Jayce was left alone in the lab with just his thoughts. And prayers. Because whenever he couldn’t think any further his eyes wandered back over to the sofa they had been on so recently.

And every single time he saw it again, he got warmer. His grip around the wooden stylus tightened, and it slipped in between his lips and practically bit into the rod. Internally, he let out a scream. But the leader of tomorrow wouldn’t yell out because he was reminiscing about the fact he kissed his crush of almost half a year, and that he returned it.

No, the leader of tomorrow was just a charming toy for publicity, who just happened to know how to engineer the world’s greatest achievements. The “Golden Boy of Piltover”, Mel had called him.

Gold… He missed Viktor. Missed those eyes that watched him intently when he came into the Academy that morning. Instead of the silent nod his partner usually gave him, today he was met with that sweet and simple smile that got Jayce’s heart pumping a little faster. Maybe it was the reassurance that he actually did like Viktor that made him more approachable.

Even someone as smart as Viktor couldn’t tell how head over heels Jayce was for him? 

‘Clank’, ‘Click’, ‘Clank’.

His cane.

“Vik!” Jayce exclaimed, standing up from his station. He slams the pencil onto his desk and almost sprints over to him, reaching his hands out to take the small crate of goods he had brought back from the Academy commons. Viktor turned his body away to not let Jayce slip it out from under his arm. “No, hold on, Jayce.” he scolded. His cane tapped playfully against the other’s calf. “I am an independent man, there is no need.”

And Viktor swears he could see a puppy’s ears droop down, and a tail cease its wagging. 

He hobbles as quickly as he can to the coffee table in front of the sofa so Jayce can’t see his cheeks redden at the thought. (What he didn’t know is Jayce himself also flushes, seeing the couch again, better yet Viktor near it.) Leaning down and setting the crate down with a ‘thump’ he then turns around to gesture at the containments. “Caitlyn insisted that I take more than just coffee. Gave me some pastries they brought in for one of her parents' conferences. So I hope you’re hungry.”

Jayce makes his way over to Viktor as he eyes the small paper bag inside the crate, nestled beside tall lidded mugs. He picks up both of them in his hands and inspects the ceramic, with a quizzical expression. One has the Academy seal on it, the other is Jayce’s dumb ‘Man of Progress’ merchandise. He sighs a little disappointedly at the sight. 

“So.. uh.. which one is which?” he asks the other, who took a seat on the sofa. Viktor in return pats the cushion next to him, gesturing to Jayce to do the same. He complies, and Viktor takes the mug with his partner's face on it, taking the top off to reveal a very light tan colored liquid: his sweet milk with coffee, as the latter is drowned out with the white.

Jayce observes as Viktor takes a sip from it: going from his closed eyes- his eyelashes lay on his cheeks gracefully, his lips- pursed as he swallows the warm concoction, and lastly to his hands- cupping the mug, his thumb resting on the decal of Jayce’s image.

After admiring his partner’s gentle demeanor he sets his own mug down and opens the top. “Did you get my—” “—Two sugar, one teaspoon of cream. Yes, I did.” Viktor interrupts. As he drinks more of his coffee Jayce just stares at him again. “You know.. a lot about me.” he says.

“I, um..” Viktor starts, sweeping his thumb across his mug, wiping at Jayce’s printed face. He secretly wishes it was his actual face. He hunches over, averting his gaze— his gold irises now being consumed by orbs of black pupils, accented with a blush of pink across his cheekbones. “I-I’m just… observant, I suppose. When you’re around the same person for such a long time, you pick up on things, right?”

“Right.” Jayce responds. And he was right. Because he subconsciously does the same. He could tell how Viktor was feeling by the sound of his cane at this point. If it had a soft tap, he was fine. If it was in rapid succession, he must be excited to tell Jayce something. If it slammed loudly and moved excruciatingly slow, then he was definitely pissed. 

Jayce also learned how to take off and put on his leg and back brace in 8 seconds flat, flicking at the knobs, levers, and buckles quicker than he could tie a tie. (Of course, necessary for when he and Viktor had stayed overnight and he was too beat to do it himself.)

(At least that’s what Jayce told himself. He had always been an acts of service kind of man.)

Jayce knew that he downed sweet milk like it was water, only putting coffee in it (like now) for the caffeine. He knew that Viktor never wore blazers as much as Jayce did because they made him feel stiffer than he normally is with his weak body. He knew that when he wrote in his data log he’d only use a certain manufacturing of fountain pen, with a smooth glisten of black ink. 

Jayce noted that his tools were always placed in the same spot in his workshop every time they ceased for the day, and on the chance that Jayce took one he insisted it be put in its designated location. He noticed his handwriting was always cursive, and very neat cursive at that. His diagrams were efficient and very geometric versus Jayce’s more flowy and sketched ones.

He just never told him he knew all of this. Or, at least remembered it.

To keep his mind from wandering any further he reaches for the satchel of aforementioned pastries and opens the top, and his eyes gleam when he sees a familiar colorful pile of baked dough. He smiled giddily. “Oh. My. God. Viktor, you said Cait gave you these?!”

“Hm?” Viktor mumbled, leaning forward to see what the commotion was. The bag rustles as Jayce sticks his hand into it, before pulling out a round, patterned piece of bread. He holds it in both hands and raises it up in the air like some national treasure. 

“PAN DULCE!!” he exclaims, smiling like a child. Viktor finds it adorable. He gets a peek into his own little accent as it wisps off his partner’s tongue. Jayce brings it to his lips and takes a huge bite, letting out a satisfied hum as he chews. “I’m telling you V, you’re gonna love these.” he mumbles, mouth still full, with a small trail of crumbs on his face. “They’re really sugary, milky almost; like you like your coffee.” He gasps, swallowing his bread. He rips a small piece off of his chunk and hands it to Viktor. “Dip it in your coffee.” 

Viktor, still internally laughing at Jayce’s reaction. He smiles coyly. “Can I try it without first? So eager, Jayce.” Jayce blushes, looking away. “Sorry. They’re just.. really good.” The laugh Viktor was holding in comes out as he sets his mug down and takes the bread, inspecting it. Jayce scoots closer to him and waits as he brings it to his mouth and takes a small nibble.

“Mmm.. Quite sweet. Soft, yet sort of a solid texture with the sugar coating.” Jayce taps his feet in anticipation. “So.. you like it?” he asks. Viktor smiles. “Yes, Jayce. I do.” Jayce lets out a whispered ‘thank god’ before taking another bite out of his piece. “The only reason I can imagine the Kirammans decided to get these is if my mother was attending the conference.” Jayce says as he laughs. 

Viktor smiles as he leans forward to take his mug, now deciding to follow Jayce’s suggestion and dips his bread into the sweetmilk-coffee solution, then places the whole thing into his mouth. He hums a note of surprise, swallowing after he finishes it. “Hm. Wow, Jayce. No wonder you were so ecstatic about these.” He turns his head to see Jayce smiling admirably. Viktors eyes widened a little at seeing it. It’s innocent. And has.. meaning.

He has smiled like that before. But.. there was something lying under it.

“I’m glad you like them as much as I do.” Jayce says after a small moment of silence, watching Viktor fidget with his hands, unsure of what to do with eyes on him. “S-so um..” he continues. “I wanted to talk about..” He sets his remaining pastry on the table, reaching for his coffee before it cools off. “Yesterday.” 

Viktor keeps his demeanor. “I see. What.. about it?” Jayce guzzles down his coffee and exhales. “Ahh, um.. Well, like—” He rubs the back of his neck. “What do we do now?” Viktor cocks his head. “What do you mean?” “I just.. Kinda… wonder what’s next for the two of us. As.. partners.” Viktor turns more to face Jayce. “That’s what we are, yes. Is that a problem?”

“N-no!!” Jayce waves his free hand. “I love being your partner. It’s like, my favorite thing about us. But.. Did yesterday change anything?” Viktor clasps his hands together. “I don’t see the need for it to. Do you?” Jayce sets his mug back down. “Not.. unless you want to. I’m fine with anything. Just, whatever you want.” His hands wipe the sweat off of his palms against his slacks, his head drooping down.

Viktor watches as he visibly heats up, his hairline glistening lightly with more perspiration, painted with light highlights of pink. He slides closer to Jayce and takes a hold of his hand. “You’re so quick to comply with others, Jayce.” He says. “What would you like?” Jayce turns his head over to the other, seeing the look of comfort he’s usually the one wearing. 

Now he definitely doesn’t know.

☆彡

The two decided after a lot of back and forth of pros and cons that for HexTech’s sake, they’d stay as lab partners. They’d be free to show their affection to each other as they please, but they weren’t established. They feared, especially Jayce, that rumors would spread far too quickly around Piltover if the founders of HexTech were.. enamored, publically. 

So they were left to be distracted by each other as much as they’d please. And knowing that the other wanted it as much as they did, made those small touches and praises much more heartwarming. Having a whole lab reserved for just them was starting to show more benefits.

…Suppose they were both at the benefit of the other.

Jayce goes back to trying to study the limelight of the HexCore in its stand, floating, spinning, glowing in its glory. Scratching at the paper, tapping his free hand’s fingers. No, the light comes more out in that crack on the bottom right rune. Actually, there’s another gold essence on the second plate of crystal. 

He huffs as he grabs what’s left of the eraser stub and rubs it aggressively against the paper. A little too aggressively. And with a few flicks of his wrist the hole he had scribbled earlier comes to fruition. 

“GODDAMMIT.” He exclaims, shoving the notebook aside, clenching his fist around the pencil so hard it snaps. His burst catches Viktor’s attention and he makes his way over to Jayce, leaning against his table. “Maybe you should step away from this for a while.” he says, both hands resting on his cane. Jayce holds his head in his hands, leaning his elbows on the wooden workbench, groaning.

“I NEED this done, V. What records will I have for investors if we can’t bring the actual damn thing out to them?!” He runs his palms across his whole face until he reaches his chin. Viktor watches as he stares blankly forward, before he scoots his stool closer to him. 

All of a sudden, Jayce leans his head on Viktor’s hip, his arms wrapped around in tandem. He hums as his head nuzzles against the fabric of Viktor’s vest. “Let me.. have this for a while.” he whispers, toying with one of Viktor’s buttons.

Viktor freezes, his hands on either side of his body, one holding his cane blankly, the other floating limply in the air. Subconsciously, the free one makes its way to the tuft of Jayce’s hair, petting it. “You’ve done a good job today, Jayce.” he whispers back.

Those ears he imagined earlier perk up.

So does the tail, now presumably wagging slowly.

“You’re so interesting.” Viktor says, chuckling to himself. “What’s so funny..?” Jayce mutters, looking up at him.

And Viktor can’t help but smile even harder.

“You’re.. haha— like.. Like a puppy.”

Jayce’s head swiftly rose up from Viktor’s body, his eyes widening. His stool shot back almost 4 feet back, his arms barely letting go of Viktor as he did so, bringing him to get dragged along for half the slide. His hand started to tremble against his cane handle as he caught his footing.

“What is that supposed to mean, Viktor?!” Jayce argues, now distanced from the other, his previous slumped posture now raised right up, hands defensively at his sides. “I said one thing, Jayce!” Viktor practically shouted back. “It was just a quip!” 

“I- well.. it—” Jayce’s shoulders relaxed. “Sorry, I, um.. my reaction might have been much.”

“It was simply an astute observation!” Viktor retorted. “You and the canine species share many qualities. Listening to any order, appreciating praise by the tenfold, craving and giving a multitude of physical affection, having both a gruff and soft side: I mean, you came right up to me earlier when I came back from—” “Stop.” Jayce said, now getting up from his stool. “I get it. Just..” He strides over back to Viktor and tilts his head down.

“…Pet my head again. Prove your point. Tell me.. how good a job I’m doing.”

Viktor’s hand raised hesitantly.

Before resting on his partner’s head.

And caressing his locks with the tips of his fingers.

“Hm, uh.. G-good work, Jayce. As usual.” Viktor couldn’t look at him. Because of this he didn’t see Jayce’s eyes closed lightly, his lips slightly parted as his eyelids squeezed shut with every scratch.

And in Viktor’s head he imagined that the conjuring ghost of a tail started wagging again.

☆彡

“You.. you did—did what with Viktor?” 

“Cait— it just..” His hands clasp under his chin, leaning on his elbows. The two sit inside the Academy lobby, Caitlyn being on a guard break. “Just kind of happened. Y’know, one kiss leads to another, the next day I’m hovering above him?!” His pointer finger slides to rest between his lips, maybe even trying to remember what his partner’s felt like.

“…But, nothing but that. You didn’t go any further?” she asked. Jayce goes red. “NO!! NO- NO.” His hands wave in front of him. “We, um— He stopped us after I started messing with his clothes. Totally my bad. …It’s probably for the best.” Caitlyn crosses her arms. “Uh huh. And did you want to go further?” 

Jayce stays silent. He didn’t know.

“This is stupid.” Caitlyn mutters, leaning back in her chair. “How did you manage this? Just— pulling a stunt and ending up with your love at first sight?! And out of everyone, Viktor?!” “Shhh!!” Jayce hums, moving his finger to her face. “I can’t let ANYONE know. If this gets out, the town might actually explode.” 

She moves his wrist away and sets it on the table, practically arm wrestling him. He winces, slipping it out of her grip and shaking his hand exaggeratedly. “Calm down!” Jayce whimpers. “It’s nothing. And it means nothing.” Caitlyn raises an eyebrow.

“..Okay, there was definitely meaning to it. But it’s fine! Just a little means of escape for two overworked scientists?” He shrugs as he’s wearing a sheepish grin, raising his arms in a comical manner showing he’s trying his best to convince the girl in front of him. She sighs, letting out a chuckle. “Whatever you say.” Caitlyn’s eyes roll in doubt. 

“See, knew you’d get a kick outta this, Sprout.” Jayce playfully hits her elbow. “Look, speaking of the man; I told him this was only a little brain break, not a spreading of news.” Caitlyn gets up from her seat. “Alright, alright..” She points a finger at him before waving and walking back to her post, leaving Jayce to return back up to the lab.

“Also!” she shouts. “Hope you enjoyed those conchas! Knew you liked ‘em!” Jayce smiles. “Apparently so does Vik!” he responds back.

As he reaches the room, he finds the doors wide open. A little peculiar, but nothing too concerning. And after a few steps in, and head tilting to search for his partner, he’s nowhere to be found. The nowhere just happened to be.. Jayce’s desk? Fast asleep, even.

“Aw, V..” he says to himself, making his way over to the dozed off scientist. 

Viktor sits on Jayce’s metal stool, and making use of the workbench in front of him, he rests his legs on it. His cane sits nearby. His arms are crossed neatly on his chest, as the rest of his body leans against the nearby wall. His head leans on his left shoulder, supported by Jayce’s house armband.

Jayce’s.. shoulder pad.

Is that his Academy jacket?

☆彡

Jayce felt it rude to wake him up for such a small issue, so he instead went to their bookshelf and did a little more research for quantum physics in relation to the HexCore—because it definitely contained some.

He leisurely lies on the couch with the book open, his notebook and pencil lying on his lap. In the other hand he held another pan dulce: his fourth one, crumbling in his fingers. 

Jayce snaps out of his meditation when he hears a small groan from the other side of the room. He looks up to see Viktor slowly waking, letting his arms straight out in front of him like a cat stretching. Jayce chuckles.

Viktor rubs his eyes then proceeds to tug on Jayce’s jacket like a blanket, holding onto the seams to wrap it around him more. He doesn’t seem to realize Jayce is back, so he simply picks up his cane and moves absentmindedly back to his own desk, still groggy.

Jayce adjusts his posture, sitting up and putting the book down on the cushion next to him, resting his head on one of his hands, arm propped up on his knee. “Morning, sleepy.” he teases. 

Viktor’s eyes widen, the gold inside the whites making their way to look at the source of the voice. His face gets pink and his body scrunches up a little. “H-hello, Jayce. I did not.. eh, realize you were back.” Jayce gleams a smirk over to the other. “Uh huh. Did my jacket keep you warm?” 

Viktor pulls said jacket closed a little more, tugging at the lapels of the collar. “…It was a ditch effort. I could not find the blanket, and this was nearby.” “I see, I see. Glad I could help.” Jayce says unaffected. “Looks good on you. Maybe you could make the presentation with it on instead of me.”

Viktor relaxes his tensed pose, letting his shoulders stop being so raised. “I find it surprising you have not noticed the stark size difference between us.” he notes. “I fear your torso alone is double of mine.” 

His eyes drift off to survey Jayce’s chest. To make sure he’s correct.

Yeah, just for good measure.

Jayce leans back and crosses his arms, shrugging. “Hey, don’t worry about it. Just messing with you!” He laughs. Viktor observes each heave as he chuckles, even under his crossed arms. Rolled up.. sleeves.. really toned arms.. Scuffed, calloused hands..

Viktor hides his face under the white fabric, taking a big breath to snap out of his little trance. With his inhale, he takes in a lot of Jayce’s scent: the mix of cologne, sweat, motor oil, and chalk. 

It really doesn’t help.

“…Vik?” Jayce says, tilting his head a little as he watches this whole ordeal. “Did I.. do something wrong?” Viktor finally decides to take the jacket off of his body and sets it on his desk. He still holds onto the sleeve. “You.” he mutters under his breath, pouting as his head lies on his crossed arms, resting on the desk. His head is still locked onto his partner.

“What?” Jayce asks, his voice rising in pitch. “What about me?!” He leans forward. “Mmm.. Just.. you, I think.” Viktor states, still staring. “Viktor! Seriously! What the hell did I do?!” Jayce now grips at the couch cushion as he sits at the edge. Viktor shrugs. “You’re the dumbest genius in Piltover, Jayce.”

Jayce dramatically throws his body back into the couch as he slaps his hands onto his face, groaning. “YOU’RE INSUFFERABLE, VIKTOR!!” He swings himself back up and storms over to Viktor, embracing him from behind and shaking him gently. “Vik..!” he whimpers. “Please.. what did I do wrong??”

They’re face to face now, and Viktor watches as this sad, pathetic Man of Progress begs him over and over what he possibly could have screwed up. Jayce’s hand then cups around Viktor’s cheek, his eyebrows relaxing from their scrunched demeanor. 

“…Please?” he whispers.

☆彡

Viktor admits he just thought Jayce was “really captivating”. Same phrasing, completely stoic, and no eye contact. After some more pleading Jayce gets a kiss on the nose, a kiss on both cheeks, and one on the lips for good measure; just for his own scientific evidence. 

So the swooning counselor kneels at Viktor’s desk for a while, watching him write notes and explain his ideas with Viktor’s fingers scratching at his scalp. “My knees hurt.” Jayce complains. Viktor looks up from his notebook to glance at Jayce, who uses his lime eyes to stare up (for once) at him. 

“Jayce, I never said you had to stay there. You could’ve left, or grabbed a chair.” Jayce whines. “But then I wouldn’t be near you..” Viktor rolls his eyes, turning back to his work. “Nebuď kretén…” he mutters. “Get a chair. Seriously. You’ll end up with a bad knee like me.” 

Jayce sighs before he finally stands up with a crack of his joints and, holding still for a moment, before deciding to sit on Viktor’s desk.

“…Jayce?” Viktor mutters, as his head cocks towards him. “Yes..?” Jayce repeats in the same tone. He smiles mischievously, swinging his legs back and forth as he leans back on his palms.

“…Are you by chance 6 years old—?” he riffs, holding back a laugh. Jayce ceases his flailing as he deadpans, before furrowing his eyebrows. “…Hey, I am twenty-five.” He crosses his arms. “And just because I’m 25 doesn’t mean I can’t have a whimsical time.” 

Viktor smiles as he returns to his work, swaying his pen between his fingers. He neatly scribbles numbers, symbols, and variables as Jayce leans out, trying to take a peek of his equation. “Are you gonna ignore me now?” he says, leaning his body towards Viktor, gaining his playful demeanor back.

“If you help me with this, then maybe I won’t.” Viktor responds. “See, I’m trying to see what angle we need to carve for this eclipse piece. I need it so the HexClaw joint can oscillate. And, by God- it’s driven me insane.”

Jayce slides over closer to the page, craning his neck to glance at the writing. “Hm… Multiplied both brackets of the order.. cubed and squared respectively… Took the square root…”

Jayce rubs at the faded stubble remains on his chin, pressing his thumb against his lips as he squints. “Mmm… oh—!” He snaps his fingers with the same hand on his face. “You used the wrong trigonometric theorem here. Cosine instead of sine. And that’s supposed to be negative.” 

Viktor looks up at Jayce as he gleams with brilliance. Those olive tinted eyes glint back, and somehow they smile harder. “This is why I chose you as my partner.” Viktor says, getting up from his chair to wrap his arms around him. Jayce, a little surprised, hesitates as his arms float around the other’s body, before he finally sets them around his waist. “I’m glad, Vik.”

Viktor squeezes a little harder. “You’re a genius, yet so unbelievably dumb. And I admire you for that. I’m so happy I have you.” Jayce laughs and his chest rumbles against Viktor’s. “V, what’s gotten into you?” His rough hands glide around to his lower back. 

“I dunno… Academic language is— riveting.. when it comes from your mouth.” Viktor can’t help but laugh too as he says this. “Well, trust me, Viktor: I have plenty of studious things to say.” Jayce jokes.

“I’ll hear them better on the couch.” Viktor says. He tugs at the collar of Jayce’s vest, pulling away from the crook of his neck to stand facing him, looking up at his form sitting atop his desk, crushing a few scattered papers. 

And yet again, Jayce loses himself in a golden sea of Viktor’s eyes. Open, still tired.. And flooding with a real sense of interest. Not the same one they had when Jayce had an idea to run by him. But.. a desire to truly spend some time together.

His lips stay straight, with no other emotion lying there. The longer he stares, the more they start to curl up, moving that damn little dot right above.

Jayce’s face tints with red. His hands gather at the back of Viktor’s own vest. “Uh.. Uh-huh. Yeah— Let’s.. do that.”

☆彡

It started with the two sitting side by side like during their coffee break earlier.

Then Viktor leans back on the armrest and props his bad leg up on Jayce’s lap, with permission of course.

Jayce starts to lean further and further closer to Viktor, before he’s lying perpendicular to the other against the back cushion.

Then he ends up resting his head gently on Viktor’s chest, cradling his body below. And in return Viktor returns to petting through his hair.

And of course, he’s still rambling. Speaking mathematics, physics, gravitational logic, and quantum theory into the crook of Viktor’s neck.

His warm breath bouncing off his skin. The words singing into his eardrums. His head resting gently on his chest, arm wrapped around it.

The worst.. or best part of this: is whenever Jayce finishes his theory—

He leaves a kiss along Viktor’s neck.

His lips travel around the area; from his collarbone to his neck.. sometimes even his jaw. Not a hungry, crazed one. A peck like the period at the end of a sentence. Because that’s exactly what Jayce is using them as.

Now these periods are getting a little.. bolder. The font seems to be increasing, to put it one way.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Jayce?” Viktor teases, interrupting his thoughts on light refraction of the HexGem. Jayce looks up at him, half lidded with a stupid smile. “Mhm… Yeah.. Yeah, I am, V..” he whispers.

Viktor expects him to simply carry on with his ideas, until he feels his skin tighten a little under Jayce’s lips. He winces and his hand comes off of the other’s hair, fingers stiffening in the air. “Mm— J-Jayce.. What are you..?” 

He feels a set of canines dig into his neck.

“Jayce—!!” Viktor exclaims, almost shoving him off. Jayce locks his hands onto Viktor’s forearms like a clamp, now hovering not even a foot above. He’s practically panting. 

“H-Hm..? What.. I—” Jayce stutters out, presumably coming out of a trance. His pupils dilate to a spot on Viktor, eyes widening a little, and his whole face, even his ears— redden like the molten metal the man is so familiar with.

“You um.. don’t happen to own any— any mock neck shirts, do you..?”

Chapter Text

Lucky for both Jayce and Viktor, he did have a few formal shirts that would cover the hungry nip his partner had left in his foggy mindset. 

And it was doubly lucky they had a publicity event to attend that would call for some more fancy attire. So, with his black sweater equipped under a white pinstripe vest, a chain with a small fragment of a stable HexGem; Viktor was… presentable. 

He didn’t like going to these parties. It just meant he lingered in a corner swirling the glass of champagne from an amount of other past alcoholic beverages he definitely wasn’t medically cleared to drink all at once— watching as Jayce mingled within the crowd.

It meant his cane would get caught on tailcoats and ball gowns, on heels and the hems of pants. So better not to move then to get caught in crossfire.

Jayce. Why did he want Viktor to actually show up this time? He’d rather just be on his own in the lab. To get busy with their next project instead of quite literally standing around.

At least people liked listening to the man’s incessant ideas. They were ones Viktor had heard already, but it was always entertaining seeing him spice it up for a crowd of investors.

Viktor gripped his cane handle tighter as he stared at himself in the full body mirror. His matching white slacks made him look even more sickly pale. And his brace stook out even more. 

“Cokoliv..” he muttered, slightly frowning. His brooding was interrupted as his opposingly bubbly partner strode behind him, gripping at his shoulders as his head bent down to be level with Viktor’s.

“Hi, V.” he cooed. Jayce’s eyes also met the mirror, seeing the two of them reflecting back. He smiled as his thumbs caressed at Viktor’s vest. “You look great.”

Jayce is in his House Talis blazer- the one Viktor had fallen asleep yesterday. Everything under is just his standard presentation getup. Typical. But.. lying above the red tie is a matching chain. Holding another HexGem shard. 

“Your.. necklace.” Viktor mentions. Jayce beams more, somehow. “Yeah! I’m glad you found yours. I made it in the forge after you left yesterday.” He squeezes Viktor’s shoulders. “D’you like it..?”

Viktor can’t help but smile. “I do. It will represent HexTech among ourselves well.”  He brings his hand up to meet one of Jayce’s, leaning his head more towards the other’s. “You.. also look.. nice.”

Jayce chuckles. “No giant words? Big adjectives?” Viktor shrugs. “You’ll hear enough of them from ladies tonight.” Jayce moves one of his arms to wrap around Viktor’s waist, keeping his other in reach of where his partner’s hand lay. “Oh, don’t be like that Vik. They’re just being polite. And besides..” 

He slips his hand through the collar of Viktor’s shirt, revealing his accidental marking. His eyes almost darken, as he looks through the mirror again, making sure Viktor’s vision sees what he does. “Only I know what’s here.” His finger traces around the indents. “I’m all yours, partner.” Viktor’s hand freezes in its place as his face reddens, pupils slowly growing.

Jayce gives Viktor one last squeeze before petting at his hair, his typical demeanor returning. “I’ll see you there, Viktor! I need to make sure I have my speech prepared!” And not even a few minutes after he arrived, Jayce leaves.

Leaving Viktor alone to.. process.

He trails his hand back around the bite, wincing a little as he finds an indent where Jayce’s much-sharper-than-normal canines had made their home. He rubs his fingers together after, like he’d touched something dirty.

And it practically was.

☆彡

Viktor finds himself roaming the lobby, watching as guests from both Piltover and other trade cities crowded the room in anticipation for the event. He squeezed his way through strings of mingling people, making a beeline to the front of the stage, so he could get a good eye on Jayce as he gave his speech.

As he finally sat down on the edge of the second row, leaning his cane on his leg, his sight caught on Jayce peeking through the curtains. And as the other man scanned the outside world, he found Viktor, and shot him a nervous smile. His hand waved to signal his partner to come up backstage.

With a sigh, Viktor reluctantly makes the journey all the way there.

“What, Talis? Getting pre-show jitters?” Viktor asks, leaning on his cane more leniently as he approaches Jayce.

Jayce sits on a crate, head in his hands and leg bouncing as it always does when he’s on edge. “For some reason, yeah.” he mutters. “I-I don’t know what it is about today. Just.. really damn scared about this pitch.” Viktor sees him bite some skin off his lip, gnawing on the already worn-in scars.

Viktor takes a seat next to him on the crate, holding onto his cane with both hands, tapping at the House Talis colors plastered amongst the brass and metal rod. “Well, what has got you all worked up then, hm?” he asks, watching Jayce’s face intently.

Jayce clasps his hands and rests his chin on them, furrowing his eyebrows. “I guess.. I’m.. proud of us.” he turns to meet Viktor’s matching amber eyes, then instinctively smiles. “We’ve gotten so far with HexTech, and I don’t want to mess this up now.” He drops his arms and his head follows suit, and so does his smile.

“Because I say one wrong thing, and we lose it all. I’m the representative. I have to sell our idea. The ‘Man of Progress.’ The ‘Golden Boy of Piltover.’ The ‘Founder of Hextech.’”

As he says the last nickname Jayce’s gaze softens. “But you’re also the founder. I couldn’t have done any of this without you, and yet I’m the one everyone sees.” Jayce takes hold of Viktor’s cane, setting it against the wall before grabbing both his hands, holding them. Viktor’s eyes widen in surprise, jaw falling slightly slack.

“I-Well, to be honest.. just needed you here. To know that we’re in this..” Jayce squeezes their hands. 

“Together.”

Viktor freezes. His hands don’t tremble, but they don’t stay still. He just engulfs his focus on the gaze his partner gives him with quite literally the second confession they’ve given each other in the past week. 

His pupils are blown out of proportion as they practically eclipse the lime and gold tinted iris laid behind. His cracked lips curl into a sweet smile, his eyebrows laying neatly up south. His cheeks are painted with a dust of scarlet, matching his shoulder guards.

And Viktor finds himself moving closer.

And closer.

Until there isn’t any space between them.

“Maybe this will give you some..” Viktor says after retreating from the others lips. “Eh, what do you call it- good fortune?” He caresses the back of Jayce’s hand with his thumb, looking down at them intertwined.

Jayce’s eyes stay locked on the other. “You’re.. gonna make this a lot harder now.” he mutters. “Please stay out of my sight in the audience.” Viktor chuckles.

“What? Will I distract you now that you’ve got this on your mind?” He raises a finger to Jayce’s lips and taps it jokingly. As he does one final press Jayce purses his lips to kiss the pad of his pointer.

“Quite exactly that, yes.” Jayce banters. “Look, I’ve still got 15 minutes until we start; could you.. stay here until then?”

Jayce then slides until their thighs meet and wraps his arms around Viktor’s torso, leaning on his shoulder as he loosens his body and lets out a shaky breath.

Viktor wraps an arm around his shoulder, the other reaching for his cane again, holding it preemptively as he smirks.

“How about you make yourself busy and practice your speech?” Viktor whispers, leaning down slightly to Jayce’s ear. Jayce groans.

“Ugh.. Vik.. I promise you I practiced it plenty of times earlier—” “No, come on.” Viktor scolded. “Give me my own little presentation, Golden Boy.” His hand reaches to pet through his hair.

“Because; you’re mine, remember?”

☆彡

“I’m so happy to be here with you all today.” Jayce speaks into the mic, holding onto the podium with both hands. He looks down to check his notes before taking a deep breath.

Viktor has returned to his seat, crossed legged as he watches intently. He clutches his necklace, sliding the gem across the chain back and forth.

“Whether you’ve been to Piltover before, or are just making your first impressions, I hope that HexTech has, or will stick in the back of your mind. Because by God, it sure has for me.”

“Of course, maybe I’m biased— being a co-inventor of the brand itself.”

‘Co-Inventor.’ 

“My partner Viktor and I have worked tirelessly over the time between this event and the last, ensuring that we have the most enticing ideas for you all.”

‘Partner.’

“And, if by the rare chance nothing here sparks your interest, rest assured you can send a message straight to our lab and see if we can arrange something more personally designed!”

‘Our lab— wait, what?’

Murmurs spread through the audience and Viktor looks around, watching their various faces of mostly surprise. He turns back to Jayce to see a sly wink shot his way.

“Yes, folks: this time around, we’ll be allowing HexTech based requests! I’m confident that this will not only open opportunities for you, but for us as a blooming City of Progress!” 

In the midst of Jayce’s continued discussion, Viktor stares blankly forward, barely listening to the words falling out of his mouth.

He didn’t.. tell Viktor about this. Did he?

The conference goes by like a blur. Viktor remembers why he stopped coming to them. Ever since he began working with Jayce, these public stunts just felt like listening to his rants, but 3x more.. exaggerated. And, sort of dumbed down.

Because engineer language differed from governmental figure language, which he assumed was just money..?

Viktor starts to remember Jayce’s trance of an info dump from yesterday.

His collar feels really tight now.

A roar of applause breaks him back to reality, and Jayce accepts his praise with raised and waving arms, looking out to the venue. His eyes dart back to Viktor, and he notices his slightly distraught look, and with a minor shift in his eyebrows, smiles harder and continues his act.

Instead of going backstage he descends the steps of the platform to meet Viktor, outstretching his hands halfway with another nervous grin.

“We, uh.. Did I-I not.. tell you?” he practically shouts through the clamor of the room. Viktor casually shakes his head. “Perhaps you were too engrossed in your incessant rambles yesterday..”

Viktor leans forward near Jayce’s ear. 

“And possibly the taste of my neck— perhaps you meant to, yet lost yourself in your own head. Or, am I wrong?”

☆彡

And so, the conference half ended and the real festivity began.

But this time Viktor wasn’t alone stirring his alcohol. But was instead, still in a corner, listening to Jayce Talis trying to save his own ass.

“Vik, I- I could’ve sworn I had ran this idea by you!” he pleaded, using his arms and hands to speak, sloshing around his champagne. “Look, I’m sure with the commotion of the past 3 days made it slip your mind!”

“Slip my mind?” Viktor retorted, cocking an eyebrow as he leaned against the wall. “If anything, it must’ve over crossed yours. Is this why you wanted me to actually show up tonight?

“M-Maybe..? I don’t..It’s not my fault!” Jayce returned. “Well, who’s fault is it?” Viktor said, almost at a yell. “This is a major project startup! How do you not tell your own lab partner about the thing that he’d have to work on?!” 

It’d be dumb to say Viktor’s eyes were so pretty Jayce lost all train of thought just in their presence, right?

And it would be especially dumb to say he thought about kissing the man every time he smiled.

So the answer he went with was: “Um, Heimerdinger wanted a grand reveal?” he muttered, paired with a pathetic grin and matching shrug.

Viktor rolled his eyes and took a swig of his own drink, then pointed the glass at Jayce. “Talis, you’re on thin ice.” he threatened, a stern expression parading his face.

Okay, well; maybe Jayce just wanted to kiss him every time his lips moved.

But now couldn't be a worse time.

“…Do you at least think it’s a good idea..?” Jayce embarrassingly asked, holding his glass in both hands, shoulders raised slightly in fear. Viktor sighs.

“It is.. quite a concept. And it could guide in not only more funds, but more investors in the long run.” 

Jayce snaps his fingers. “Exactly. Aren’t I a genius?” Viktor can’t help but laugh.

“Hey!”

☆彡

Of course, the main man Jayce Talis needs to mingle. So, with a lot more begging and convincing, he gets Viktor on board with staying by his side, to show everyone their partnership.

But Jayce needs to learn how to keep his hands to himself.

It was never really a problem before. A hand on the shoulder, a nudge at the elbow.. 

Just, never a hand around his waist. Not in public, at least.

And not for this long of a period.

His large hands play with the knot behind his vest, flicking at the small buckle with his fingers as it rests on the small of his back.

Sometimes it snakes under the article itself, his fingers gliding along the ribbed texture of the sweater. It made Viktor shudder.

It’s like he’s afraid Viktor will get whisked away at any moment. Whereas Viktor himself should be scared of someone taking Jayce. He’s the more important one after all. 

Would a counselor choose a well built, charming people-person rather than a scrawny, socially inept cripple from the Undercity? 

Yes. They would. And Viktor wasn’t sure if he was happy about it yet.

However, in such a tightly packed area, Viktor can’t help but huddle as close as he can manage, ending up in the crook of Jayce’s arm.

It felt… safe. 

So as Jayce Talis, the Man of Progress, sold his brilliance—

Viktor just stood. Didn’t even listen. Nodded when Jayce tilted his head over to him, putting on his own smile. He spun his cane around on its base when he got bored. Which happened a lot.

“I assure you, Mr. and Mrs. Kolas.” Jayce gleams. “We have a great future ahead of us. I’m pleased you see its potential glowing brightly as much as I do.”

Mr. Kolas reaches out to shake Jayce’s hand, and his wife hooks onto his arm as she smiles sweetly with a nod.

“A pleasure to meet you two, Mr. and Mr. Talis.” she says, waving back as the couple leaves.

‘Mr.. and Mr. Talis..?’

The lab partners look at each other, faces slowly fading pink, mouths both open, wanting to say something. But nothing is said. What is there to be said?

More banter among guests continues, and.. yet again- more last name confusion. Awkwardness fills the air between Jayce and Viktor, but their close behavior continues.

It’s only when they’re exiting that they realize what’s gotten everyone to conjure this idea.

A banner, with Jayce’s ‘Man of Progress’ decal, plastered with the title ‘HexTech Investment Conference.’ And on the bottom, reads: 

‘Founded by Viktor and Jayce Talis.’

☆彡

“Who designed that?!” Viktor exclaimed once they returned to the lab, immediately going straight to the sofa.

Jayce paces around the room, one arm crossed and the other resting his chin. “Well, I- I told them to make your name first.” he admits. “I wanted to make sure you were important to HexTech, since no one really sees you when we advertise.” 

Viktor’s head tilts up from his pout, eyes widening and brows angling down. “And you never considered the idea that I don’t have a last name?!” 

“No! No, I didn’t!” Jayce shouts, throwing his arms out as he turns to face the other. “Yet again, it never crossed my mind, okay?” Jayce lets out a large breath. 

“…Does it matter?” Viktor mutters. “That.. I don’t have a last name?”

Jayce’s body comes down from its tense posture, as it takes a seat at his desk. “Why should it? It doesn’t make you less of a person.”

Viktor rubs the back of his neck. “I—I suppose not.” he chuckles. “I guess.. I never thought about last names. Let alone having one. It felt.. too much. Too much of a privilege.”

“You can keep mine.” Jayce says, staring into Viktor’s eyes as his own begin to half-lid.

“What?” Viktor says, his head leaning back.

“Hm?” Jayce says, not changing his demeanor.

“I’ve lost you again, haven’t I?” Viktor groans, completely melting into the couch.

“No, don’t worry, V. I’m not going anywhere.” “How many drinks did you have?” Viktor asks. “Uhh.. how many people did we talk to..?” Jayce murmurs, scratching at his stubble spotted chin.

Viktor sighs, crossing his arms as a hand wanders back to his necklace, then the glint of his partner’s catches his eye. “Y’know, I don’t think it was far-fetched to think we were enamored, Jayce.”

“The banner, your constant mentioning of my name, these necklaces, our close proximity.. We’re called partners for God’s sake.” Viktor can’t help but laugh. “We were doomed from the start.”

Viktor’s eyes snap to Jayce lazily spinning in his chair. His face immediately turns to a frown. “Jayce.. maybe we should get you home.”

“Hmm..?” Jayce hums, dragging his feet against the floor to stop. “I-I guess. I’m just a little loopy, I’m fine.” He leans forward to stand, before losing his footing. With a little wobble, he holds his arms out to balance.

Viktor laughs again, standing up to go towards him. “Perhaps that spinning around didn’t help, eh, Jayce?” He jokes, tapping his cane along the way.

Jayce holds his head in one hand, stumbling back towards his desk. “Shit..” he murmurs. “Maybe I— heh.. underestimated how many glasses of Meilleure I can drink..” 

Viktor strides over and hooks an arm around his partner’s back, supporting his weight. A lot of it, to be frank. He grunts as he shifts his own weight on his cane.

“Alright, big guy..” Viktor almost whispers. “Think you can make it back home?” Jayce’s head swivels around his neck, towards Viktor. “Uhhh.. well— isn’t your uh.. your room close-closeby?” Jayce slurs. 

“Would you.. rather go to my place..?” Viktor says as they take a few steps towards the door. Jayce gives a loose nod. Viktor lets out a huff before increasing their pace a little.

“That alcohol must’ve hit you hard during your little torpedo-spin.” Viktor mutters as they make the halfway mark. “You seemed well-minded beforehand.” 

Jayce practically giggles. “Maybe, it’s like.. shaking a cocktail..” he says, his arm hooking around Viktor’s shoulder. “Maybe.. something with the effects we’re amplified after I, y’know..” 

Jayce begins to mimic his earlier rotating with a ‘whoosh’ noise slipping through his lips, leaning heavily as he tries to spin again. Viktor gets dragged along in turn, quite literally. His eyes widen as he loses his footing.

“Jayce—! J-Jayce, don’t—” he tries to get out of his mouth, but it’s to no prevail.

‘CRASH!’

☆彡

“Oh, hi Vik!” Jayce exclaims as he finds his partner fallen across his chest. His hands rest on Viktor’s back, as he gives a drunken smile to his partner. 

Viktor stares long and hard at the oblivious and vacant-eyed man lying under him, arms on either side of his head. Thank goodness the dark halls of the Academy blocked out the increasing blush creeping onto his face.

Viktor felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. He hoped that Jayce couldn’t feel it. With what he could make out of the pitch black, Jayce looked up at him with an innocent face, his head cocked to the side as his pupils grew with the lack of light. 

They remained like that for a little while before Jayce started tapping rhythmically against Viktor’s arms, pursing his lips. “So, uh… Are we gonna stay here tonight?” 

Viktor pushed himself up as well as he could, with an increased pulse of pain in his bad leg now becoming apparent. He reached for his cane which had clattered a few inches away. With a grunt, he hoisted himself to stand before reaching a hand out to Jayce instinctively.

Jayce looked up at Viktor before crossing his arms, pouting with a turn of his head. “No, no.. You’ll just end up back down here again doing that.” 

He then knelt and sprung upwards, a little too quickly as he stumbled around before leaning his arm on the wall, catching himself with a huff. 

“My goodness, Jayce. I’m surprised I haven’t seen you in this state before.” Viktor notes. Jayce flips his body so his back leans on the wall, hands plastered onto it like a lifeline. “Aha.. maybe because—” His eyes start to flutter. “You’re.. so.. sleep..”

“No.. No, No—!” Viktor exclaims, as he rushes to hoist Jayce back up straight. “Kurva— Talis, dear.. not now—” With a touch of his hand to his waist, Jayce shakes his head awake. “Huh..?”

“This is going to be a long walk.”

☆彡

Viktor immediately tossed Jayce’s body onto his couch, as gently as his worn arm could. He dragged his (finally) free hand over his face with a huff, slouching as he began to start over to his bedroom. He wanted to get out of this damn getup as fast as possible.

Jayce lay on his back, staring blankly into the ceiling, with one of his legs swinging absentmindedly at the edge. His face is flush with alcohol. Viktor peeks out the door as he unbuttons his vest, with slight interest in his partner’s state. After he hangs the clothing item back up, he closes the door gently.

As he reaches down to take his sweater off, he’s caught off guard by the snag of the necklace Jayce had given him. The chain pulls against his neck, dragging against Jayce’s bite mark. Viktor hisses, before letting out a hum as he pulls his sweater back down, then rubbing gently at his neck.

With a little more work, Viktor undresses and changes into sleepwear, as he fidgets with the necklace in his hand. He shoves it in his breast pocket before going to check in on the drunken man in his living room.

Viktor finds Jayce curled up on his couch, cuddling with one of the throw pillows. Ever the gentleman, however, has taken off his boots, and has laid his blazer on the armrest of the sofa. He’s undone his tie, leaving its strands along his collar. His dress shirt has the first 2 buttons undone.

The only light in the room is from the table side lamp, the accompanying end table equipped with a few stacks of books Viktor indulges himself in on the off chance of free time. The warm stream of brightness falls onto Jayce’s face, which contains his eyes closed gently. His chin rests on the top of the pillow.

His hex-core necklace rests on the middle piece of his collarbone.

Viktor chuckles to himself, which catches Jayce’s attention. His head flips to the other and he pouts, his posture slumping. He practically whines in apology. “I’m sorry, Vik..” he mutters. “It’s rude of me to drop in uninvited..”

Viktor sits next to Jayce, holding his cane upright in front of him. “You are quite alright, Jayce. It was me who offered, after all.” 

Jayce perks up a little, his eyebrows retreating from their grounded position. “Really? You did?” he beams. Viktor smiles. “Yes, Jayce. I did. We—”

Before he could finish, Jayce tackles him yet again, leaving the pillow he had in his clutch to fall to the floor. Viktor finds himself collapsed under Jayce’s large frame, arms enclosed around his torso. 

Jayce smiles into his hair, squeezing him. He smells like a sharp cologne. A hint of sweat, and an almost almond-like aroma from his locks, which have become a little unruly as the gel has well worn out by now.

Viktor feels Jayce’s necklace press against his skin. And he can feel his own digging into both of their chests.

“You’re so sweet to me, Viktor…” Jayce praises. Viktor swears he feels the couch bounce with the kicking of the other’s legs. Jayce nuzzles his head against him, humming. “You’re my best.. best friend.. And-and, I— really really love you..”

Viktor can’t help it when his mouth goes slightly agape at the words.

“Like- like, V.. You’re so smart.. and so pretty.. I’ve never met anyone like you.. You, um.. you make me excited to come into the lab.. you always know how to fix stuff.. uh.. what else do I love about you?”

Viktor stutters out some syllables before he’s interrupted by Jayce pushing himself up to look at him.

Maybe it’s the champagne, but Jayce’s eyes are filled with some sort of second nature. The copper eyes that radiate back to Viktor’s own are engrossed in taking in everything about him.

Jayce smiles.

“I like that your hair isn’t always perfect. It looks like you just woke up.”

He’s unfortunately half right.

“I like your eyes.. they’re so.. shiny. Such a dark color. Yet so bright.”

Viktor could say the same about Jayce’s.

“I like how I can see your cheekbones. They’re so sharp, so angular.. I just wanna—”

Jayce trails his pointer finger along it.

It makes its way to the mole under his eye, and with a playful little poke, he goes to the one above his lip.

His hand shifts, allowing his thumb to graze over it, gliding over his lip in the process.

“D’you wanna guess? Guess what I wanna do!” he whispers, a childish smirk creeping onto his face.

Viktor stares back at him. His own hands find the other’s biceps, gripping at the muscles like his life depended on it. 

“How did I end up with you, Talis?” he whispers back. 

“By being a genius.” Jayce responds, beginning to lean forward. “By being my lab partner. Seeing my potential. Seeing me for who I am.”

“Out of all the people I’ve met, your eye caught mine.”

Then the eyes that had been so endearing to each other closed, followed by the meeting of their lips. One, scarred and smiling. The other, chapped, pointed, and absorbing the smile that the other’s contained.

It was soft. Silent, only fulfilled with the steady breathing of them both. Jayce’s hands remained on their homes: one on Viktor’s cheek, the other caressing his hair. After a while, they separated, looming in the dark before Jayce squinted.

“Woah, hey.. where’d you get that from?” he asked, gesturing to the bite. He gasps, looking around. “Did you get a dog?!” 

Viktor rolls his eyes. “God, it seems I’ve already got one.” he mutters, sliding his arms up to Jayce’s shoulders.

He taps at the larger man’s shoulders, catching his attention. “I think you’d be better off getting some rest, Jayce.”

Jayce cocks his head. “Hm? Oh, okay.”

He gets up, posture straight as a board as he strides over to Viktor's bedroom. Viktor in turn, scrambles for his cane as he rushes after him. “Hey!— Woah, woah woah— Jayce..!” 

Jayce turns around with a smile. “Hm? What? You said I need rest. I’m gonna get some rest.” He gestures to the bedroom.

“Dear me, what has gotten into you?” Viktor sighs as he stands in front of this delusional figure. The figure begins to rock back and forth, unsure what to do with himself.

“I suppose..” Viktor starts. “That it would not be so different as to us sleeping in the lab.” He shoves past the other. “Come, you may join me. I would hate for your physicality to be affected by a measly sofa.” 

Jayce follows after him like the dog he thought he had.

☆彡

Viktor finds himself sitting under his covers, staring at a half naked Jayce Talis in his bedroom.

Brought down to simply just his undergarments (as Viktor most definitely does not own clothes that would fit the man), Jayce tossed his clothes in a pile on the opposite side of the bed, before he turned to sit on the edge of it.

His head spun to look at Viktor, which only made the sight more of an eyecatch. Jayce waved. For some reason.

Viktor wasn’t sure if he hoped the alcohol wore off in the morning. This was quite a side of Jayce.

Jayce swiveled around to slip under the sheets, at arm’s reach from Viktor. Jayce then leaned on his side, staring at his partner with a curious look in his eyes.

Viktor’s own eyes shot back and forth between every single object besides the man’s chest. 

It wasn’t like Jayce being without a shirt was uncommon. Many times the man had come into the lab, still sweltering from the forge, with some breakthrough he just couldn’t hold in his mind any longer.

Viktor usually didn’t remember what any of them were until Jayce had written them down.

He snapped out of his distraction as Jayce slowly made his way closer.

And closer. 

Jayce’s arm wrapped around him. Then the other. His head rested against his chest. And lying under his head remained his necklace. Jayce hummed as he felt it. He raised his head back up before digging into Viktor’s pocket himself.

Was he trying to kill him?

Jayce gleamed at the sight. “Aw, my necklace! Or rather, our necklace, yeah?”  He reached over Viktor’s body to set it on the nightstand before returning to his previous spot, rubbing his face on Viktor tiredly.

“So glad you’re my partner, V..” he whispered. “Taking care of me when I’m.. all.. mmm…”

Viktor tilted his head to watch as the face of HexTech, the savior of Piltover’s future, the academic weapon of the Academy…

Fell asleep against some lucky Zaunite.

Chapter Text

Viktor is always early. And Jayce is always late.

…Never this late, though. Half past 11 in the morning, and Viktor wasn’t startled by the bursting open of the lab doors by his behemoth partner. No “Hey, V!” or “Morning, Vik!” in much too chipper of a tone for the sun to still be down. No mug of sweet milk or coffee (filled with sweet milk) set gently on his desk. 

Viktor didn’t think he could miss a man this much. Especially not Jayce. Jayce Talis, who everyone loves like he is the HexGate itself. Whereas Viktor just saw him as a marvel of science who got blessed with good looks. He never thought in a million years that this Jayce Talis, the counselor so sought after (second place to Mel Medarda), would find Viktor interesting.

Interesting in his intelligence? Sure, many had found Viktor a brilliant mastermind. That’s why he’s in this position in the first place. But.. interesting in the physical manner. That— now that was the moment where he knew he was stuck with Jayce. Who would find Viktor attractive?

…Jayce Talis, apparently.

His name. Jayce Talis this, Jayce Talis that. Jayce, Jayce, Jayce. He liked saying it. Jayce seemed to like hearing it from his tongue. It looped in the back of Viktor’s head. Along with equations, and formulas— and last night.

“..Does it matter? That I don’t have a last name?”

“Why should it?”

“…I-I suppose not. I never thought about last names.”

“You can have mine.”

Viktor felt his face get hotter.

Jayce Talis. Did Pilties have middle names too? Probably, if it meant that the Undercity only got one for themselves. Then..House Talis: cemented in the council through both his parents and the Kiramman’s sponsorship. Jayce Talis, the name written in a scribble of half cursive, half print on every single one of the pages in his notebook.

Jayce’s notebook. Viktor should probably check for new documentation. His eyes, followed by his body, move over to Jayce’s workspace and find the hickory leather book, imprinted with a brass House Talis emblem. Viktor’s finger traced the hammer, before unhooking the belt and flipping it open.

He opens to a pretty old entry. Dated only a few days after they’d met. Rants about the council, his expulsion, and runes scrawled onto the first few lines. Bulletpoints. Sketches.

There’s a taped-in sheet of paper cut out on the page. Viktor’s thumb brushes against the long dried-up ink, as a smile creeps onto his face.

It’s him. It’s Viktor. Am angular doodle. Simple, yet with enough details for it to have the visage of him. The swoop of his hair. Eyebags below thick eyebrows. His academy vest and tie. The two moles near his eye and lips respectively.

• “I have a partner: Viktor…”
• “I don’t know his last name.
• “Ask him his last name.”

Is a name truly so important?

Viktor leans on his arm now, elbow propped against the desk as his free hand clenched into a fist. He chuckles, leaving behind a small smile as the fist unfurls and his fingertips graze against the tape.

“Infatuation is a curse, Mr. Talis.” Viktor whispers to himself. “Clouds the mind, and leaves no room for the world’s problems.” Viktor was familiar with it. Clearly so, seeing as he had repeated his partner’s name in his head for the past few minutes. 

KnockKnockKnock.

Viktor whips his head around to find Sky standing in the lab doorway, a nervous smile on her face as she adjusts her glasses. She clutches her journal to her chest as she begins to enter the room.

“Good morning, Viktor.” she greets, adding a small wave. “How was the conference last night?”

Viktor shrugs, setting the notebook closed. His hand balls into a fist on the cover. “Eh, nothing to preach about. Rich, Piltovian elitists whose wallets Jayce can charm his way into.”

Sky nods, chuckling a little. “I see. I’m glad to see you’re back. It was… lonely without you here.”

Viktor’s eyebrows raise a little, before relaxing his face back and sighing, his shoulders drooping in suit. “Mmm. It is nice to know I was missed.”

Silence fills the air. Viktor clears his throat.

“I am sure you have much to do. Do not let me keep you.” He waves his hand, slicing Jayce’s journal back to its original home.

Sky stands in place, loosening her stance. “O-Oh. Of course, Viktor. Are you sure you don’t need my help?” Viktor nods, reaching for his cane to venture back to his own workspace. Her demeanor drops slightly.

She slips out the doors without a word and they glide shut, with a small thump.

Viktor stands in the middle of the vast expanse of the lab, head held in his hand as he leans back against the wooden table, other hand splayed against blueprints and bolts alike. Why did he just kick her out so soon? 

It made the lab seem even quieter than it was before. He shook his head, blaming it on nerves.

☆彡

A sharp 3 in the afternoon rang through a grandfather clock nestled in the Academy halls. To give the place character. All it really did was annoy Viktor even more than the hunk of gears and wood already did. More often than not hearing the chime of the machine so early or late in the day wasn’t pleasant.

Viktor idled himself with crafting trinkets and fiddling with objects. He couldn’t bring himself to work on any real HexTech projects. As much as he lingered over their long-sought and solved equations scribbled and wiped on the chalkboard, he couldn’t stand in front of the blackened surface without feeling a little empty.

No chalk dusted hand to set atop his shoulder. No worn fingers to wrap around his waist. No tuft of formerly gelled hair to flit against his forehead from above. No toothy and gap filled smile to look up at. When was the last time Jayce was gone for a day?

He could handle the man’s runs to the forge just fine. He couldn’t, however, handle himself when Jayce came back from the location. 

Quick breath of fresh air? Of course. Run around the campus as much as you please, Jayce. Just come back with some glistering rock you know the scientific name to and add it to your shelf in the lab after telling Viktor everything you know about the value and history.

Is it so painful to miss one man?

Viktor reclined on the lab sofa, skimming through Jayce’s abandoned notebook. Finding small portrayals of himself in the margins. Loose sheets tucked in between pages. Notes about his appearance. Mostly his moles. “He has a mole on his right collarbone.” “I think I noticed one on the back of his neck.” “When he rolls his sleeves up, there’s two trailing along his elbow.” 

There’s.. A lot about his eyes. A whole essay, almost like a long forgotten assignment from before he was expelled. Written only a week ago.

“I remember the first time I saw his eyes. Narrow, despising. Cornered by dark, deep eye bags. Lines of age, of sleep, of stress, senses on the lines of turmoil surrounding them, like a locked gate. Unwelcome to the public. They're practically ovular gemstones. Succinite, the name for amber. They resemble oxidized copper. Like a coin, glinting with value. The hue of wilting daffodils. The sunset through the window of my room. Dripping like honeycomb. Cinnamon, paprika, cardamom, and star anise— only around the ridges of his pupils. They pull me in like a magnet, an uncontrollable force that my own eyes can’t part from. I stare, and stare. It’s like a screw is dropped through my stomach when he looks back. It twists in at just the right mannerism, in a way that makes me feel nervous and lucky. I’m so glad I met him. How I–no, we— turned such a precarious situation into months that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope that they turn to years.”

Eyes are the windows to the soul.

Viktor sets the notebook over his face, shielding the forming embarrassment that no one would see anyways. Scrunching up into a ball on the cushions. Deep breaths, in.. out. A grumble, biting of his lips. How can one man be so full of admiration for a person like him?

Speak of the devil, as the door creaks open. The book raises up, and so do Viktor’s eyebrows. A downplayed version of his nightly suit— Black dress shirt not even attempted to be fully buttoned, leaving three of the slots vacant. Sleeves rolled right above his elbows, his red tie shoved into his breast pocket. His vest and blazer completely missing. And somehow, his slacks still fit and shift around his legs perfectly fine.

Viktor brings the journal back over his face again. He’s a wonderful actor– just pretend to be asleep.

Jayce leans against the doorframe, panting heavily, he wipes the sweat from his brow. “Viktor?” he calls through the lab. “Vik, you should have woken me! I would have been—” His head darts around the room looking at both their workspaces. “Viktor?” His vision tilts to the couch, seeing his partner’s body lying not quite limp, but not quite completely thriving. 

Jayce chuckles, slow and not quite steady steps making their way over before the couch shifts to accommodate for his weight depositing itself on the cushion beside Viktor. He sets a bundle of papers that was nestled under his arm onto the coffee table, before sliding a little closer to Viktor. His hand reaches for the other’s forearm, lifting it away to see Viktor’s face. Eyebrows scrunched for dear life, eyes squeezed tightly shut, mouth drawn taut like a bow as straight and unaffected as can be.

“Viktor~” Jayce hums in a sing-song tone. “Wakey wakey… I know you’re not asleep…” Viktor groans, knowing this façade is a futile attempt. His eyes blink open, a frown painting his lips as his partner looks back in tandem with a soft expression.

“Hi, V.” Jayce greets again, taking his notebook back for his own possession. He closes the cover and sets it onto the table next to the paper stack. Viktor has no choice but to sit up a little against the armrest.

“Look who finally decided to show up.” He grumbles, crossing his arms. Jayce chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry, this hangover kicked me in the ass.. My head is still throbbing, but we’ve got work to do.”

“Not to mention I woke up in your bed. Man, was that a surprise.” Jayce laughs again.

“Oh.” Viktor brings his good knee up to his chest. “I had… forgotten about that. I apologize for leaving you alone this morning.” He observes his partner for a few moments, taking account the darker eye bags, tousled hair, accentuated stubble, the slight shaking of his hands. 

“No matter. What’s with the amalgamation of papers?” He gestures to the stack Jayce had carried in, studying it with a quizzical expression. Jayce reaches over and grabs a handful of the sheets, splaying them out in his hand like oversized cards.

“You remember the HexTech request offer I made at the conference yesterday?” Viktor nods. “Well, they immediately sent in a fuck ton of petitions.”

Jayce isolates one of the forms in his hand, leaving the rest to lay slightly crumpled in the other. “From the Greux Clothing Company— ‘A sewing machine with automatic bobbin and thread loading, and if applicable, needle threading without the manual hassle.’ This is from Ramona Greux herself!”

Viktor watches Jayce intently as he continues reading off the requests. From Fyke Ceramics: ‘HexTech powered pottery wheel to detect the correct cycle speed.’ From Drimm Aeronautics: ‘A miniscule HexGem powered propeller, more suitable for drones in delivery.’

The giddy, almost childish smile, spewing out his excitement at each word he reads. The flash of his tooth gap whenever he gleams at the sight of a well-known patron. The curl of his plush, gleaming lips as his tongue flicks out to remoisten them after they dry out from the mass amount of words falling out of them. The eyes that widen, squint, and contort with his eyebrows when he skims over the writing.

“Viktor? Runeterra to Viktor?” Is all he hears when he rapidly blinks back to reality. His head—previously propped on his hand, elbow in tandem propped on his knee— now raised in awareness.

“Hm?”

Jayce waves his hand in front of Viktor’s eyes, wide and blown. He chuckles. “There you are. Kind of staring off into my face. Did you hear anything I said for the last few minutes?”

“…No.” Viktor mutters, his arms flopping limply between his legs. He turns his head to the side, feeling the warmth creep onto his cheeks. “I apologize, Jayce.” He says, at least giving his partner the privilege of looking him in the eye. “I got… preoccupied in my mind.”

Jayce chuckles again, leaning back against the cushion of the sofa. Props his arm against the back of it, hovering behind Viktor’s body. His head falls back onto his bicep, a playful expression painting his features.

“You were staring.”

A sputter of syllables.

☆彡

Work isn’t so bad with someone nearby. The room wasn’t deafeningly quiet anymore; with rustles of paper, read-aloud statements, and Jayce’s pulse pumping against his own, overlaid as the councilor lays on Viktor’s chest.

‘The strongest men deserve to be vulnerable!’, or so Jayce argued. Promising he won’t be heavy, or weigh too much on his lungs. All he truly provided was a simulation of what it’s like to have a very warm brick on your chest and a collection of ‘yes’es/‘yeah’s/‘sures’s or ‘no’es/‘nah’s/‘nuh-uh’s to every page he read out.

“Are you sure you don’t want to just read these on our own?” Viktor had offered, holding a portion of the stack above Jayce’s sprawled back. His partner set his head further into the crook of his neck, arms around his waist tightening. 

“..No.. I want—want to hear your voice.” He had mumbled into his skin. It sounds nice with a headache.. So sharp it.. it feels like you’re carving pieces of my brain…”

He punctuated it with a kiss to the damn bite mark that had tormented Viktor for the past 2 days. Can’t say no to that.

Viktor snapped his wrists back to straighten the paper with a sharp ‘snap’ as he squinted at the lettering. “From Julsio.. Intimacies. Gods, Jayce, you’re just letting anyone write these?” 

Jayce muttered an affirmative-sounding noise, eyes still glued shut.

Viktor whispered the contents to himself before his eyes widened in surprise. Not.. quite a surprise, though—the name had given away what they had wanted. He snickered, rumbling Jayce and causing him to finally pry himself off ever so slightly to see what was happening.

“Huh..? What’s so funny?” He grumbled, adjusting to the light. Viktor cleared his throat, a smile creeping to betray him. “Jayce, they’re— we can’t accept this! HexTech cannot be used for such.. pleasantries!”

Jayce fumbled around with his own body as one arm unfurled from Viktor’s waist, grabbing absentmindedly in the air for the slip. As he took it and looped his arm around the top of Viktor’s head to read it, he finally began to flow back into consciousness.

A chuckle. A giggle. Morphing closer to a full laugh. He buried his head back down into Viktor’s collar, letting his vibrato bounce against his skin. 

Viktor sighed. “Yes. How funny, Jayce. Let us commence with the ‘HexStrap’ immediately.” He patted his back in a supposed comforting manner, more aligned with a sarcastic tone.

More snickers. Viktor felt like all the phlegm in his lungs were being shaken off the walls of the organ. Maybe that was good? 

“Jayce, I know you are not 100%, but we still have at least 60 of these to go through. You are providing a roadblock in our system.” 

“Vi~ik—” He groaned, rolling on his side. (And in the process carrying Viktor to do the same.) “Oh, Viktor— This is.. This may be revolutionary…” He held the page up above both of them, as Viktor craned his head up, following the glint of white paper. “I-I mean, just think of the possibilities!”

He really did not want to think of any of the possibilities.

Viktor reached up, and up, before snatching the request out of his hand. He dramatically crumpled it and threw it behind him, crossing his arms with a huff.

But even the strongest men need to be vulnerable.

A flood of laughter cursed the scientists, lying parallel, shaking, and clustered on the lab sofa. Jayce’s arms fell from their place in the air, one finding its rightful place around Viktor's shoulder, the other draped against the cushion back of the furniture.

Tears threatened the corners of both their eyes, but for good reason. The walls echoed with the contagious noise, until they needed to catch their breath. The steady breathing returned, and now Viktor remembered why he missed such a person so much.

He’d never felt so safe. So seen. He’d saved Jayce’s life, and in turn Jayce had then given Viktor’s life a purpose. He didn’t need to waste this Piltovian privilege as an assistant anymore. Instead could revolutionize the state of the people, his people— alongside a stranger.

But no longer a stranger. A man Viktor swore he knew like the back of his hand, and a man that knew him just the same. The perfect combination of a colleague, a lab partner, a friend—best friend. 

That’s all it would be for now.

No matter how closely he was embraced at that moment, no matter how long the kiss lasted. The flutter in his heart, his stomach, his mind— would have to be crushed under the foot of his cane.

For progress.