Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Today would be the day it all ended

Jayce was sure of it. Could feel the surety of it rushing through his blood, thrumming through his veins. He could feel it in the air, the weight of the atmosphere settling tight in his chest, his muscles coiled with the anticipation of it all.

Ever since he’d seen Viktor like… that. Unsure, scared- his face wound up so tight so he didn’t cry- Jayce knew what he had to do. For himself. For them. He’d lost sight of what they were doing, of how they were supposed to improve the world. For the better. He’d become greedy with false promises of the future, or what he could’ve been, but that meant nothing now. Jayce was done being naive. Not if naive was going to give him a partner dead at the bottom of a river.

He looked at himself in the mirror, trying to conjure up an image of that boy seven years ago- just after his experiment with Viktor that started everything. That boy who had no idea what he’d become. What he’d represent. Who looked at his partner with a little too much love in his eyes, as if Viktor held the world. And he did, at the time. He held Jayce’s world. Helped build it to where it is now. And Jayce had lost sight of it- of who he was meant to be. But no longer.

He now pictured a future with Viktor, tinkering in the lab like how it used to be, going home to Mel after, wrapping his broad arms around her slender waist as she leaned into him with a smile and told her how her day was at the Council. How he would smile and tease that he was no longer part of the Council, and she would playfully smack his arm. And he’d go to bed at night, with her in his arms and feel happy.

Jayce didn’t know the last time he’d felt happy. Or light. He’d felt lighter since yesterday- talking to Silco. He knew what he was offering- knew he didn’t have to give the undercity as much as he did but he was never a good negotiator. All he’d asked for is to stop the production of shimmer, and for Jinx. By the look on Silco’s face- that was the one thing he wasn’t willing to give. Then again- people like that didn't care for others. Regardless of the fact that she was his daughter of sorts’ Jayce didn’t doubt that he would give her over no matter how much it would hurt him.

He looked at himself one last time, pulling down his white coat, fixing his red shoulder pads. He stood tall and broad, flashing himself one of his world famous smiles. He’d go in confident and proud. Loud. And he’d make peace with Zaun. He’d stop making weapons. He’d go back to the lab with Viktor. And he’d be happy.

A knock at the door had him moving, heart beating a little too loudly, and he opened the door. There stood Viktor, looking worse than Jayce had ever seen him. He was hunched over, his cane now taller than he was. Jayce smiled a little, hoping it didn’t look pitiful, but from the grimace on Viktor’s face it did.

He let Viktor in, holding the heavy door open for the shorter man to limp his way through. There, he sat at the edge of Jayce’s bed, curled into himself, his eyes barely meeting Jayce’s. Jayce took a seat in front of him, trying his best to shrink down so he and Viktor were eye level.

“What did you have for breakfast?” Viktor huffed out a wheeze, his head shaking ever so slightly
"Dust," he retorted, accent sharp. “What did you have?”
“A lovely sandwich from Eriko’s”
“Eriko’s” Viktor and Jayce said at the same time. Viktor rolled his eyes at Jayce, the two smiling softly at one another
“How scared are you on a scale of 1-10?”
“0,” Viktor replied, though the shaking of his voice gave away his nerves “What about you?”
“Yeah, same. 0. We’re going to crush this”
“Ever so inspirational”
“Yeah well, someone has to be” A quiet settled over them, before Jayce squared his shoulders and stood up. He offered his hand to Viktor, who took it without looking, like he knew it’d be there
“Let’s go and show those councillors what we’re made of”

They made their way over to the Council, Jayce walking slowly so they were at the same pace.

There lay two seats, equal. Jayce was done pretending Hextech was all his. It was both of theirs. It belonged to both of them.

Viktor took a seat with a sigh, as did Jayce. Other's went first, taking up most of the Council time. Alas, when the sky started to turn dark, it was Jayce and Viktor's turn to speak. Jayce chose to stand, hands braced on the grey metal table. Everyone turned to look at him and- with a deep breath- began.

“Councillers… My recent unsanctioned activities in the underground have shown me two things. I’m not fit to govern the people who live there… and neither are you” Faces stared at him but Jayce powered on . “Our opportunity to demonstrate our compassion, our dedication, our solidarity has passed. They’re right not to trust us”

“You’re walking a fine line Jayce” Spoke Cassandra Kirammen, her face wound tight, and Jayce barely stifled himself from rolling his eyes

“With respect” He began “I don't give a shit what any of you think of me anymore” They reared back. Jayce looked to the side at Mel, smiling slightly “Except you” Her eyes widened and he continued

“You were right. You were always right” And she was.

“My days here are numbered, but I’ve come with Viktor,” He ventured a glance over to Viktor “my partner and a Zaunite, with one final proposal” He glanced over at Viktor, whose head was bent down, and knew the rest wasn’t his to say. It was Viktor’s

“Jayce has brokered a peace with Silco. In exchange for the undercity’s independence.” Cassandra Kirammen gasped, and shouted out as if she couldn’t control herself.

“What? Nonsense! We have procedures…” Shouts erupted across the table, muffled to Jayce’s ears. He felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment rush over him, the blood louder in his ears than anything else. He closed his eyes, to try and collect himself. A wine glass tipped over, reminding Jayce overwhelmingly of the blood of the child he’d seen earlier- who he’d basically killed.

Jayce spared a glance at Mel, who looked down at her hand with a sigh. She seemed to take off a ring, and with a sigh, raised her hand.

“I support Councillor Talis’ proposal for peace” Other hands raised in response, hesitantly, almost as if in slow motion. Jayce could feel tears start to well. One by one they all raised their hand until it was enough. All hands were raised. And that was it.

They'd done it. They had really done it.

This was it. This was how it all began. This was how Jayce would help- would do what he set out to do.

This was the start they so desperately needed.

Jayce looked over at Mel, whose head snapped to his, and smiled, so overwhelmingly happy. Light’s lit up the table, perfectly circular. Almost bright enough that Jayce didn’t see the flash of blue through the dome window. But there it was, streaking through the sky. A turn of Mel’s back, the gold on her skin rippling was the last Jayce saw before the blue hit the glass, and shattered it all.

The ceiling collapsed and the glass flew down like rain, beautiful and sharp and deadly. Jayce didn’t feel it, could only hear the ringing in his ears- almost deafening. He’d gone from standing to kneeling in just a second, his whole body thrown off balance. He didn’t know what happened, didn’t know if he was alive or dead or who was alive or dead-

Mel.

Jayce’s head snapped to her, his chest tight because he wouldn’t- no he couldn’t lose her. He cupped her face, brushed a hand over her cheek, spoke loudly (was it loud? He couldn’t hear) and asked over and over if she were alright, the tight cloud of debris and rubble making it hard to breath. She looked disoriented- scared- but she was still alive so that meant something.

He gripped her arms and pulled her up. They both looked around- horrified. He kept telling Mel it was ok but it wasn’t- of course it wasn’t. Not knowing what else to say, he repeated the words, brushing his hand up and down her arm in what he hoped was comforting.

Sickened, he looked around at the dead councillors- such as Hoskel- unsure of what to do or how to feel, he could only feel the bile rising up his throat. How did this happen? Salo’s legs were caught under the rubble and Jayce didn't even want to think about what would happen to him but at least he was alive.

Jayce saw Cassandra Kirammen and- No, no, no, she wasn’t dead. He knelt at her and shook her slightly, gasping. She was- Caitlyn, fuck, how would he even let her know that her mother was-

He saw something- purple- and with a strange sense of calm looked up and to the side.

No.

No.

Fuck. No

Viktor- No.

Head tilted back, mouth open. His purple leg stuck out. His face oddly peaceful. Jayce's eyes widened, his head screaming at him. The ringing got louder and louder and he shook his head to get rid of it and to deny it- because Viktor wasn’t dead.

No.

He was meant to- to go back in the lab and they were meant to be together, they were meant to be partners. Jacye slumped back, sobbing with a cruel sense of pain uncurling in his chest. He crawled over, desperately clutching his partner tight in his arm’s, his sobs loud and painful and- fuck!

Jayce was right in a way.

Today would be the day it all ended.

His tears hit his partner’s face, as he leaned close and rested their foreheads together. The ringing quietened.

He woke up.

Chapter Text

Jayce shot out of bed. His head ached, his ears hurt so badly that he raised his hands to them to at least try and quiet the noise. He wasn't sure of where he was, disoriented at first, before the feeling of familiar silk sheets slid under Jayce’s fingers.

He was in his bedroom.

By the glance at the clock on his bedside table, it was 11. The Council meeting was at 4. He hadn’t intended to wake up so late, but he guessed all the talking with Silco last night- and the talk that he had with Viktor about what they were going to present to the Council today took a lot of energy out of him.

Jayce climbed out of bed, and got dressed. He left for a quick lunch, gulping down bitter coffee on his way back to his apartment.

Today would be the day it all ended.

Jayce was sure of it. Could feel the surety of it rushing through his blood, thrumming through his veins. He could feel it in the air, the weight of the atmosphere settling tight in his chest, his muscles coiled with the anticipation of it all.

Ever since he’d seen Viktor like… that. Unsure, scared- his face wound up so tight so he didn’t cry- Jayce knew what he had to do. For himself. For them. He’d lost sight of what they were doing, of how they were supposed to improve the world. For the better. He’d become greedy with false promises of the future, or what he could’ve been, but that meant nothing now. Jayce was done being naive. Not if naive was going to give him a partner dead at the bottom of a river.

He looked at himself in the mirror, trying to conjure up an image of that boy seven years ago- just after his experiment with Viktor that started everything. That boy who had no idea what he’d become. What he’d represent. Who looked at his partner with a little too much love in his eyes, as if Viktor held the world. And he did, at the time. He held Jayce’s world. Helped build it to where it is now. And Jayce had lost sight of it- of who he was meant to be. But no longer.

He now pictured a future with Viktor, tinkering in the lab like how it used to be, going home to Mel after, wrapping his broad arms around her slender waist as she leaned into him with a smile and told her how her day was at the Council. How he would smile and tease that he was no longer part of the Council, and she would playfully smack his arm. And he’d go to bed at night, with her in his arms and feel happy.

Jayce didn’t know the last time he’d felt happy. Or light. He’d felt lighter since yesterday- talking to Silco. He knew what he was offering- knew he didn’t have to give the undercity as much as he did but he was never a good negotiator. All he’d asked for is to stop the production of shimmer, and for Jinx. By the look on Silco’s face- that was the one thing he wasn’t willing to give. Then again- people like that didn't care for others. Regardless of the fact that she was his daughter of sorts’ Jayce didn’t doubt that he would give her over no matter how much it would hurt him.

He looked at himself one last time, pulling down his white coat, fixing his red shoulder pads. He stood tall and broad, flashing himself one of his world famous smiles. He’d go in confident and proud. Loud. And he’d make peace with Zaun. He’d stop making weapons. He’d go back to the lab with Viktor. And he’d be happy.

A knock at the door had him moving, heart beating a little too loudly (was it Viktor?), and he opened the door. There stood Viktor (Like before-no), looking worse than Jayce had ever seen him(but hadn’t he seen him just like this yeste-today?). He was hunched over, his cane now taller than he was. Jayce smiled a little, hoping it didn’t look pitiful, but from the grimace on Viktor’s face it did.

He let Viktor in, holding the heavy door open for the shorter man to limp his way through. There, he sat at the edge of Jayce’s bed, curled into himself, his eyes barely meeting Jayce’s. Jayce took a seat in front of him, trying his best to shrink down so he and Viktor were eye level.

“What did you have for breakfast?” Viktor huffed out a wheeze, his head shaking ever so slightly (Dust)
"Dust," he retorted, accent sharp. “What did you have?” Jayce faltered- how did he know what Viktor would say? Well, Viktor was quite sarcastic, Jayce reasoned, and shook his head slightly. He was probably just nervous about the meeting and was making up things. Jayce smiled slightly and answered Viktor's question
“A lovely sandwich from Eriko’s”
“Eriko’s” Viktor and Jayce said at the same time.Viktor rolled his eyes at Jayce, the two smiling softly at one another
“How scared are you on a scale of 1-10?”
“0,” Viktor replied, though the shaking of his voice gave away his nerves “What about you?”
“Yeah, same. 0. We’re going to crush this”
“Ever so inspirational”
“Yeah well, someone has to be” A quiet settled over them, before Jayce squared his shoulders and stood up. He offered his hand to Viktor, who took it without looking, like he knew it’d be there
“Let’s go and show those councillors what we’re made of”

They made their way over to the Council, Jayce walking slowly so they were at the same pace.

There lay two seats, equal. Jayce was done pretending Hextech was all his. It was both of theirs. It belonged to both of them.

Viktor took a seat with a sigh, as did Jayce. Other's went first, taking up most of the Council time. Alas, when the sky started to turn dark, it was Jayce and Viktor's turn to speak. Jayce chose to stand, hands braced on the grey metal table.Everyone turned to look at him and- with a deep breath- began.

“Councillers… My recent unsanctioned activities in the underground have shown me two things. I’m not fit to govern the people who live there… and neither are you” Faces stared at him but Jayce powered on . “Our opportunity to demonstrate our compassion, our dedication, our solidarity has passed. They’re right not to trust us”

“You’re walking a fine line Jayce” Spoke Cassandra Kirammen, her face wound tight, and Jayce barely stifled himself from rolling his eyes

“With respect” He began “I don't give a shit what any of you think of me anymore” They reared back. Jayce looked to the side at Mel, smiling slightly “Except you” Her eyes widened and he continued

“You were right. You were always right” And she was.

“My days here are numbered, but I’ve come with Viktor,” He ventured a glance over to Viktor “my partner and a Zaunite, with one final proposal” He glanced over at Viktor, whose head was bent down, and knew the rest wasn’t his to say. It was Viktor’s

“Jayce has brokered a peace with Silco. In exchange for the undercity’s independence.” (gasps) Cassandra Kirammen gasped, and shouted out as if she couldn’t control herself.

“What? Nonsense! We have procedures…” Shouts erupted across the table, muffled to Jayce’s ears. He felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment rush over him, the blood louder in his ears than anything else. He closed his eyes, to try and collect himself. A wine glass tipped over, reminding Jayce overwhelmingly of the blood of the child he’d seen earlier- who he’d basically killed.

Jayce spared a glance at Mel, who looked down at her hand with a sigh. She seemed to take off a ring, and with a sigh, raised her hand.

“I support Councillor Talis’ proposal for peace” Other hands raised in response, hesitantly, almost as if in slow motion. Jayce could feel tears start to well. One by one they all raised their hand until it was enough. All hands were raised. And that was it.

They'd done it. They had really done it.

This was it. This was how it all began. This was how Jayce would help- would do what he set out to do (this would fail and Viktor will die in your arms)

This was the start they so desperately needed (This was the end of what you thought was the beginning). Jayce’s hands trembled at the thoughts, but he pushed them to the back of his mind and instead directed all of his attention to Mel

Jayce looked over at Mel, whose head snapped to his, and smiled, so overwhelmingly happy. Light’s lit up the table, perfectly circular (The blue light- watch the blue light come crashing through the sky, ripping through the yellow) Almost bright enough that Jayce didn’t see the flash of blue through the dome window. But there it was, streaking through the sky. A turn of Mel’s back, the gold on her skin rippling was the last Jayce saw before the blue hit the glass, and shattered it all. (Viktor, find Viktor)

The ceiling collapsed and the glass flew down like rain, beautiful and sharp and deadly. Jayce didn’t feel it, could only hear the ringing in his ears- almost deafening. He’d gone from standing to kneeling in just a second, his whole body thrown off balance. He didn’t know what happened, didn’t know if he was alive or dead or who was alive or dead-

Mel.

Jayce’s head snapped to her, his chest tight because he wouldn’t- no he couldn’t lose her. He cupped her face, brushed a hand over her cheek, spoke loudly (was it loud? He couldn’t hear) and asked over and over if she were alright, the tight cloud of debris and rubble making it hard to breath. She looked disoriented- scared- but she was still alive so that meant something.

He gripped her arms and pulled her up. They both looked around- horrified. He kept telling Mel it was ok but it wasn’t- of course it wasn’t. Not knowing what else to say, he repeated the words, brushing his hand up and down her arm in what he hoped was comforting.

Sickened, he looked around at the dead councillors- such as Hoskel- unsure of what to do or how to feel, he could only feel the bile rising up his throat. How did this happen? Salo’s legs were caught under the rubble and Jayce didn't even want to think about what would happen to him but at least he was alive.

Jayce saw Cassandra Kirammen and- No, no, no, she wasn’t dead. He knelt at her and shook her slightly, gasping. She was- Caitlyn, fuck, how would he even let her know that her mother was-

He saw something- purple- and with a strange sense of calm looked up and to the side. (He’d seen this before, had he not? He’d seen Viktor like this before- seen him DEAD)

No.

No.

Fuck. No

Viktor- No.

Head tilted back, mouth open. His purple leg stuck out. His face oddly peaceful. Jayce's eyes widened, his head screaming at him. The ringing got louder and louder and he shook his head to get rid of it and to deny it- because Viktor wasn’t dead.

No.

He was meant to- to go back in the lab and they were meant to be together, they were meant to be partners. Jacye slumped back, sobbing with a cruel sense of pain uncurling in his chest. He crawled over, desperately clutching his partner tight in his arm’s, his sobs loud and painful and- fuck!

Jayce was right in a way.

Today would be the day it all ended.

His tears hit his partner’s face, as he leaned close and rested their foreheads together. The ringing quietened.

He woke up.

Chapter Text

Jayce shot out of bed. His head ached, his ears hurt so badly that he raised his hands to them to at least try and quiet the noise. He’d done this before. He was sure of it now.

The past two days had been the exact same. And, when Jacye checked the time, he saw that it was yet again 11. On the same exact day. So- he was stuck in some time loop of sorts. That was the only explanation. He’d gone to the council, managed to broker a deal for independence for Zaun, everything went well until it didn’t. A bomb hit the council and killed or hurt virtually everyone except him and Mel.

When Jayce saw his partner die, he’d go to Viktor and then wake up. So- the only way out of this time loop had to be that he stops Viktor from dying. Right? Right. He was a scientist. He’s been trained to follow the breadcrumbs. X causes Y. Viktor dying is X. Jayce being stuck in a time loop is Y. If he manipulated the X, then the Y would be different. If he saves Viktor from dying- then he’d be free of this time loop.

Janna, he wished it was that. At this point, so early on in this little experiment he’s creating, there was honestly no way of knowing what caused what. All Jayce knew was that his best friend kept dying. And maybe that didn’t cause the time loop- but if there was any way of saving Viktor then he’d take it. Regardless of whether it’d help him or not.

Jayce got out of bed, running a hand through his hair. He’d supposed, with all the experimenting he’d done with the Arcane- this must be its way of punishing him. Or maybe the Gods just really didn’t like him.

With a sigh, Jayce went to brush his teeth and pull on his councillors outfit, doing his self-care in between. He headed to his favourite sandwich shop- Eriko’s- and decided there he’d pick up a sandwich for Viktor as well. He didn’t look like he’d eaten much yesterday. Or today? The day he’d just experienced. Janna, this all really didn’t make any sense. How sure was Jayce that he was even in a time loop?

Well, as of right now, it was the only plausible explanation as to why he’d repeated the same day twice, and was currently on his third time. He grabbed two cups, one filled with coffee and another with sweetmilk and headed back to his apartment.

There, he put down both his and Viktor’s sandwich, gulping down his coffee as he hummed a childhood tune to himself. It was the same song that his mum would hum to him when the kids at his school weren’t being so nice, pushing him around and laughing at his father’s notebook that even then was filled with drawings and ideas for a better world. He wanted to make his father proud, but he’d go home every day with a big feeling of shame in his chest for ever thinking he could be as strong and brave and brilliant as his father. And his mum would pull him into his lap, no matter how chubby he was or the fact that she lost two of her fingers. No, she pulled him close and would hum in his ear, and he’d cuddle closer to her and that shame would loosen its hold on his chest.

“You are far too big for this world Jayce. Do not let it contain you. You have the right to be big and still live, the same as everyone else does. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise”

The words fill him with equal parts warmth and shame. Because he’d done that, hadn’t he? He’d tried to end his life, despite what his mum told him. He couldn’t see himself without his research- his passion, his hextech. He’d almost made his mother go through the pain of losing both her husband and her son.

The knock at the door snaps him out of his thoughts, and he jumps up to go and greet Viktor. He looks down to see a weary looking Viktor, who looks up but then reared back just a tiny bit. That didn’t happen the last time.

“Jayce, your eyes. You have been crying” With a startle, Jayce reaches up and wipes at the wetness. He hadn’t even realised he’d been crying.
“Sorry. Come in” Viktor walks in and sits down on the edge of Jayce’s bed.

He’d already set out a chair for himself across from Viktor.

“What did you have for breakfast?” Viktor huffed out a wheeze, his head shaking ever so slightly
“Dust,” he retorted, his accent sharp “What about you?”
“Sandwiches” He raised up the bag, and Viktor smiled slightly at the sight.
“I’m not hungry Jayce”
“I don’t care, Viktor. It’s almost four, how are you not hungry?”

By the time Jayce got out of bed, had a shower, had shaved, showered yet again out of nervousness and picked up the sandwiches and coffee, it had already been 3:30. Now that he knew the day reset- the waste of time seemed both fine (as he’d just re-live the day again) and just that- a waste.

Viktor shook his head again in protest, but when Jayce handed him the sweetmilk he melted.

“Thank you Jayce” The man said, and Jayce smiled
“No worries. It’s your favourite” Viktor looked at his sandwich and took a bite, moaning slightly at the taste
“We’re going to be late, however” Jayce rolled his eyes and leaned back, biting into his own sandwich. It was cold, but still tasted delicious
“So what? We miss Hoskel ranting on about how much tax has increased for the rich” Jayce rolled his eyes and Viktor snickered.
“Right, right. As if you are any better”
“Hey! Come on now, I’m nothing like those guys” Viktor merely hummed and the response hurt Jayce more than he’d like to admit. He knew he hadn’t been the greatest partner, and that Viktor was probably joking, but the reminder that Viktor thought of Jayce to be like those other Councillors hurt. He was supposed to be better.
“So,” Viktor started off, wiping the crumbs from his mouth with the swipe of a hand “Why were you crying?”
“Never one to mince your words, huh”
“You’re not a baby,” The words sounded even more condescending coming from his mouth “So, why were you crying?”
“Just thinking”
“About what?”
“About that night” Viktor hummed, and Jayce knew he understood what he meant.
“Are you feeling… similar?”
“No! I swear” Viktor merely raised an eyebrow
“Think of it this way, Jayce. We are almost done. The people- my people- can finally get the liberation they deserve. Because of us” Jayce nodded
“Have you ever… felt this way?” Viktor wasn’t open, all Jayce knew about him was that he used to have parents and he was from Zaun. That’s all. He wanted to know more about his partner, and had tried on multiple accounts but, as usual, Viktor shut it down
“Let’s go. It’s already five, we cannot be anymore late” Jayce’s face dropped, but he nodded nonetheless.

Both Viktor and Jayce made their way to the meeting, both late but were spared nothing more than a fleeting glance. And when the evening repeated itself, the bomb soared through the sky. And when the council shattered to pieces, and Cassandra Kirammen closed her eyes, her body taken by death. When Jayce cradled Viktor’s dead body to his chest, and pressed their foreheads together- all he could feel was an utter and overwhelming sense of helplessness.

As per the last two days,

Jayce woke up.

Chapter Text

Jayce watched the droplets on the shower wall fall, silently hoping that his water droplet would win the race. It didn’t. He’d lived the day three times over, and he’d forgotten what water droplet won every single time. With a sigh that turned into a groan, Jayce let the hot water travel over his body, relaxing his tense muscles.

He wasn’t sure what to do. Where to start. However, he did do all of his best work from the lab. Maybe it wasn’t him, but his environment. Jayce didn’t believe it, but decided that he’d try to go to the lab anyway and see if he came up with any new ideas.

He got dressed and left, quickly grabbing a coffee on his way. He pulled out the key to his lab, looking down to see what time it was. It was 11:30, so that should give Jayce enough time to at least figure out a plan.

He entered and was surprised to see a brown haired person lying down on the desk, face burrowed into the desk. Jayce stifled a laugh at the sight of Viktor. Now he knew what Viktor was doing before he’d come to visit Jayce.

Jayce walked over to him and looked down at his sleeping head fondly. Viktor mumbled something incomprehensible and turned his face, cheek resting against the wooden desk. He was facing Jayce, eyes scrunched tight and lips pursed.

Jayce reached down with a huge hand and ruffled his hair, tussling the coarse strands of caramel brown. The man stayed sleeping and Jayce ran his hands through Viktor’s hair, worsening his bed head. Jayce felt his lips purse into a small smile, eyes melting at the very cute sight of Viktor sleeping.

Viktor mumbled something again, nuzzling Jayce’s hand slightly. Jayce could feel his heart beating faster, his breath hitching as Viktor did the action. It snapped him out of his daze, causing him to pull his hand back.

Right. He was here to figure out a way to get out of this time loop- not basically molest Viktor in his sleep. Jayce sat down in his own seat with a huff, pulling out his beloved journal.

There, he began sketching and writing out theories- essentially just writing down everything he knew.

Viktor woke up around 12:45 with a jolt, his breath harsh as he looked around the room. His eyes widened in surprise when they landed on Jayce, clearly not expecting him to be there.

“Well hello” Jayce said, voice slightly teasing. Viktor hopped off of the desk with a wince, hand reaching up to rub against his back
“Hello Jayce. Why are you here?”
“I’m just doing some work” He gestured down to his journal and Viktor furrowed his eyebrows
“You know today is the council meeting? I would have thought you’d be prepping yourself all morning” Jayce snorted at that, knowing that’s exactly what he was doing on the first day.

The two stayed in silence for a while, Jayce in a standstill and just staring at his notebook whilst Viktor furiously scribbled something into his own notebook. Jayce shot up as an idea came to surface that might help him.

“Say Viktor,” The man in question hummed “What would you do if you were stuck in a time loop?” That got Viktor’s attention, and his head snapped to Jayce’s
“Oh Jayce. What did you do? Are you in a time loop?”
“No! That’s crazy,” Jayce didn’t want Viktor knowing he was in a time loop. He didn’t want to tell him what happened to him in this loop, the gruesome way in which he died. “I’m just saying hypothetically”
“Hypothetically, I would probably do whatever I wanted”
“Viktor” Jayce said, his voice reprimanding
“What?! May as well walk the streets naked, no ones going to remember anyways” Jayce laughed a little at that, smile still on his face as he asked his next question
“I’m being serious. How would you leave the time loop?” Viktor swivelled around in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face
“Hm, well first I’d wait a few days. Come up with some sort of hypothesis into why this time loop is occurring. See the constant that sends me back into said loop. Then I’d come up with some sort of way to stop the loop from happening”
“How?”

Viktor sighs, looking around for something. He grabs a cup of water and slides over to Jayce in his chair, the two side by side.

“See this cup of water?” Jayce nods “Look at what happens to this water originally” Viktor tips the water over, letting it spread across the table “Now, look at this water again” Viktor grabs Jayce’s water bottle and refills the cup. He holds a pen to the rim of the cup, letting the bottom of the pen wedge against the table. He tries to push the water over but it doesn’t move. “See. The water originally tips over. I’ve stopped it from tipping over. Therefore, the water cup won’t refill because it doesn’t need to be refilled. The original event, where the water ends up spilt on the table, no longer occurs”
“So I just need to stop my water from spilling?”
“Whatever that may be, yes. You could also-” Viktor grabs Jayce’s coffee, ignoring his shouts of protests. Viktor tips the coffee over, the darkness of the liquid seeping into the wooden surface “Replace your water” He holds the water up in the air with a slight grin “Or just live in the time loop forever and go crazy.”

He shrugs his shoulders and moves back to his own desk, humming slightly as he continues to scrawl in his notebook. Jayce stares at the cup of water, hands clenching the plastic cup. He looks back up at Viktor, the man bopping his head to an invisible tune.

Jayce holds the water up next to Viktor’s head, the cup shaking slightly.

Then, he tips the cup over, letting the water fall to the ground with a splat.

Chapter Text

Jayce looks at Viktor’s sleeping form with a grimace, unable to remove the image of the man laying on the floor dead, his leg bent unnaturally, his spine torn in half. Unable to shake away the sight of blood on the floor, seeping and spreading like some sort of disease, trapping him in this nightmare to watch Viktor die again and again and again, no end in sight.

Jayce’s hands shake slightly, his mind clouded with familiar sayings. You’re not good enough, they whisper to him as he kneels in his best friend's blood. It’s your fault that Viktor’s dying. Everyone around you either dies or gets hurt. It’s no wonder the same happened to Viktor.

He shakes the thoughts away with a jolt, startled when Viktor’s head shoots up. He looks over at Jayce standing by the doorway, his hand anxiously tracing his beloved gem in tight circles. Viktor smiles slightly, and then winces.

“Ah, my back. I must be getting old” He jokes and Jayce snickers slightly. “Are you ok?” Viktor continues, trying his best to look non-chalant but failing.

Jayce nods, knowing he looks the furthest from ok. His hair is a mess, his hands won’t stop shaking, and just five minutes prior he found the number five tattooed just beneath his bracelet, a number he’d tried to scrub off so hard that his wrist began to bleed.

So, at least the Arcane had enough mercy on him to not make him lose all sense of time. It gave him his very own tracker. Etched right into his wrist. Great. Jayce walked to his desk with a sigh, slumping down on it. He opened up his notebook, not at all shocked to find that all his notes from the previous time had been gone.

He grabbed a pen and quickly wrote them down anyway. His mind wandered back to what Viktor had told him, about the water. Jayce supposed, he couldn’t figure out how to stop the water from tipping over if he didn’t know why it tipped over in the first place.

Why was Viktor killed? Who bombed the council in the first place would be the better question. Jayce would have said it was Silco had it not been for the peace treaty. Silco wasn’t that stupid, he wouldn’t bomb the council when they were just about to give him everything he asked for. Neither was that child of his, Jinx. The murderer. He didn’t doubt that she’d try to kill them all, but even she wouldn’t be thick enough to bomb the council as well. Not when she so clearly was loyal towards her father.

No, a different person bombed the council. Maybe if Jayce found that person, he’d be able to save Viktor. He flipped to an empty page in his notebook, and began sketching out a mindmap. He branched off different ideas of who he thought would want to kill not just Viktor but other council members as well. It wasn’t a small list by any means.

“-ayce. Jayce!” Jayce jolted and turned around to look at Viktor, eyes wide.
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been calling you”
“Sorry. I’ve been… preoccupied”
“Clearly. We must be going now. I have to change and it is apparent that you have to as well” Jayce looked down at himself with a grimace, agreeing
“Right. Sorry”

The two left together and the next time they met was in the council room. Jayce zoned out for most of it, knowing what they were saying off by heart at that point. He honestly couldn’t care less about this meeting. He wanted to go back and try and think some more about how to end this loop.

“Jayce” Viktor hissed in his ear and he looked up, realising it was their turn to speak
“Great,” He muttered and then stood up, rolling his shoulders back as the practiced words fell out of his mouth “Councillers… My recent unsanctioned activities in the underground have shown me two things. I’m not fit to govern the people who live there… and neither are you. Our opportunity to demonstrate our compassion, our dedication, our solidarity has passed. They’re right not to trust us”
“You’re walking a fine line Jayce” Spoke Cassandra Kirammen, her face wound tight and Jayce groaned at the words.
“Fuck you ma’am” All the councillors erupted into anger at his words and Jayce grew more and more angry. “Seriously?! Seriously? Are you being fucking honest right now?” They all fell silent.

Jayce looked over at Mel, at her shocked expression, and then at Viktor, whose eyes were wider than he’d even seen them but Jayce carried on. Viktor was right, he may as well do as he wanted because they weren't going to remember anyway.

“How selfish are you? People in Zaun are dying. Dying! They have no food, no water. Children and suffocating out in the streets because your-” He pointed a finger towards Cassandra Kirramen “ventilation systems give them just the right amount of air to breath. The rest is toxic. The people down there, including kids, work either in drugs or in the mines. I’ve never seen such exploitation in my life and I never hope to again. Meanwhile you sit in your golden chairs with all the money people wish for and you cry and bicker over giving the people, your people, a shot for life. You hold on to your gold and your cogs in your greedy fat fingers, moaning when the balance in your account goes down a few thousand. Meanwhile, innocent families are grateful to even see one cog. They scam and steal from one another because they have no choice. You sit up here and you call them a threat whilst enforcers kill and abuse and hurt and do Janna knows what to innocent people whilst you turn a blind eye. You’re greedy. You are selfish and greedy. No wonder they hate us. If you were in their shoes, if you watched the richest people in Piltover call you threats and criminals whilst they sat in their towers with all their money breeding children to act the same as they do, you’d hate yourselves too”

The room was deathly silent as a result of Jayce’s outburst, and his chest heaved and his heart began to slow from the rush of adrenaline

“So don’t sit there and tell me I’m being disrespectful when you all, except you-” He looked over at Mel, staring into her eyes for a beat before moving on “act as if people from Zaun aren’t even people. As if they’re less than simply for being born on the side of the border”

Jayce sat down in his seat with a sigh. A slim hand clasped his shoulder, and he looked to see Viktor with a small smile on his face, eyes grateful.

“Thank you” He whispered and Jayce nodded. It was silent for a couple of minutes before Mel spoke, her voice slightly shaky.
“I support Councillor Talis’ proposal for peace” Other hands raised after that. At last, Kirramen's hand raised. Jayce felt bad for telling a dead woman to fuck off, but he couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Before long, the familiar blue streak ripped across the sky. This time, Jayce immediately reached for Viktor, pulling the man close. He pulled Mel close as well, both of them wrapped in his arms. He closed his eyes and braced his chin to his chest, just before the bomb hit and everything went to shit.

As soon as his eyes opened, he looked at Mel to see her getting up cautiously. Fine. She was fine. Jayce immediately looked at Viktor whose eyes were closed.

No.

He crouched over Viktor, pulling up his body. His head flopped back and Jayce stifled some bile. His neck was-

Jayce pulled his head back up, shaking Viktor’s body slightly. He’s alive, he could still be alive. A hand on his back caused him to jolt slightly, and he looked back to see Mel standing over him with a sorrowful expression on his face. Jayce shook his head, sharp.

No.

The ringing hadn’t come yet, so Jayce wasted no time and scooped Viktor in his arms and began running. Maybe the loop was already over, maybe all he had to do was stand up to the council. That must be the reason why he hadn’t gone back yet. This meant he could still save Viktor.

He ran through the hallways, breath tight against his chest as he sprinted. A look at his watch caused him to grimace. It was 11:45. He was always sent back at midnight. He was sure of it.

That gave him fifteen minutes to figure out how to save Viktor. He could do it.

Jayce pushed open the door to their lab with a shove, placing Viktor gently on the table. He looked around and saw the Arcane, saw the Hex warp and twirl. He hesitated for just a minute before grabbing it and aiming it at Viktor’s body.

It immediately began fusing to his body, the power strong. It drew Jayce in, and he planted his two feet strongly against the floor as the purple spread and began to envelope the whole room.

Jayce It called and he froze, keeping the Arcane’s energy where it was You do not get to take the easy way out. We have bestowed upon you a lesson. Learn, young one. We are not fooled. You may try as much as you want to save Viktor, if you do not learn yourself what to do then he will keep on leaving you.
“Why?!” Jayce screamed, violent and raw and harsh. The Arcane laughed at him, the sound as if a thousand children screamed at once
You have used us. We will now use you. Take care, young fool. This is going to be very hard for you.

The energy pulsed more and more, frantic and full of energy, before it suddenly stopped. It fell to the ground, all power gone and Jayce fell with it, his head hitting the floor with a bang. He could feel the blood rushing out of his head, and vaguely wondered if he was dying.

He then remembered what the Arcane said. No, he wasn’t dying. For now, he was in its game, a pawn for the Arcane to play with. Jayce didn’t know if it was better for him to be alive but stuck in this sick cycle or dead.

The ringing (when did that come back?) quietened and Jayce knew what was about to happen.

He woke up.

Chapter Text

Jayce shot out of bed, heart pounding as the ringing in his ear ceased to exist. 10 days. He’d been stuck in the same day for 10 days. The number stood stark on his wrist, etched so harsh that he didn’t think it would ever leave. Ever since the Arcane had spoken to him, Jayce had been too scared to do much more but to follow the original script. To wake up in the morning and paste a smile on his face, grab a coffee and sandwich and shove it down his throat even if he felt like he’d retch it up later. Greet Viktor at the door, smile at him even though he was going to die that day and the day after and the day after and Jayce would never be able to save him because that’s what the Arcane was trying to tell him, wasn’t it? That it didn’t matter what he did, Viktor would still be dead by the end of the day.

It didn’t matter how hard he tried or fought, he would still clutch his lifeless partner's body in his arms as he succumbed to the sound of the ringing and that pulling feeling of his body and he’d tip over right into the same day again.

The Arcane was trying to teach him a lesson.

Jayce would rather be dead.

As his feet swung over the edge of the bed, sockless feet jolting slightly from the harsh coldness of the floor, Jayce decided he couldn’t do it anymore. Couldn't play this game anymore. Just for one day, just for today, he needed to stay away from the cursed council room.

Jayce straightened up, his eyes wide. What if that was the problem? Here he had been, moping, but what if the Arcane was trying to tell him something. You may try as much as you want to save Viktor, if you do not learn yourself what to do then he will keep on leaving you. It wasn’t telling him Viktor was destined to die again and again. It was telling Jayce that he had to figure out what to do to stop Viktor from dying.

Surely it started in the council room. Maybe if he took Viktor away- Jayce shook the thoughts away. No, he wouldn’t get hopeful just yet. Even so, he could feel the weightless balloon grow in his chest, happy and elated and free for the first time he’d been in days. He finally had somewhat of a plan.

That morning, he went to Eriko’s and brought a sandwich. Two of the most expensive ones at that. He grabbed Viktor's favourite drink and splurged on his own, knowing that the money would return- well, maybe it wouldn’t. If Jayce woke up tomorrow morning 50 cogs less, he wouldn’t be anything but happy.

Jayce grabbed the food and headed back to his apartment, and then faltered in the middle of his room, bed unmade and sheets strewn across the room.

How would he convince Viktor to stay? According to Viktor, this was one of the most important council meetings, and he’d only have it once. And if he did wake up tomorrow in a new day, surely he’d be in a lot of trouble for skipping a council meeting?

Jayce left his room, and then quickly went back inside, dabbing some hot water on his face. He loosened his tie and ruffled his eyes, grabbing some mascara (... no he definitely did not wear mascara) and blotted it under his eyes, hoping it gave him the effect he wanted.

Jayce left his room and slumped through the hallways, a room in mind. He turned and twisted through them, the walk familiar to him. Then, at last, he stopped outside of the door, raising his hand for a weak tap against the door.

“Come in” The person called and Jayce grinned slightly before hiding it. He entered and turned his back to the person, shutting the door behind him
“Jayce”
“Mel” He called back, coming face to face with his wonderful girlfriend.

Oh, how he missed her. He really did. After he figured out how to save Viktor, after today, he’d be able to spend all the time he wanted with Mel. He could have his future with her, the one he’d always dreamed of. He’d be able to wrap his arms around her waist and smile, this entire experience a distant memory.

But, for now, none of that could happen. Not until he’d saved Viktor. So, he slumped over and scrunched up his face, eyes squinted and nose bunched. The look must’ve worked because Mel came right up to him.

“Oh, Jayce. Are you ok?” She said, sounding vaguely disgusted and Jayce didn’t blame her. He’d be disgusted as well. Jayce nodded, coughing slightly.
“Yeah” He lowered his voice and it came out croaky. Even better
“Look, we have the council meeting tonight. It is quite an important one. It’d be best if you didn’t miss it” Jayce cursed in his head and looked up at Mel, unable to stop affection shining through his faux sickness.
“Mel, I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t serious. I shouldn’t even be in front of you right now, you could get sick as well,” She stepped back and Jayce felt slightly guilty but he continued “Please. Tomorrow. That’s all I ask. Tomorrow” Mel hesitated, and Jayce surged forwards again, coughing so badly that it sounded like he was hacking
“Alright, alright. Do you think you’ll be better by tomorrow?” Jayce nodded quickly, unable to stop himself from reaching down and pecking her on the cheek. He ran out and she called after him, mad but her voice so amusing.
“Jayce! Jayce! I better not get sick, if I do you’re dead” He grinned to himself.

He entered his apartment again, this time with a game plan. After scoffing down the sandwich and drinking the lukewarm drink, Jayce got back under his covers and then realised something.

“Shit!” He jumped out of bed and threw on his tackiest pyjamas, the ones that he’d had since he was 18 and had finally stopped growing, that his mother could barely afford. They were his favourite pair. They were also the pair Jayce wore whenever he felt sick, a fact that Viktor knew.

Jayce dipped a thermometer in hot water just a little, enough to make it believable that he was actually sick, and then got back in bed.

Just as Jayce predicted, the knock on his door came no less than 5 minutes later.

“Jayce?” Viktor called when Jayce didn’t answer the door yet
“It’s open” He said, voice just the right amount of raspy. Viktor walked in and stopped short when he saw Jayce. He walked over to him, concern heavy on his face
“Are you ok?” Jayce started to nod, but after a forced cough, shook his head
“No,” He whined, leaning further into Viktor’s cool hand that wiped the plastered hair away from his forehead “I’m sick”
“Do you need me to get anything for you? Ah, what about the council meeting?”
“I already told Mel if we could reschedule for tomorrow. I’m really sorry Viktor” Viktor shook his head, playfully smacking Jayce on the arm
“It’s just like you to get sick just before one of the most important council meetings we’ll have. This is because you were up all night worrying” Was he? Jayce didn’t even remember what the previous day had been like, he could only remember what he’d done, including talking to Silco.

Viktor sat beside Jayce, a book in his hand as he read. Jayce closed his eyes besides him, not quite sleeping but not ready to let this moment yet go. This was one of the first times in the past 10 days that he and Viktor had just… been. Sure, Jayce was worried about Viktor’s death but some part of him was convinced that the cycle would end today. He looked over at Viktor who was entranced in his book with a soft smile on his face.

He remembered a time when Viktor had been sick. Viktor never told anyone when he was sick, he didn’t think it mattered, was his reasoning. That as long as he could do work, then it wouldn't matter if he was sick. For a scientist he sure was stupid. It finally came to a point where Jayce had to threaten to carry Viktor to his room, to which Viktor didn’t speak to him for 30 minutes. He didn’t do anything until a cough forced its way up his throat and the little silence game they were playing ended.

Then, and only then, did Viktor agree to go back to his apartment. Jayce, of course, didn’t trust him. So he followed Viktor and waited in his apartment until he was sure Viktor was actually sleeping. Then he’d made him the soup his mother would always make him when he was sick, he’d teared up whilst making it but Viktor didn’t see it so did it really happen?, and put it in containers in the fridge.

Jayce smiled softly at the day, sort of proud of himself that he actually had gotten Viktor to rest. Granted, Viktor didn’t do anything if he didn’t want to do it, but Jayce still counted it as a victory.

He must’ve fallen asleep whilst wafting through the soft memories of his and Viktor’s relationship because the next time he woke up, the sun had already set. A glance to the right showed him that the time was 11.

Jayce shot up and cursed himself. He wasn't actually sick? How on earth did he sleep that long? Sure, he felt like he hadn’t slept in days because whilst he did wake up at the beginning of the time cycle, he couldn’t actually remember sleeping. He wasn’t sure if his consciousness got transported into his body just before he woke up or the very second he got into bed… what was Jayce even thinking?

He shook the thoughts off, his rambling brain going a mile a minute, and looked to the side. He didn’t see Viktor, and for a very frightening second, his heart stopped. Viktor didn’t-no. Why would Viktor go to the council without him? Jayce was being silly.

It still didn’t stop his racing heart from kicking up, thumping violently against his ribcage and he looked around his room, praying that Viktor was somewhere in there. His hands ran anxiously through his hair, tussling the bed head even more, and Jayce embarrassingly felt a wetness sting his eyes. He was not going to cry. Nope.

Jayce stormed over to his bed and was about to let out a scream when he caught onto a pink coloured post it note on his bedside table. There, in Viktor's familiar scrawl, was a note telling Jayce that he’d just gone out to get some food for the two of them. Jayce calmed down, but barely.

What if whilst Viktor was out he- Jayce shook his head. No. Jayce had done everything right. He’d stopped them from going to the council. That must’ve been what stopped this cycle. A part of his brain, loud and blaring like an alarm, told him that this wasn’t the end of it. Just because he’d removed Viktor from that stupid council room, it didn’t mean that the curse was suddenly over and that the Arcane forgave him.

But what did Jayce know? 10 days ago, if you’d have asked him what he thought he’d be doing right now, he would have said that he was starting to build relations with the undercity. Not that he was stuck in some sort of sick time loop where he had to watch his best friend die.

Jayce left the apartment and walked fastly out of the building. He knew where Viktor was, knew that he’d be getting sandwiches from Eriko’s because he knew that it was Jayce’s favourite. Jayce crossed the street and Eriko’s was right there-

Was that Viktor? The man leaned heavily on his cane, holding two bags in his other hand. Jayce sped up, almost there. Viktor turned to the right and spotted Jayce, and Jayce was near enough to see the surprised expression on his face morph to one of amusement. He raised that bag in his hand as a greeting and Jayce was only a couple feet away now-

A shadow from behind Viktor appeared and Jayce’s heart dropped. Viktor hadn’t realised it yet, didn’t realise it until Jayce saw him fall to the ground, red seeping through the spot where the man had stabbed him. Jayce didn’t know who it was or what they wanted, didn’t think about anything other than his partner as he collapsed to the floor.

Jayce skidded, knees burning as he slid to a stop right in front of Viktor. He cradled Viktor’s upper body to his chest and screamed- Janna, he screamed until his lungs hurt and his face burned. Screamed as he felt the sticky maroon substances seep into his own shirt, coating them both in something that was meant to belong only to Viktor.

He screamed as his head tilted up to the Gods, up to the Arcane and he pleaded and begged and cried for this to just stop, for him to wake from this nightmare. He wanted to see Viktor alive and not have to worry if he’d be in this position come night, clutching his partner to his chest, resting their foreheads against one another as Jayce’s tears hit Viktor’s cold, dead face.

Jayce screamed until the ringing quietened and the only thing he could feel was the slide of Viktor’s forehead against his own.

Jayce stopped screaming.

He woke up.