Chapter Text
Viktor and I worked the rest of the day on fixing up and cleaning the cluttered room. I carefully wiped down the board for a fresh start while Viktor sorted through some piles after he had recovered. I tried to ask him to step outside for some fresh air since the room was so congested and I was scared he would have a coughing fit again, but he was adamant on staying and helping out, insisting that he was fine. I guess it did happen a lot.
Either way, it just made me more eager to start working on a eventually perfecting Hextech. After I had tidied up my side of the room, I walked over to a Viktor who was conscientiously reading through some notes and fiddling with some tools.
I placed a hand on his shoulder as I approached behind him and he seemed startled but gave a small smile. “This is some interesting work you have here, truly,” he said.
I was flattered to hear him praise my work, even though he had been doing it since the beginning. He was a genius, he had to have been, making his way from the depths of Zaun and becoming the assistant of perhaps the most influential creature in Piltover. The fact that he liked my work made everything feel more worthwhile.
“Thank you,” I replied and reached over, “May I?”
Viktor tilted his head to glance at me, “Sure,” and handed me a circular prototype I had created months ago that he was holding. It was junk now, but it may be useful later.
I was close, and my fingers brushed against his as I grabbed it, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
As I told him a little about it along with some of the other “junk” scattered across the table, I watched his eyes.
They were curious, stern, intimidating, soft and gentle all the same time. Every color but one solid simultaneously; mixes and various hues of brown, yellow, and golden. They were stunning.
I don’t know why I’m thinking these things, feeling these things, but eventually I guess I trailed off.
“Jayce?”
I snapped back into focus and realized how close we were standing. Viktor wasn’t holding anything anymore but up against the table behind him. He looked up at me with those eyes.
I stared.
“Jayce?” Viktor repeated with that voice of his.
I stepped back a little, “Sorry,” was all I could muster. I shook my head and shuffled over to another corner of the room and continued cleaning up. I watched Viktor from the corner of my eye as he did the same somewhere else. I rubbed my forehead, what was I doing? I don’t understand how I got so distracted. I’m known for being so focused and serious, especially when it comes to my work.
I traced my thoughts back and realized. I was thinking about him. In a way that I probably shouldn’t. In a way I really shouldn’t. He was my scientific partner! He had done so much for me, yet… More than I had done for him anyway. Unprovoked, unsolicited, he helped me. Simply because he was a good person. And here I was doing the most to save my own skin from imprisonment.
I felt a hand on my shoulder that snapped me out of thoughts again. I found myself removing my hand from my forehead, where I guess my fingers were still digging into stressfully.
“You want to take a break for tonight?” Viktor asked, “You seem..” he trailed off and did that little nod thing I noticed he does with his head and shrugged.
“Yeah,” I chuckled and stood up, “Must be the dust,” I said with a laugh.
Viktor scoffed and chuckled too, “Yeah, must be.”
I wondered what he was thinking. “We’re pretty much done here anyway,” I said dismissively, moving my hands away from Viktor to clap them a few times to get the dust off. “Dinner?” I asked a little too casually.
Viktor looked at me questioningly. “I don’t know you that well, Jayce,” he said lightly.
“Yet,” I corrected with a smile as we exited the room. “The only way to change that is by spending time together, don’t you think?” I shut the door behind us and turned towards him.
Viktor looked both ways then up at me again.
I raised a brow expectantly.
He reluctantly shrugged.
My face lit up, “Exactly! See, I knew you’d come around.” I stepped towards him and placed my hands on his shoulders.
“Jayce, I-“ Viktor faltered, “Ehh, I don’t know. I don’t do dinners.”
“Come on,” I said, though hesitantly. “We’ve been working hard all day. You deserve it.”
Viktor looked up at me with an oh-come-on look, “You deserve it too. You were hallucinating back there.”
I smiled and looked away, dropping my hands, then looked back with pretend(ish) pleading eyes, “Please?”
Viktor stared for a bit then gave in and said, “Oh, fine.” He rolled his eyes and began walking away.
“Meet here at 7, okay?” I called out after him, making my way behind me.
Viktor threw up an annoyed hand in agreement and I laughed. I heading towards the elevators we came from with a smile on my face while Viktor went to the ones on the opposite end of the hallway.
I pumped my fists in the air. It was a good day, I was happy. I was free from years in prison, able to pursue my life’s work with all the resources in the world with an amazing partner, and got all my stuff organized.
Viktor stood in the other elevator contemplating life, as he had done countless times before. He was confused as to why Jayce was so insistent on having dinner. But he didn’t forget those moments they shared in the room.
I practically stormed into my house to get ready. It had been a long day, I was hungry, and I could use a shower. My mother was waiting there, barraging me with questions.
I explained to her briefly what took place at court and that I was free to go, so she didn’t have to worry, and that I spent the day sorting out my confiscated items. I didn’t mention Viktor though. I proceeded to tell her I was in a rush to get to a work dinner and headed upstairs.
I took off my dust filled clothes and stepped into the bathroom. I couldn’t help but check myself out in the mirror, it was habit. I took a steamy shower and changed into somewhat formal clothing. The restaurant I had in mind wasn’t very casual, and I smacked my head realizing I didn’t let Viktor know.
Viktor stood in front of his closet, hair wet, reaching for what he usually wore and put it on.
I finished up with hair gel and cologne and left the house, throwing a jacket over my shoulder. I headed towards the Academy, finding myself avoiding the Enforcers guarding because they weren’t too familiar with me yet, and I didn’t feel like wasting time explaining things to them, like who I was and especially where I was going.
I got to the door we agreed to meet at before Viktor. As I was waiting, I felt the urge to take a look at my stuff again. It was right there, and after having it all nearly taken away from me and destroyed, I felt more attached to it than ever. I took a deep breath and turned the handle, peering inside to see everything neatly stacked and compiled. I smiled, feeling extremely proud.
I heard footsteps behind me and almost jumped when I turned to see Viktor right there.
“You’re quite, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Mmm, I try,” Viktor replied with a smile. “Admiring your work?” he asked.
“Our work,” I corrected, “And yes,” I responded with a chuckle and I eyed him. “You look nice.”
“Oh,” Viktor stammered a little, “Thank you. I thought I didn’t dress fancy enough,” he looked at me pointedly.
“It’s fine,” I waved my hand at him, “Let’s go then, shall we?”
Viktor followed me out the doors. “You know where we are going?” he asked.
“Hm?” I responded distractedly, “Oh, yeah, I had a place in mind.”
“Okay.”
We got into a taxi and I showed the driver my phone so he could silently take us to the restaurant. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise, but it would be more fun that way.
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know,” I tried not to laugh and hoped the darkness concealed the stupid look on face.
Viktor tsk’d, “A grown man, yet so immature,” he chuckled.
I didn’t like the distance we had between us. I wanted to sit closer to him. But I simply waited until we reached our destination, just a somewhat fancy restaurant with a bar, one of my favorite spots in Piltover. I walked over to his side’s door before he could even step out and held my arm out to help.
He looked up at me and then around us before deciding to accept and gripped my arm as he pulled his cane out.
He wobbled and I instinctively reached over and grabbed his mid-torso as he readjusted himself.
He grabbed onto my shoulder and his eyes met mine, “Thanks,” he mumbled.
I nodded and removed my hands, “You got it?”
He nodded and we walked up to restaurant’s entrance.
The joint almost doubled as a pub, it was loud and noisy as we walked in, people chugging beers, playing pool, making out in the corner and more. But when the waiter seated us it grew quieter as he took us to the more restaurant-y area. We took our seats in a booth.
“This is my favorite place in town,” I explained. I watched Viktor’s expression and body language, “You been here before?”
He shrugged, “A few times. It’s nice.”
The music took over any silence there was between us, and it was soothing.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, “I wanted to thank you again for everything you’ve done for me. Seriously.” I looked at him genuinely.
He nodded, “You don’t have to thank me, it’s my pleasure. Your research deserves to be seen.” He glanced away and stared at the table.
“Is something wrong?”
Viktor shook his head and grabbed a menu in front of him, passing one to me.
We ate dinner, talking about some future plans and possibilities of Hextech. It was strictly professional.
After, we moved to the front of the restaurant for some drinks. I ordered a beer. Viktor ordered some sort of strong cocktail with whiskey in it.
“Do you drink a lot?” I asked curiously, sipping my beer.
Viktor shrugged, “You could say that.”
I tilted my head at him and sighed lightly. I looked around as a somewhat chaos ensued around us.
We finished up our drinks and Viktor stayed staring at the bottom of his glass.
“Is something wrong?” I asked again.
Viktor shook his head again and gestured for the bartender to bring him another drink.
I frowned at him and suddenly felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. I immediately got defensive but I expression dropped as I turned around.
“Jayce! Long time, no see! I heard about your trial!” a large man talked to him loudly.
Viktor looked between the two of us.
“He’s just an old friend,” I explained with a smile.
“C’mon, play some darts with us,” he dragged him over.
I laughed and followed him, looking back at Viktor apologetically who waved him away and raising his glass up to me.
Less than an hour later Jayce’s friend was passed out on the floor. “Alright, big guy, I think that’s enough drinks for you,” he chuckled, patting him on the back. He left him with the rest of the group they were with and headed back to Viktor.
He had a few empty glasses next to him and was staring straight ahead. I furrowed my brows together confusedly and quickened my pace as I approached him. I gently tapped his shoulder and he just blinked slowly without turning to me.
“Viktor?” I ushered, “C’mon, let’s go.” It took some work, but I got him off his seat and balancing on his cane before escorted him out. Halfway through, he threw my hand off his shoulder and walked ahead of me.
I looked around embarrassedly and followed him outside. I caught up to him. “How much did you have to drink?” I asked concernedly as we walked up to a bridge.
He didn’t answer as he stumbled with his cane and kept moving forward. We got to the bridge and about a quarter way through before I stopped him. I grabbed his arm and turned him towards me.
He looked from my hand on his arm to my face angrily. It made me feel awful. But I kept my grip on him. He opened his mouth to speak but I gently covered his mouth with my other hand.
“First, answer my question,” I muttered, in almost a whisper.
I dropped my hand and placed it on the side of his neck, slightly over his cheek.
He shrugged, “I don’t know,” he looked away, uninterested.
I could hear the water swishing beneath us, not too far below. People walked up and down the bridge as I moved Viktor to stand near the edge so he could hold onto something.
“You’re drunk. I can’t let you walk home alone,” I told him.
“I’ll drive,” he huffed, turning around.
“Mm, no, that’s actually worse,” I chuckled as I grabbed his shoulders and turned him around again. My laugh immediately stopped when I saw his face.
He looked away again, pushing away as I held him.
“Viktor?” I mumbled, leaning in, “What’s wrong? Please tell me. Did I do something?”
He shook his head, staring at the floor.
His eyes were watering, a small tear escaped. I brushed it away with my thumb.
“What is this?” he finally asked.
“What?”
Viktor sighed, throwing his arms up angrily, “This!” his cane clattered to the floor.
I immediately went to grab it but stood back up again at Viktor stumbled. I helped him hold onto the edge while I retrieved his cane.
“Viktor, please. You’re drunk and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No.”
“No, what?” I said in an exasperated whisper as people were staring to look. He looked tired and angry. His eyes were reddened, and his mouth hung loose.
“Nobody wants me. I am a nobody. I am a cripple. And I am from the Undercity!” He turned to walk away, leaving his cane behind.
I shook my head and stared at him in confusion, following after him. I wrapped an arm around him and held his cane as he walked.
“Viktor, please don’t say that,” I pleaded.
I groaned as it began to rain, but felt relieved as the people around us began moving indoors. I took off my jacket and held it over Viktor’s head as we made our way off the bridge.
“Nobody wants me,” he repeated. He punched a fist into his chest, “I don’t want me.”
“Viktor-“ he began walking away again. “I want you.”
He stopped and turned to me. We were close, my jacket only stretched so far. It rained harder.
“Please,” I muttered, “I love you.”
He sighed and angrily wiped his face. He stepped closer and hung his head. He rested his forehead against my chest.
“Don’t say that,” he mumbled.
“I mean it.”
I put the jacket down and hugged him.