Work Text:
In all timelines, in all possibilities,
Only you,
Can show me this.
~~~
Jayce leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he looked around the room full of other party goers. He hadn’t wanted to be there, had practically gotten on his knees and begged to be excused, but as it was every year, attendance was mandatory.
He could be in his lab working on numerous projects right now instead of trapped in this room full of mindless idiots who didn’t even understand the basics of science. Yet they all claimed they wanted to talk about future projects with him, but he knew none of them would ever understand him.
Mentally, he’s constructing a hammer in his mind to distract himself from the mindless chatter that surrounds him. He thinks about one maybe that’ll repel energy it can absorb, tries to find a work around for how the wielder would absorb damage when holding it,how the weight of the hammer can counteract the swing reverb when his eyes begin to glance around the room.
Honestly speaking, Jayce could stand there all night making up projects in his mind, but he would like to find a real distraction. His eyes land on another figure across the room. Another man around his age, shorter and leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. An old cane is propped against the wall next to him, but Jayce can tell even from across the room that isn’t why the man is leaning against the wall in a corner.
Curious about the unknown man, and also too bored for anything else, Jayce removes himself from his own corner and approaches the other as casually as he can.
Some people try to approach him, try to strike up a conversation with him but he dismisses them with a hand wave and a grimace.
Jayce continues his strider towards the stranger hidden away from the party, and weaves through people standing about as swiftly as he can.
He can see the moment the shorter man spots him because he straightens a little on the wall and ducks his head, trying to look as uninteresting as possible.
Jayce doesn’t care though, and he pushes forward through the crowd of bumbling idiots before leaning against the wall next to him.
“So what are you doing away from everyone?” Jayce asked, no pleasantries or introductions as per usual. Jayce tended to scare people off with his blunt and “crass” way of speaking and carrying himself but he couldn’t care enough to change.
The man raised an eyebrow at him before awkwardly gesturing to the crowd.
“I don’t want to be here,” The other man said, the boredness seeping into his words. He might as well have groaned with how upset he sounds. “I do not like people.”
“I’m okay with people,” Jayce said. He didn’t mind others, really, it was just others who minded him. He shrugs a little as he looks out at everyone. “Just not with these idiots.”
The man looked at him incredulous but with a grin.
“Why, these are some of Piltover’s most intelligent scientists and public figures roaming around,” The man said. “And you just called them idiots.”
“Whenever I try to explain any of my works or theories to them, they look like a toddler trying to figure out how to stand,” Jayce defended. “I don’t want to waste my breath or time conversing with these mindless drones.”
“Mm, seems we have that in common then,” The man said and Jayce turned to look at him curiously. The man gives him a sideways grin that Jayce finds he thinks is a little charming. “My name is Viktor, by the way.”
Jayce decided that the man hasn’t wasted his time (yet) and that this conversation was proving a perfect distraction from his prior boredom, so he offers his name back. “Jayce.”
“Would you mind sharing one of your projects then, Jayce?” Viktor asked. “Maybe I can keep up.”
Jayce considers him, looks him up and down and then shrugs and begins to explain the concept of the hammer he had been mind-designing only minutes prior.
Viktor listens with rapt attention, nodding slowly and considerably before he pipes up.
“Have you considered making the hammer so that it can not only fully absorb powers or attacks, but also collect them?” Viktor asked and Jayce raised an eyebrow.
“How do you mean?”
“Like the energy builds with each attack. Instead of it returning the attack on the first swing, it could hold it.” Viktor suggested and Jayce nodded slowly.
“Good idea in concept, but how would you go about creating that?” Jayce asked, exceptionally intrigued by Viktor’s sudden suggestion, no matter how strange or impossible it may seem.
“Well that’s a problem for once you’ve created the hammer,” Viktor said. “You can always improve on your original design, but trying to create without a solid plan leads you nowhere.”
Jayce hums in curiosity, and Viktor smiles with a brilliant spark in his eyes, but something in that smile has an edge, almost startling and the edge scares Jayce a little, but he doesn’t run off.
Instead, he invites Viktor to join him in his lab the next day, and Viktor accepts.
This had been the beginning of a very complicated story for them, and it would end with heartbreak on both sides. But they would spend years working together, Jayce would grow used to Viktor’s ridiculous antics, Viktor would grow used to Jayce’s rude behavior. They would disagree with work ethics and plans, but ultimately stick it out for years to come. They would become enemies, fighting each other with weapons created from a magic orb, Viktor’s automatons versus Jayce’s hammer. Jayce would be deemed a hero, the Defender of Tomorrow while Viktor would be deemed a villain, the self-proclaimed Machine Herald.
Their story would end with blood, with heavy hammers cracking bones, with metal digging into flesh, with two dead bodies and pools of blood.
Their story would end with them both devoted to each other until their dying breath, even if that devotion stemmed from the need to fight.
---
Jayce walked through the fields of the school on his way to lunch. It was a nice sunny day out, not that it really mattered though since no matter how many times they asked, Professor Graves wouldn’t let them practice outside. Sometimes Jayce thinks he just likes to spite them.
Regardless, Jayce was enjoying the short time outside, the sun on his face before he’d be shacked away in the battle room for the entire afternoon when suddenly he crashes into someone.
The other student falls down quickly, and Jayce would be otherwise unaffected if not for the fact he was still in motion and tripped over their leg.
He lets out a slightly unmanly shout as he crashes into the dirt and he quickly reorients himself, ignoring the slight sting on his palms from catching himself and turned to the other person.
“Dude, watch where you’re going,” The other student said as he said up. He turned around and his eyes widened when he realised he just crashed into Jayce . “Uh, I mean- I didn’t-”
“No, you were right,” Jayce groaned, looking down at his dirtied uniform in disgust. “That was totally my fault. Not looking where I was going. You’re really short too so I completely overlooked you.”
“Oh hah hah .” The other kid mocks back and groaned, moving to stand up but his face twists in pain. “Er, this is embarrassing but I need help up.”
Jayce gets to his feet and raised an eyebrow at the other teen but begrudgingly lent a hand.The other student grunts in pain as he stands and he awkwardly shifts his weight around.
“Are you okay?” Jayce asked, brows furrowed as the boys brows furrow.
“Uh, yes, this is normal,” The guy insisted. “I’ll just go now, be out of your way.”
“No, hang on, you’re hurt, you should go to the nurse.” Jayce said, reaching out and grabbing the other guy’s arm as he tried to walk away.
“I have training.” The guy insisted and Jayce rolled his eyes, almost annoyed.
“You can’t train if your leg hurts.” Jayce stated and something dark flashed across the boys face and he ripped his rm away from Jayce.
“I very well can.” The guy insisted and tried to move away, but his leg must’ve hurt more than he was letting on because as he took a step forward, he winced in pain, letting out a low hiss.
Jayce crossed his arms and raised an unimpressed eyebrow as the other student turned, looking regretfully resigned.
“Fine, but you’re walking me, this is your fault.” The guy insisted and started limping off before Jayce could even argue.
Now, realistically, Jayce could just turn the other way and make it to lunch on time and never see this kid again. But honestly, he was a little intrigued by the guy. He had clearly not meant to insult him when he first realised who Jayce was, but despite that, he was being pissy to him now. Jayce kinda liked it.
He slowed his strides to keep up with the guy as they made it to the medical room. The nurse there was already dealing with another student, probably an injury from a failed training session, but she waves them in and points to an empty cot.
The guy situates himself while Jayce stands a little awkwardly nearby. The nurse finishes with the other kid and comes over, looking tired but giving them a warm smile.
“Hello Jayce, Viktor, what happened?” She asked politely, calmly. Jayce opens his mouth to explain but the guy, Viktor, beats him to it.
“We tripped.” Viktor explained. “Jayce landed on my leg, I just needed time to rest.”
Jayce frowned at Viktor for the lie, but he isn’t entirely socially inept so he stays quiet. The nurse sighed heavily as she moves around the room.
“Alright, I can write you a pass explaining to your professor your absence. Rest as long as you need dear. Jayce, will you be staying with your friend?” She asked.
“Oh he’s not my-” “Yeah, I’ll stay.” Jayce interrupted and Viktor glared at him but also didn’t correct the nurse. She smiles wide and nods.
“You two boys stay here then. If you need to go collect lunch I can also write you a pass to skip the line if you need it.” The nurse offered but Jayce shrugs her off and takes a seat next to the cot Viktor was laying in.
Viktor frowns at him and raises an eyebrow and Jayce leaned over and poked the injured leg. “So what’s the deal here? You lied to her.” Jayce asked and Viktor gives him a long stare before sighing heavily.
“Why are you so interested in this suddenly?” Viktor asked. “Don’t you have Class President things to be focused on? Or club stuff? Go to class or something.”
“Well one, I’d rather be in a room with a window, it’s a nice day,” Jayce waves to the window next to Viktor’s cot. “And two, just curious. You mentioned your leg was just, like that , so I wondering why you’re here is all.”
Viktor is silent for a long moment and for once, Jayce doesn’t push for answers, just waits for the other to finally speak. Which he does five minutes later.
“It wasn’t always like this. I mean, not this bad. A few aches now and then but, nothing too bad,” Viktor said. “Once I got accepted her though, started training for the God Weapons, it got worse. Unbearable. Doctors say it’ll only ever get worse. And there’s no cure or way to fix it. They told me I should drop out because everything I’m doing will only accelerate it.”
“So why are you still here? I mean, if you push yourself too hard, your leg could probably just stop working completely.” Jayce said, frowning and Viktor glared at him.
“I’m not just going to give up .” Viktor said. “I need to prove myself, I am just as worthy as the rest of you, I got accepted just like everyone else. I am strong, I can do this .”
“But you're risking your health,” Jayce said. “That’s a pretty big thing to sacrifice.”
“Why are you here then? Why do you do what you do? Why are you Class President, Club Leader and head of your own company?” Viktor asked and Jayce sighed heavily, beginning to understand the other’s drive for staying despite the risk.
“Something... unspeakable happened when I was younger,” Jayce said. “I want to prevent it from happening ever again. To me or anyone else.”
“There,” Viktor gestured. “Why not consider I may have a similar reasoning then?”
Jayce shrugged and looked off to the side, into the empty medical room, considering. He turned back to Viktor.
“You know, I could probably make you a brace for your knee or something.” Jayce said and Viktor raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah?” He asked and Jayce nodded.
“My talents don’t end at hammers,” Jayce said, lightly with a smile and Viktor returns it. “And you should stop by the club one day, I’m sure you’d learn stuff that could help. Or, even, we could train together. I don’t think I’ve ever fought someone so small before.”
“Okay shut up,” Viktor said with a grin. “We both know that’s not true.”
“I think it is,” Jayce said, dramatically. “Lux might even be taller.”
“Omigod,” Viktor said, shaking his head with a smile. Jayce smiled back widely, settling into his chair more. “I’ll come join your stupid club if you stop right now.”
“Deal.”
Viktor would join the Luminary Club the next week, and the week after that Jayce would present him with a tricked out knee brace that would help Viktor get some weight off that leg. They would begin to train together on weekends, determined to both strengthen each other and themselves. They would vow to find a God Weapon together , that they would accomplish this as a team.
Viktor’s leg would end up getting worse by the end of the year, making it nearly impossible for him to stand without support. He would cry one day, broken in tears before Jayce, who would stare at his friend with a tight frown, and hold him, not sure what to say. Jayce would a month later seek out the God Weapons by himself, he would find one and be declared a hero, one of the greatest superheroes in the world. Viktor would find out and his heart would break in betrayal. He wouldn’t show up to the celebration, he wouldn’t answer his door when Jayce came by.
They would grow apart, Jayce becoming a known hero to all, Viktor becoming a nameless face in the background, forgotten by his peers and professors as his condition worsened.
Years later, their hearts would both still ache and throb at the mention of each other’s names, years later Jayce would still regret going off on his own and Viktor would still hate him for it every day.
---
Jayce stands in his room, heart heavy as he looks at the remnants of well, his life .
Everything he had been researching, everything he had been working on for years, gone in seconds, taking a child’s life with it.
They confiscated all his works, they took everything from him, and the trial had determined him a failure. It was only by the grace of Janna he wasn’t sentenced to life for not only the illegal research of Arcane but being the fault of a death.
He thinks, a little sadly, that the only reason he got let go despite ending a child’s life, was because she had been a Zaunite. If she had been from Piltover, the entire story might have been different.
Jayce looks out at the city, at the people living their daily lives while he reminsces about his own being over.
He was nothing without his research, nothing but a child killer, and he couldn’t take it. He couldn’t handle it.
He moves to take a step forward, planning to go out the open wall, to fall to his death, ending his pathetic life, when someone speaks behind him.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Jayce startles backwards, heart racing and he turns to find a man, Heimerdinger’s assistant, Jayce recalls.
“What- Who are you, what are you doing here?” Jayce asked, emotions racing in his mind, his heart. He’s defensive quick, and also a little embarrassed being caught like this. Failed research and now failed suicide attempt, just lovely.
“The better question is what are you doing here?” The man asked. He’s leaning heavily on a cane, carrying a book that he’s reading as he talks. “The council decided you were forbidden from entering this room again.”
“I don’t think that’s any of your concern.” Jayce said, crossing his arms. “And you still haven’t answered me properly.”
“In who I am or what I’m doing here?” The man asked and Jayce shrugged a little, not really in the mood for talking. “My name’s Viktor, and I’m here because I was intrigued by what you said earlier. About the arcane.”
“It was a stupid idea,” Jayce said pitifully, turning away and facing back out to the city. He adjusts the band on his wrist with a frown and sighed heavily. “I’ve been studying it for years, it was never going anywhere.”
“Never going anywhere because you had a one track mind,” Viktor informed. “I see great potential in your work. I think you truly have a mind for the future.”
Jayce turned at the mention of his work and just now notices that Viktor is holding his journal tracking all his projects. His face flushed a little when he remembered he had signed every page and had senseless rambles on most of the pages. Viktor gives him a small, knowing grin at that.
“It doesn’t matter, they shut down my work.” Jayce said. “I don’t even have permission to study here anymore.”
“Well,” Viktor approaches him hesitantly. “When you’re going to change the world, don’t ask for permission.”
Jayce turned to Viktor, who has a determined expression, and suddenly, something like hope sparks in his chest.
So they work that night, they break into Heimerdinger’s lab and get everything they need for their research, and they work fast and they race against the clock and the banging of guards shouting for them.
And it doesn’t work.
Something goes wrong or their calculations were off but it doesn’t work and the guards burst in and haul Jayce, as well as Viktor now, to jail cells.
“It was worth a shot,” Viktor said and Jayce agrees. It was worth a shot, and he thinks that maybe if they had more time, that maybe if he met Viktor sooner, that maybe if they had tried just one thing different, it would’ve worked.
They’re sentenced to life. Jayce for immediately breaking the terms of his pardon and Viktor for knowingly engaging in a crime. They’re shipped off to Stillwater, where they spend the rest of their days.
It’s terrible, but Jayce thinks maybe it could’ve been worse, that maybe being alone, he would’ve hated every waking minute of his life. But he’s there with Viktor, and though they had only known each other for a short time prior, they stay close in Stillwater. They stay connected.
But as time goes on, as prison life begins to harden their skin, begins to chips their curves into edges, it begins to become too much.
Jayce blames Viktor for them being there, Viktor blames him for them being there. Jayce insists it’s because Viktor wanted to work with the Arcane with him that landed them there and Viktor insisted it was his lack of experience and his naivety that ever even led to Jayce getting in trouble in the first place.
They grow apart, but they can’t really grow anywhere else in this place. So they begrudgingly still interact, but their once friendly encounters become loathesome, they begin to start fights, to have regular shouting matches.
It gets them thrown into solitary a lot, but Jayce prefers the time alone to think.
He wishes things were different. That it had worked out, because even now, even with his blind hatred, he thinks maybe they would’ve made good partners. Maybe they would’ve changed the world one day.
---
Jayce’s forehead is pressed to Viktor’s as the world around them swirls and shifts. He gasps as memories and visions of other worlds, of other possibilities flow in his mind and future Viktors words flood through his head.
In all timelines, in all possibilities,
Only you,
Can show me this.
He had in that moment assumed Viktor had meant Hextech, the Arcane in itself.
But now, as he holds Viktor close to him, as Viktor’s hand soothingly rubs his arm, comforting him as he can feel them slipping away, he realised what he had really meant.
Love . Hate. Trust. Betrayal.
Through it all, through every universe, they fall for each other hard. But then things take a turn, and they end hating each other.
Part of Jayce is bitter, bitter that in no universe are they happy. In no universe do they get the sweet happy ending.
The other part is happy that here and now, in this universe with magic flowing around his every cell, that Viktor doesn’t hate him and he doesn’t hate Viktor.
His partner, his friend, his love was here with him, holding him as they braced for the end.
Jayce felt his lips stretch into a smile as he fades away.