Work Text:
Otherworldly, was the view. It was beautiful in a way neither of them could compare anything to it. In another time either one of them would've admired it for hours, study it maybe. Admittedly so Jayce had a guilty pleasure for space, something about it enamored him. Something about the possibility of more than then beyond Runeterra.. Although now with the bright flashing from Viktors hands and a force threatening to drag Jayce away- away from Viktor- their surroundings were second to none on their list of priorities. colors indescribable moving and blurring underneath their skin, throughout their whole bodies.
To Viktor, forgiveness was out of the question. just look what he had done- for fucks sake he tried to strangle jayce! Twice! Two times too many. He had left the second he woke up from being fused with the Hexcore. He left his partner without a second thought, but now his partner's hand was real and alive against his neck. It felt like looking through fog, hugging somebody through layers; it was there just muffled. Jayces hand clasped over his own and the most mind boggling of all- his forehead pressed against his. How could he stay? How could he? And here he was, close again and real and– forgiveness was out of the question.
Jayce had already decided he'd forgiven Viktor. Even so, guilt and pain stirred in his chest at the thought of… everything the either of them had done. It's only now, with Viktor against him that the guilt and pain ebbs away. A different feeling burning in his chest. He put his hand on his partner's neck, the feeling almost like static.. then his forehead against his, real and solid. not buzzing with a soul or color- but skin, and not metal. Viktor.
Incandescent and undoubtedly intimate as this was, Long before this Viktor had been used to being unobtrusive. Put to the side and out of the way. Then like an angel down from the heavens he was noticed, but not by an angel, just a boy. Viktor had helped him and in turn Jayce noticed him. Jayce in truth was enthralled by Viktors mind, him truly in all sense. This had yet to change. Even after he left Jayce in pursuit of more, the glorious evolution. even after Jayce had shot a hole through his chest. that indisputable bond had yet to leave, and now they could feel it. The both of them could feel it. Even as the light turned blinding and the world faded around them in a violent yank into nothingness- into unknown, oblivion and somewhere new.. the bond never let up, not once. bound together by fate as they were eaten by the cosmos.
—
A bright flashy banner over an even more ornate doorway that read ‘The annual Distinguished Innovators Competition’ in cursive. Hundreds of talented people walking through ahead of them with machines in tow, undoubtedly better than theirs.
“I'm gonna throw up.”
“Please don't.”
—
“Oh I have a good one- What's your favorite thing you've ever made?”
“A miniature boat.”
“Oh wow.. Didn't pin you as a fisherman.”
A scoff.
“A voyager perhaps?”
—
“I don't need you to coddle me–”
“Yes yes, I know.. but you are my best friend and it is midnight.” Jayce pulled him away, urging the man to let up on the constant work.
“Jayce.”
“Viktor.”
“I'm just fine-” jayce cut him off with a groan
“go home.” a pause “For me?” puppy dog eyes, of course.
“Ehh… I'm staying late tomorrow.”
—
Stupid Gala, stupid rich snobs–
“This is Viktor, my partner.”
it was silly to get flustered at the label, they were just business partners.. but they were equal. That's what made him almost, almost blush. Viktor had to fumble to shake the Noble’s hand. Stupid Jayce.
—
He was so focused it was almost comical. The cease in his brow, the pout played on his lips, neither sign of frustration giving any signs of letting up. His hair a messy mop of brown from an incessant frustrated hand raking through it several times over. He was staring, Jayce knew he was staring at the other man. How could he not? Jayce admired his partner, how could he not stare?
“Pass me the- ehh.. The small wrench.” Viktors voice pulled him from his reverie.
“Ah- Yes- of course.”
—
“You look fancy, big council event?” Sky asked, making small talk.
“Ah, just a little council party.” Jayce smoothed over his vest once, twice, thrice over.
“Well I hope you enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Sky.” a short pause, she turned back to her work,
“Where's Viktor?” Jayce asked. Sky looked over her shoulder, eyebrows raised.
“Viktor? ah, his desk.”
Jayce nodded before walking in the direction his partner chose to bury himself in on the daily.
There, slouched over his desk like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders was his partner. The Hexcores bright blue glow casting an outline of Viktor onto the floor. Jayce wouldn't be surprised if he moved and the shadow stayed like it was permanently engraved.
“Vik.” Jayce murmured and when he got no response a sigh past his lips.
“Viktor.” He repeated, louder this time around
“Jayce.”
“Thought you were dead for a second over there.”
The only response he received was a quiet hum from Viktor then the thrum of magic from the core.
“How long have you been working? You'll work yourself to the bone if I let you.” It was the truth, in all honesty. Viktor very well would mull over his work over and over until he eroded to bone and beyond.
“I'm busy, Jayce.”
“Yes, but-”
“You have a party, no? Shoo.”
“Right. Goodnight, V.”
—
“It was Affection that–”
—
“I thought you were done with Hextech.” Pain shot through his head from his eyes right to the back of his skull
“And me.”
—
—
For a moment all Viktor could feel was nothing. Then the dull ache in his knee informed him that he was still in fact alive. Next was a cool breeze. Then something uncomfortable against his back, A stick pressing against his shoulder blade and tall grass surrounding the rest of him. It's not until Jayce shifts that he realizes he never stopped feeling him against his skin. Golden eyes met clear blue skies. The kaleidoscope colors that used to mar them gone. Then finally as he completely came to he felt the throbbing throughout his entire head. Viktor guessed Jayce felt it too when he groaned.
“..Jayce?” Viktor murmured, raspy and barely audible. He heard Jayce gasp and sit up, Viktor hadn't realized how he was practically halfway on top of Jayce until he moved and at the absence of his body he fell further against the dirt with a huff
“Viktor.” He breathed out, a whisper against the wind. A gasp escaped his lips when Jayces hands found his cheeks. Jayces breaths came out in ragged gasps, eyes wide and jaw hung open.
“Viktor..” He whispered again, tears beginning to brim the edges of his eyes. A breathy laugh left Viktors lips when he realized his eyes were running over his face over and over and over-
“It's you.” his voice cracked as he spoke, running his thumbs over his cheekbones as if he had done it a thousand times before. Now the tears were really threatening to spill.
“It's me.” His voice was foreign to even himself. still cracked with misuse, but it was his. He almost forgot the sound of it, the sound of his accent sliding off his tongue into words only his.
“It was always me.” His voice cracked again, this time muddled with emotion. He dipped his head down to hide his face, away from Jayce. Strong warm hands pull him up against his chest. The warmth is almost what makes him cry.
“I know.” Jayce murmurs, dropping his head against Viktors shoulder.
“I know.” He repeated
“I'm sorry- i- I'm sorry-” Viktor starts only to be silenced by his own sobs. He isn't sure when Jayce started crying with him but when he pulled back he could see the tears streaked down his cheeks. Jayce presses their foreheads back together.
“My partner.” Jayce whispered.
—
Neither of them are sure how long they stayed on that field. Tears mixing with hushed apologies.. Jayces eyes kept slipping to a white scar on his partner's skin, on the right side of his chest. The ripped blanket slipped down enough to show most of it. He didn't even need to ask, he knew. Guilt ate at him, even if he knew he had to do it.. to try and save the world. A hard trade, your best friend for the world. Though now, as he helps Viktor walk to a small town in the distance.. he knew he chose right in the end.
—
The inn's fire was dim, and he and Viktor stuck out like a sore thumb in this quaint and rustic building, they didn't belong here. He wanted to ask the inn keep questions regarding everything, but the lack of Piltover on the small map on the wall answered enough, they really didn't belong here. He could guess Viktor saw it too. He didn't say anything when Viktor squeezed his hand.
Not having much of anything on him Jayce had to trade for a room. The most unnecessary piece on him was the little armor on his arm, so it went. Him and Viktor only received a quizzical look from the keep before the old man nodded and slipped the armor underneath the desk and handed them keys.
The room itself was as expected, homely and small.. one bed. Even if there were two, a silent agreement would have been made. The sun rises in the morning, and sets in the evening, and they would share a bed. Just a fact.
Viktor learns Jayce likes his hair long. He keeps on reaching for it when he hugs him. When the second they walk into the room he pulls him against himself and buries his hand in his hair. Viktors breath hitches and it takes him a moment to hug him back. He hadn't expected even a semblance of genuine forgiveness, not without the hurt of his actions butting in the way of it. But now in this little room Viktor feels forgiven enough to hug him back. Neither of them bothered to dim the lights before pulling the other into bed. The lights ran out of oil in the morning anyway.
—
Neither of them talk about it in the morning. Viktor just rests his head on Jayces shoulder while they make a cover story for their sudden appearance.
“We can say our home was attacked or–”
“We don't know how violent this world is.”
A dull laugh leaves Jayces mouth
“What are the odds it isn't?”
“Slim.”
They both fell silent after that.
—
They settled on telling the inn keep they were inventors from far away and a small fire destroyed their camp and their belongings.. dumb but the old man pitied them. He helped him get a job, shitty but enough to keep him and Viktor fed the first week. The innkeeper's wife gave them old clothes, moth eaten and threadbare in some parts but it's enough. Viktor was silent when she handed them the stack of clothing. Silent when Jayce told him the dark blue shirt looked good on him.
—
The first time Jayce had a little extra money he spent it on a cane for Viktor. It was simple (since he couldn't afford anything more but if he had the funds he would've bought Viktor the best possible cane money could buy.) but it would be enough to get Viktor out of that inn for longer than a short walk completely relying on Jayce to keep his knee from buckling underneath him.
Viktor went dead silent when Jayce placed the cane in his lap. His partner ran his hands over the smooth metal, sitting on the edge of the bed dead silent. Jayce was silent too, until he saw a tear fall from his cheek down onto the cane.
“Vik-”
“I don't deserve this.”
“Viktor..”
“Jayce, I do not deserve this.”
He gripped the cane with both of his hands, knuckles white.
“Take it.”
“Viktor I'm not going to-”
“The wife does not know I don't deserve her kindness. the inn keep does not know I don't deserve his hospitality. But you.. Jayce, you know I do not deserve this.”
A pause, Viktor refuses to look up at Jayce. Eyes stubbornly pointed down at the cane in his white knuckled grip.
“Take it.”
And Jayce takes it, and places it against the bedside table. His partner gasps when he cups his cheeks tilting his head to look at him. tear streaked face visible in the dim oil lamps. Jayce runs his thumb over his cheekbone, smearing the wet trails.
“Don't be stupid, Viktor.” Jayce murmurs out, soothing but still scolding.
“You thought you were doing good.”
“That doesn't change-”
“You wanted to help people.” Viktor frowns like Jayces words are equivalent to saying the sun was a planet. It was a star.
“We wanted to help people.. and I failed you.”
Viktors frown deepens as Jayce goes on, Viktor opens his mouth to speak-
“We had a dream and I failed you,” Jayce cuts in. “You wanted to help people and you got an opportunity, you didn't know.”
Jayces hand slipped down to his partner's chest, where he knew underneath the scar of what he had done lie.
“We have something new here… we have each other… new dreams.”
Jayce smiled tenderly at Viktor.
“Tomorrow I'm taking you around the town, it's time we left this inn, no?”
Viktor just tugged him down against himself.
—
That night, wrapped up against each other, if they closed their eyes… and really really focused.. it was like they were back in that lab, dreams being written into reality.. floating in the air, blue illuminating their joy. When their partnership was new and young, when everything made sense. and maybe if they stayed wrapped in one another the world would fade away and it would just be them in a lab floating in the air again.
But now, in this little inn they knew their dreams were taking a new course. They were changing and adapting to a new beginning. A new home.
—
—
“How did you even come up with this? It's… Inspired no doubt.”
Viktor asked, flipping through the notes again while Jayce lit the few remaining lamps and positioned them to illuminate the chalkboard. It was late, no doubt, any other academy student would've been smart enough to have gone to bed hours ago to prepare for class early in the morning. Though they weren't any other academy students, really.
“Ah- well when I was a kid–”
—
“Is this safe!?” He yelled over the sound of Janna knows which part of the machine. A dumb question on Jayces end, no doubt, he knew the response he'd get every time.
“Of course not!” Viktor yells, a smile on his lips. When it broke and sent soot into the air Viktor laughed.
—
“Ah- well hextech is-” Viktor hesitates. He felt unsure of the words he had next to leave his lips. Jayce placed a hand on his back and he continued.
“-Our dream.”
—
—
Jayce is a better cook than he had anticipated, though he should've figured, he was a mama's boy after all. The entire kitchen smelt just like it, probably the rest of the house, their new home. it made him more hungry than he was.
“Is it good?” Jayce asks, Viktor makes a sound around the soup in his mouth, nodding.
“More salt? Less salt? Spice? Details, Vik.”
“mm.. ‘s good.” He murmurs, going in for another spoonful before he even swallowed the first bite.
“You're impossible, really. Hey! it's hot!” Jayce reaches to take the spoon away from Viktor only for his hand to be batted away by his partner.
“You'll burn your tongue off one of these days.” Viktor smiled cheekily before putting the spoon down on the counter before making his way over to the corner of the room.
“It is good though, right? It was my mom's recipe. I don't even know if I remembered the ingredients right.. I didn't inherit her memory, but I remember her saying it was the perfect autumn soup.”
“It is perfect.” Viktor hummed out, placing his cane against the wall while he flipped through the records. finding one he figured would suit the moment he placed it down on the record player. The needle jumped slightly before music filled the room.
“mm, gonna serenade me while I cook?” Jayce teased, looking over his shoulder at a smiling Viktor limping his way back to him.
“You wish.”
“Mm.. you'll sing for me eventually.”
“Unlikely, but I wouldn't stop you from dreaming.”
Viktor resumed his position standing by Jayces side. When the music picked up and Jayce began to sway, Viktor reached over, turning the heat down on the stovetop before grabbing Jayces hand. Jayce frowned.
“I'm trying to cook, V.”
“Dance with me.” Jayce laughed, caught off guard.
“I'm serious… unless of course you don't want to.”
“No I do.. it's just.. so out of character of you.” Jayce teased, turning to face Viktor grabbed his other hand, cane now resting against the counter.
“I'll step on your foot.”
“ah, okay. no thank you, please.”
Jayce tugs him back into the open space of the kitchen, caught off guard Viktor stumbles against him, almost actually stepping on his foot. A little gasp leaves Viktors lips, Jayces hand moves to his partner's waist.
“You okay?”
“mm.. yes.”
“Good, let me know if I hurt your–”
“You won't hurt me.” Instinctively Jayces eyes flick to the spot on his chest he knew underneath the sweater he had on would be the scar. He swallowed the feelings bubbling up when he saw the sincerity of his partner's gaze.
The steps are slow and awkward, trying to imitate a real dance, one Viktor doesn't know.. Then Viktor takes the lead. Wincing slightly when he puts more weight onto his knee Jayce pulls him closer and they fall into their own unique dance. Jayce is the first to start laughing.
“What are you laughing at, weirdo?”
“Us! I'm laughing at us!”
“You're an idiot.” Viktor giggled out, Stupid Jayce and his stupid contagious laugh.
The song slowed and Jayce pulled his partner against him, hand resting on the small of his back, the other holding his hand. As their giggles die down Jayce presses his forehead against his partners. Viktor hums, quiet, Intimate, and reserved for the two of them. They're quiet for a moment, letting the moment wash over them. Then Viktor whispers, like speaking any louder would break the moment.
“Sometimes… I still feel like I don't deserve this.”
“Mm.. you deserve the world.”
“..I'll start with you.”
“I'm okay with that.”
—
It's a week later they kiss. One of the reasons they stayed in this little town away from anything remotely as big as Zaun or Piltover was the stars. In the past sleepless nights were spent buried in studies, to benefit the future they didn't know they wouldn't receive.. Now the small couch they set on their porch was where they'd go. One would leave the bed and typically less than ten minutes later the other would follow them out.
Tonight neither of them would get sleep, both minds too restless, though it is Jayce who left bed first. resigning himself to his fate for the night Viktor sighed wincing as he sat up and grabbed his cane and stood up.
Outside Jayce had a blanket thrown over his shoulders, probably snatched it from the living room on his way out. He smiled sweetly at his partner and held open part of the blanket for Viktor to sit.
“Did I wake you?”
“You know you always do.” Viktor mumbled, coming out a little too bitter for his liking. He makes up for it by nuzzling his head against Jayces shoulder. Now covered by one of Jayces arms and half the blanket Viktor sighs
“What got you up this time?”
“The usual.”
They both went quiet for a while. The silence a little too tense for either of their liking. Viktor knows he knows he still feels guilty, neither of them think that will ever change. Jayce feels guilty too, for hurting Viktor.. failing him… and not following their dream. Neither of them look at each other when Viktor speaks.
“I miss it too.”
“I know.” a pause before Jayce continued “I like it here too.”
“I know.” Viktor echos and Jayce smiles.
He rests his head against his partners, reaching around blindly for his hand until Viktor grabs his hand, interlocking their fingers. Jayce passes his thumb over his partner's hand.
“New dreams, right?”
“No, I don't think so.” Jayce raises an eyebrow at that, a silent question. Viktor pulls his hand from Jayces cupping his cheek instead. He passes his thumb over his partner's cheekbone, a smile growing on his lips as he plans his next words.
“You've always been my dream.” Viktor answers no quieter than a murmur. Jayce huffs at that.
“Smooth, V.” and he presses his forehead against his like he did when they came here and like he did in the field and like the time after that and after that and after–
“I mean it though.”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, Jayce.” he whispers to his partner, and Jayce laughs, giddy.
“I love you too.”
“I hoped so.”
“..you're my dream too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His beard tickles Viktors chin when he kisses him, scratchy but just in the right way. He'd endure any ticklish hair just to kiss him, he decides the second he feels his lips. It's sweet and slow, awkward maybe but theirs, just like their dance a week prior. Jayces hand finds his partner's hair just as it always has, burying his hand in his locks as he deepens the kiss. Viktor hums low and sweet against his partner's lips.
Maybe if either of them shut their eyes really hard they could be back in that lab floating in the air, or back on top of the hex gates, or the commune with Viktors body barely a few feet from Jayce. Maybe if they don't thank the stars enough for letting one another keep the other they'll be back in the cosmos, and it'll pull them away from each other this time.
But now underneath the stars they are each other's, and if you asked, ‘No, I don't think the stars have ever shone that bright for us’ they'd both answer and they'd both be right, because in this world, in this timeline, they are happy. The cosmos smiles down at them, inextricably bound.