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Viktor had never expected to die like this. He always knew that he would die young, sure, but he had always thought it would be peaceful. That he would slip away in the night, his disease finally claiming his life.
But no. He was in the Arcane, being held by Jayce.
“You must go,” Viktor had told him.
“We do this together,” was Jayce’s reply. And maybe it was selfish to let him stay. But Viktor didn’t want to die alone. Not when Jayce was there. So he let him stay. He let him put a hand over Viktor’s, the other holding the back of his neck.
He was shaking as Viktor brought up his free hand to hold his arm, rubbing his thumb over Jayce’s wrist. Jayce pressed their foreheads together. And there was the calm that Viktor had expected. Despite the light, despite the magic, Viktor was calm.
“I love you,” was whispered into the air. And he wasn’t sure if it was him or Jayce who said it, but Viktor smiled. And everything turned into nothing.
~~~~~~~~~~
Everything hurt. That was Viktor’s most solid proof that he was alive. But he couldn’t be. He and Jayce had been absorbed by the Arcane. He was supposed to be dead. But he wasn’t.
Viktor’s eyes opened slowly. He was laying in a bed with blue sheets, tucked in the corner of a small room. Next to his bed was a small set of drawers, with a dresser and desk against the wall opposite the bed. There was a door across from him that he knew led to a bathroom, a small chalkboard centered between them. A pair of curtains was pulled shut over a window, but sunlight streamed in through a crack between them. He was back in his old room at the academy.
But how… Jayce .
Viktor shot up in bed, ignoring the pain that jolted through his back at the movement. If he was alive, then that meant Jayce had to be alive somewhere. And he had to find him. Viktor got up and dressed himself quicker than he ever had before. He couldn’t find his braces, and came to the conclusion that the Arcane had spit him out sometime before he began using them. He wished that he had used a calendar, if only to know what year it even was. Whether or not he and Jayce had even met yet.
Viktor left his room and looked down the hallway to either side of him. His room in the academy was set apart from the other dorms, a nicer one closer to Heimerdinger’s office. “It’s more convenient for us this way,” Heimerdinger had told him as he showed Viktor his new room. “You’ll be much closer when I need you.”
Heimerdinger. Could he help Viktor? Perhaps meeting with the yordle could help Viktor figure out when he was. But how much could he tell him? Would he even believe Viktor? There’d be no harm in talking to him. So, Viktor turned right and headed down the hall, to where he knew Heimerdinger’s office was.
There was nobody in the halls besides a guard patrolling the halls. He nodded to Viktor politely as they passed, and Viktor returned the gesture. He found it easy to slip back into the mask he had put on daily as Heimerdinger’s assistant. He hadn’t needed it in a long time, but it seemed to be second nature at that point.
He knocked on the doors of Heimerdinger’s office when he reached him. The professor would answer if he was in, and Viktor would simply go in if he wasn’t. But after a brief pause, he heard Heimerdinger’s familiar voice telling him to come in.
He swung open the door and stepped into the office. It had high, bright windows on one wall, completely full bookshelves and chalkboards filling the others. A large desk sat in the center of the room. Heimerdinger was sitting on his large, plush chair, a student sitting on the one across from him. He beamed over at Viktor.
“Ah, Viktor, my boy! Jayce was just asking about you!”
Jayce.
The student across from Heimerdinger shot around, staring at Viktor. And sure enough, there he was. Younger, and with less muscle, his hair a little bit shorter than it used to be. Or rather, than it would be. But it was unmistakably Jayce. Relief and shock flooded Viktor’s body. He was there, and he was safe, and he was alive. Heimerdinger seemed to be unaware of the shift in the room and continued talking.
“I wasn’t aware you knew each other.” Viktor blinked a few times as he attempted to pull himself together, and turned to Heimerdinger.
“I’ve listened in on his biochemistry class a few times.” It wasn’t quite a lie. Viktor would sometimes join a class if he had the time for it. He and Jayce had realized after working together that one of the classes he frequently attended was one of Jayce’s classes.
Heimerdinger nodded in understanding before hopping off his chair and beginning to walk around, collecting a few books from the shelves. His poro scampered out from where it had been sitting under his desk to follow.
“I have a few meetings that I must attend, but you boys can stay in here and talk, if you'd like. Viktor, make sure to lock up when you leave.”
“Of course.” And with that, Heimerdinger walked out of the office, leaving the two men alone. They watched the door shut before turning to each other, eyes wide in shock. Jayce got up and began walking to Viktor as he spoke.
“What the fuck is happening?”
“We were sent back in time, somehow.” Jayce stopped in front of him, close enough that Viktor had to look up to meet Jayce’s eyes. “ I haven’t had time to figure it out.” Jayce looked like he was about to cry. Relief had flooded his frame, and hugged Viktor so hard that he stumbled back. He buried his face in Viktor’s hair as he held him close.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Viktor wrapped his free arm around Jayce just as tight and buried his face in Jayce’s neck. His collar smelled like the expensive cologne that he had been using when they first met.
“ I’m glad you’re okay. I thought we were going to die. That you were-” That you were going to die because of me. Viktor blinked back tears as shame and guilt filled him. They spilled over and he dropped his cane to hold Jayce closer. “I’m sorry, Jayce. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey. Hey, we’re okay.” Jayce pulled back just enough to put a hand on Viktor’s cheek to hold his face. He used his grip to tilt Viktor’s head up so he could meet his eyes. He was tearing up too, and let out a wet laugh, his hand shaking against Viktor’s face. “We’re actually okay.”
Viktor reached his hands up to hold Jayce’s face. He looked so relieved. His eyes looked the same they did only a few hours ago, when he agreed to die with Viktor. They were so full of adoration. Adoration. For Viktor. Still, after all he’d done, Jayce was by his side. Viktor surged up to kiss him before he could stop himself. Jayce kissed back almost immediately, and slid his hand from Viktor’s cheek to the back of his neck. His other arm pulled Viktor closer as he copied his movements, and slid a hand into Jayce’s hair. He pulled back for air and looked up at Jayce, panting.
“Let’s go back to my room.” Jayce nodded and pulled away a bit so Viktor could get his cane. They stepped out of the office together, with Jayce shuffling nervously as Viktor locked the door behind them. They didn’t run into anyone on the short walk back to Viktor’s room, but stayed an acceptable distance between them just in case.
Jayce was on Viktor the second his door closed. He pushed him up against it, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s waist and resting the other against the door. He held him close and buried his face in his neck.
“I love you, Viktor. I should’ve told you so much sooner, I should’ve told you how I really feel. You mean everything to me, and you always have and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner and-” Viktor cut him off with another kiss. This one was deeper, with them licking into each other’s mouths gently. It was soft but so achingly intimate.
“I love you, too. We can’t dwell on what we should’ve done or I’d be apologizing all day.” Jayce nodded. He dropped his head to Viktor’s shoulder and sighed, pulling down his arm to hold Viktor tighter.
“I can’t believe this. You’re okay.” He paused for a moment before pulling back so Viktor could see him grinning. “And you love me.” Viktor scoffed and rolled his eyes, but grinned.
“Yes, I love you.” Jayce was still grinning as he looked back at him. “What? What’s that look?” Instead of responding, Jayce buried his face in Viktor’s neck again and began pressing kisses to the skin there. Viktor's breath caught in his throat. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, giving Jayce easy access to more skin. He took it and kissed his way up Viktor’s neck before capturing his lips in another kiss.
“Do you think you’re still strong enough to carry me to the bed?” Viktor’s face was still so close to Jayce’s that he could see him shiver at the feeling of his breath on his lips. Jayce pulled away a bit further and thought about the question for a second before answering.
“I don’t actually know. I wasn’t very strong before we started working together.”
“Is that when we are, then? Before we met?” Jayce nodded.
“I saw a calendar in Heimerdinger’s office.” Viktor hummed and pulled Jayce in for a quick kiss. He looked confused when Viktor pulled away, as if he was expecting more.
“Good to know. Now, about my question?” Jayce’s eyes widened and he nodded the same way he did when he suddenly remembered something important.
“Right.” He slid his hands down to the backs of Viktor’s thighs and tried to lift him. It was almost endearing, seeing how hard he tried. He did manage to get Viktor off the ground, but had to lean him against the door so he wouldn’t drop him.
“That’d be a no.” He let Viktor’s legs go gently, and he helped lower his bad leg to the ground.
“You need to start working in the forge so you can carry me before my body stops allowing it.” Jayce nodded and kissed him.
“I agree.” He leaned in for another kiss and started walking backwards towards the bed. He stumbled over his own feet and almost fell, causing the kiss to break and Viktor to laugh. Jayce grinned and put his hands on Viktor’s waist to pull him into another kiss. He pressed their foreheads together when he pulled away. Viktor hummed happily and leaned into the touch for a moment.
“Jayce?”
“Hm?” He opened his eyes and linked through his lashes at Viktor. The low lighting made his hazel eyes look almost gold, and Viktor had to keep himself from leaning in to kiss him again.
“The bed? I cannot stand forever.” Jayce’s eyes widened.
“Right!” He pulled back so they could make their way over and he flopped down, removing his shoes before laying down on the bed. He opened his arms for when Viktor joined him a moment later, after removing his shoes as well. He made his way over to Jayce, who put his hands on his waist as he moved to straddle his thighs. He leaned down to kiss Jayce again and moved a hand to hold his face. Jayce licked at the seam of his lips and he opened his mouth, letting his tongue explore before pulling away and beginning to kiss down his jaw.
“Do we have classes today?” Viktor dove back in after his question. Jayce inhaled sharply and gripped Viktor’s waist a bit tighter.
“We’re making out and you’re thinking about class ?” Viktor looked up to see Jayce grinning and looking down at him.
“I am the dean’s assistant. It wouldn’t look good if I missed any classes or meetings that I’m meant to attend.” Jayce pulled him up for another kiss. It was the sloppiest one yet, giving away Jayce’s need and excitement.
“Gods, I missed you.” He kissed Viktor again. “No, it’s a Saturday.”
“Oh, thank the Gods.” Viktor collapsed on top of Jayce with a small “oof” sound. Jayce hummed and kissed the top of his head as he reached a hand up to run through Viktor’s hair. Viktor moved to rest his chin on Jayce’s chest. “Do we want to talk about this right now?”
“No. Whatever the hell we have going on is tomorrow us’ problem. I just want to lay here for a while.” There was a quick pause as he thought for a moment. “Although I wouldn’t mind having a ‘what are we’ talk.”
“Mm. Boyfriends?” Jayce lifted his head and put an arm under it so he could look up at Viktor. He made eye contact and raised an eyebrow. Viktor knew he was trying to come across as skeptical, but his grin was ruining his attempted mask.
“Is that seriously how you’re asking me out?”
“No. It would be more polite to take you out for a date first.”
“I agree.” Viktor thought for a moment.
“Lunch date?”
“Today?” Viktor shrugged.
“Why not? We have nothing else to do.” He paused. “Hopefully.”
“Do you not have a planner or something? You always made it sound like you had a bunch of meetings to go to and errands to run for Heimerdinger.”
“I did. Do, I suppose. I usually just write them down on my board.” He gentured back with his head and Jayce craned his neck to see past him.
“Okay, since you were sooo worried about classes, we’ll do a lunch date as long as you don’t have anything planned.” Viktor nodded and rolled off of him. He turned his head to look at Jayce and looked at him through his lashes.
“Can you go check for me?”
“You can’t do it yourself?” His tone was teasing.
“My cane is over by the door.” Jayce looked over at it for a moment before turning back to Viktor.
“Fair point.” He stood and went to the chalkboard to study it for a moment. “Nothing planned for today,” he called over his shoulder. He stood at the chalkboard for another minute before turning and getting Viktor’s cane on the way back to the bed. He leaned it against the wall next to Viktor’s bed before sitting on the edge of the mattress and turning to face him.
“What do you want to do before lunch?” Viktor sat up and looked past him, at his alarm clock. 9:46 am.
“We could go get breakfast.”
“Hm. I vote we stay in and kiss a bit more.” Viktor laughed and smiled at him, affection swelling in his chest.
“Works for me.” He reached forward to grab Jayce’s tie. His face flushed red as Viktor used the grip to pull him close. He leaned in for another kiss. Jayce grabbed his waist and pulled him closer before taking Viktor’s good leg and pulling it over his lap, making Viktor straddle him again. He kept his hand holding Viktor’s thigh, the other making its way up to his hair. Viktor began to kiss down his neck. He threaded a hand in his hair, tugging it gently to give him better access to Jayce’s skin.
“You just want to stay like this until lunch?” Jayce nodded. His breathing was ragged, and he tightened his grip on Viktor’s thigh and waist.
“Yeah. If you want to, yes.” Viktor let go of Jayce’s hair and tilted his head closer so he could kiss him.
“I do,” he said quietly. Jayce kissed him again, moving his hand from Viktor’s thigh to his face, holding it as he kissed Viktor deeply.
“I could count this as our date,” he told Viktor breathlessly.
“Well in that case, will you be my boyfriend?” Jayce leaned back enough to look at Viktor, and pretended to think for a moment.
“One more kiss.” Viktor rolled his eyes affectionately but leaned in. He pushed his tongue into Jayce’s mouth and nipped at his bottom lip before pulling away.
“Now?” Jayce’s pupils were wide as he looked up at Viktor. His hair and clothes were ruffled, and he was staring up at Viktor like he was the only thing that mattered. He nodded.
“Yeah.” Viktor smiled, and Jayce’s eyes were practically glowing with happiness as he leaned in for another kiss.