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Viktor's cane sank as he traveled through the snowy wasteland. Through the storm, he could spot two figures—one struggling to walk before finally collapsing, and the smaller figure crouching over the other. He walked closer, knowing what he needed to do to save this poor woman and her son. His heart threatened to break at the boy's desperate plea.
Viktor looked at the boy, and his body ached when their teary eyes met.
Jayce always had the most beautiful eyes.
He walked away, and Jayce—poor Jayce—thought he would leave them stranded there. "N-no, w-wait!" he said before a flurry of magic bursted, and the little boy was blown back slightly.
In a split second, they were in a tropical paradise filled with lush greenery instead of the desolate snow. Viktor turned to the other two. Jayce looked up at him with awe—oh, how he missed Jayce's awe-stricken face.
"H-How?"
Viktor, as always, said nothing. He dropped the stone into Jayce's hand and, like a routine, began walking away. But suddenly, he halted and turned back, finding the young boy clutching his leg, looking up at him with tears still streaking his face.
This had never happened before.
He paused as the little boy loosened his embrace. Viktor knelt down. Jayce hesitated before tackling him into a hug, leading Viktor to let out a small "oof." Knocking the hood from his face.
"Thank you," little Jayce mumbled into his neck. Viktor, whose resolve immediately crumbled, hugged the boy back tightly, burying his face in the boy's hair. "Thank you for saving Mama, for saving me." Viktor gasped as the boy placed his little hands on his face, eyes shining with tears, it reminded him of the Jayce this little boy didn't know he left behind, and it hurt as the pain of guilt and remorse tightened its grasp on Viktor's throat, but with shaky hands he cupped the boy's face back.
"Always, Jayce."
The boy pulled back a little, surprised Viktor had spoken. Viktor froze, fearing he had scared the poor boy, but instead, the boy let out a teary grin before tucking himself into Viktor's embrace. The man held him tighter.
Suddenly, a burst of color wrapped itself around the little boy. For a second, Viktor stared, terrified. Did he do something? Was he hurting him?
Then the small body in his arms was no longer a child. Instead, he was holding an older Jayce, the Jayce he knew lifetimes ago, worn by the fighting and war, his body aching and mind weary.
"J-Jayce?" Viktor stuttered, his voice thick with emotion, afraid this illusion might shatter at any moment.
"Viktor...?" Jayce's hand raised to cup his jaw. Viktor gasped and leaned into the touch.
"Viktor, is that really you?"
"Yes, I'm here. I'm here... It's me, Jayce."
Viktor let out a squeaky laugh, tears freely falling.
"I did it... I kept my promise. I didn't fail."
"I knew you wouldn't." Viktor, despite the tears, smiled.
"It hurt, V. I didn't want to do it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Jayce sobbed into Viktor's chest. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You did what needed to be done."
Viktor stayed there, kneeling on the lush grass, clutching Jayce as he sobbed his pain and guilt. He held him and whispered sweet nothings into his ear, as Jayce whispered apologies back, he wished he could take his pain, after all, he was the cause of it
"I-I'm so tired, V. So tired," Jayce said weakly.
"I know, I know." Viktor wrapped his arms around the other man and lifted him. "I got you," he whispered as he walked. Jayce, bones beyond exhaustion, sagged and closed his eyes. Viktor couldn't help looking down and smiling fondly.
After a while, Jayce murmured without opening his eyes, "I was always the one doing the lifting."
"Well, I think it's about time I returned the favour, no?," Viktor replied lightly. "I like this, by the way." He ran his thumb across Jayce's beard.
He was rewarded with a shy smile and flushed cheeks.
"V?"
"Hm?"
"Is this the end? I mean, will it just be us from now on?"
"Yes, yes, Jayce. This is the final destination—here with me, for a lifetime, in every lifetime."
"You promise?"
"Oh, I guaranteed it."
Jayce's eyes snapped open, and he looked at Viktor with such awe—the same awe and wonder his younger self had. Viktor stopped walking when Jayce cupped his cheek. He looked at him with such devotion and love that Viktor's heart tightened painfully.
"You...guaranteed it?"
Viktor looked down at him, his lip turning into a thin line, terrified that what he would say next would scare Jayce.
"Our souls...are bound, intertwined, in all timelines, in every possibility."
There was silence before a quiet chuckle left Jayce's lips. "That's pretty damn romantic." A beat, then both burst out laughing with pure happiness, before it died down and their eyes met and locked, adoration swimming in them. Then slowly, torturously slow, Jayce pulled Viktor's head down, leaned up a little, and then their lips finally met. Viktor placed his hand on the back of Jayce's head and pushed him closer.
Viktor missed this. He missed Jayce. He missed this powerful and brilliant man who managed to draw him in every possibility, who tied an invincible string around his heart, pulling Viktor toward him. This man who rendered him powerless. This man he loved beyond the universe and existence itself.
They both pulled away, unaware of the tears of happiness, of the joy and relief that finally —finally— they would be together at last.
"Viktor, I love you. Don't ever leave me again, please," Jayce pleaded, making Viktor clutch his partner tighter.
"Oh, Jayce, never. I will never leave you again," Viktor said with such regret, like he was begging for forgiveness. He would never let go of Jayce ever again, not when he waited an eternity to have him in his arms once again. "It has always been you. Always you," he whispered to Jayce. "Always."