Chapter Text
He was supposed to be sent back. As accursed as this all was, that was supposed to be the guarantee; that he get sent back and fix everything. But when Jayce opened his eyes and finally got a hold of his surroundings, he realized it wasn’t the Hexgate that he landed in, but rather, his lab.
Immediately, he knew this wasn’t right. Nothing about the space had been in the state he left it in. He remembered how desolate it felt, in an utter state of disarray that spoke desperation rather than frantic progress. Most significantly, the substance that had sustained Viktor’s life and turned him into… that… was nowhere to be seen. Suffice it to say, everything in here felt as it had before, a normally Jayce didn’t realize he’d taken for granted. Held been so focused on figuring out ways to change the status quo that he didn’t take the time to appreciate the aspects of it that held his life together.
His hands felt empty, and he realized that he no longer had his hammer. Where the hell could it have gone? A further cursory glance proved that it was nowhere in sight. The closest thing resembling something that could be used as a weapon was what looked like a shovel that was tucked behind one of the blackboards. A dawning realization filled his heart with overwhelming dread.
Oh God. Had he ended up in the past?
Pragmatically speaking, this would make things easier. If he managed to stop the attack on the Council from happening, then he’d be saving Viktor, and he’s never have had to rely on the Arcane to stay alive. But that would requite finding Jinx, a girl who was notoriously known for being slippery and always escaping the grasps of authority. And if she hadn’t attacked the Council yet, then Vi would have no reason to help Jayce track her down. Even with Cait’s help, it didn’t seem likely, unless Jayce would come up with an excuse to trick her. And figuring out a way to fool someone as hardened and street smart like Vi was a task Jayce wasn’t sure he could tackle.
Another option would be to allow the Council attack to happen and simply… not save Viktor.
Jayce wouldn’t have to do a thing. He’d just let history play its course, and withhold the urge to be the hero and save his partner no matter the cost.
He understood that that would probably be easier said than done, especially given how terrifying and heart wrenching it had been the first time. The prospect of going through all of that again was enough to shake him to his core.
While he could probably figure out ways to simply make sure Viktor just didn’t attend the meeting period, there was another huge factor that Jayce had to consider. He didn’t understand how all of this time-hopping worked. Theoretically, he should be able to take as much time here as he needed. But what if Viktor in the present did something that would cut all of that short? Jayce couldn’t risk messing around.
He needed to figure out when, exactly, he had dropped in. If it was too far in the past, he might have to resort to drastic measures just to speed up the process.
There had to be some clues around that would help fill him in on the date, but he was getting very lost very quickly. Some of the research on the blackboards had scattered notes were reminiscent to things he and Viktor had tossed around in the past, but oddly enough, it didn’t look like there was anything regarding Hextech. Just how far back did he go? Was this even his and Viktor’s lab yet?
Before he could question it any further, the door opened.
Jayce spun on his head just in time to see Viktor enter, carrying a large box in one hand and his cane in the other. For the most part, he looked the same as he did when they first met, face still narrow but still full, his cheekbones not yet concave with his growing illness. The main different that Jayce could observe… was the deep scowl that appeared on his face when their eyes met. “Wonderful,” Viktor said, his voice oozing sarcasm and venom. “Did you come here to gloat one last time? I’m honored.”
While Viktor was quick-witted as always, Jayce found himself speechless. Where had this hostility come from? Sure, there were times in the past where Viktor had gotten frustrated with Jayce, but never angry. There was no fond camaraderie heard in his voice now, no sense of humor or endearment.
Though, perhaps that was the point. This might all be an illusion meant to confuse Jayce, to prevent him from finishing the job. Viktor was capable of more than anyone could ever imagine, past human limitation; who was to say this wasn’t one of them?
Jayce eyed the shovel.
The Viktor before him scoffed, clearly not noticing the small gesture. “Not saying anything, huh? That’s new,” he said. He set the box down on one of the desks and began gathering some notes. “If only you learned how to do so sooner, that would have saved me a lot of trouble. Although… perhaps not. You only know how to keep your mouth shut when it’s most convenient for you, isn’t that right?”
It was near impossible to process his words with how loudly the blood was rushing in Jayce’s ears. Viktor’s back was turned on him completely.
The man went on, unaware of how Jayce slowly crept toward him. “It does not matter. There are no words we can exchange with each other that would not cause further damage. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough anyway, you won’t have to deal with me any longer—”
Usually Jayce never missed. It had to be the fact that he was wielding a tool he wasn’t used to, not meant for offense, or maybe Viktor’s instincts were just that good. Maybe no matter what, he still knew Jayce from the inside out. But as Jayce swung the shovel down, Viktor had turned around just in time to dodge it, eyes widening as he stumbled mere inches away from where it collided with the desk. A heavy dent was left on the surface.
“What the—?!” Viktor was barely able to say, before he let out a surprised yelp as Jayce tackled him to the ground.
It wasn’t physically difficult for Jayce to pin him down, even though deep down he felt absolutely awful for taking advantage of Viktor’s braced leg. However, surprisingly enough, when he tried to bring the shovel down once more, Viktor reached out both hands up defensively. He grabbed hold of the shovel handle, trying with all of his strength to push it away from himself. “What do you think you’re doing?!” he demanded, and although he must’ve primarily been fueled by astounded rage, there was no way to miss the fear in his voice. That was going to be more difficult to ignore.
Jayce grit his teeth. Adrenaline was giving Viktor a boost, and he was refusing to let go. He wouldn’t be able to bash the shovel against Viktor like he’d planned in order to make it as quick as possible. Merciful options was quickly dwindling. Instead, Jayce began to push down, aiming to push the metal hard against his throat. “I’m doing what needs to be done,” Jayce said in a near growl, almost not recognizing how he sounded to his own ears.
Viktor strained his neck, avoiding the shovel at all costs. His arms were beginning to shake as he struggled against it. “Did Stanwick put you up to this?” he asked, voice becoming more haggard as the muscles in his throat tightened. “Is that what all of this has been about?!”
“Who?” Despite himself, Jayce couldn’t help but ask. He was so focused on trying not to be emotionally attached to the task at hand that the question had taken him aback.
Viktor’s eyebrows furrowed, knuckles turning white at this point. “What do you mean ‘who?’ Holy shit— He’s making you take all the blame, isn’t he? How can you just agree to do all of his dirty work like this?! What do you even get out of this?!”
The more Viktor spoke, the more Jayce began to notice a few things. He looked like Viktor, he looked so much like him, and that’s because he was, just— not one he knew. He couldn’t have. Jayce knew everything about his partner’s mannerisms, what the slightest twitch of his eye, the quirk at the corner of his lips. He knew it all, he’d studied it intimately time and time again, especially on late nights where Viktor was the only thing he could bare look at. This was just wrong, Jayce could feel it in his very guts that there was literally no way this man was the one he’d once loved, and admittedly still did.
In all timelines, in all possibilities…
Finally, Jayce released the shovel as he came to a conclusion. “You’re not my Viktor.”
For a moment, Viktor could only gawk in disbelief, before he pushed Jayce away indignantly and sat up, shuffling as far away as possible until his back hit the wall. “Your Viktor?” he repeated. “First you try to kill me, and now you’re claiming me as your own? Truly, your audacity knows no bounds—”
“This isn’t right,” Jayce said to himself, cutting Viktor off. He stared down at his hands, one of them still holding onto the shovel like a lifeline. “I’m supposed to be back. I can’t stop any of this if I’m not. Back.”
While he still made sure he kept his distance, Viktor’s eyebrows furrowed, beginning to analyze Jayce further. He glanced toward the door, no doubt considering making a run for it, but… seems even this Viktor could not be moved against his natural curiosity. “Jayce…” he began cautiously, reaching for his cane that had been tossed in the scuffle. “What is going on here? Explain it to me. Now.”
Jayce looked back up at him once more. This man was a complete stranger to him, more literally in comparison to what his own Viktor had ended up becoming. He was presumably innocent to all of the chaos that Jayce made a vow to stop, and still he’d nearly killed him. It was a wonder why this Viktor wasn’t bolting for the nearest Enforcer on patrol. He swallowed thickly. “There’s no way you’d believe me.”
Viktor glowered, and he forced himself back onto his feet so he’d be the one looking down on Jayce. “Do not give me that. I deserve an explanation after what you just tried to pull.”
It’s not like he didn’t have a point with that. But hell, Jayce was still trying to wrap his own head around everything. “I’ve heard theories about this. Realities that can branch out due to the smallest change of action, creating multiple different time lines. That has to be what this is,” he said. “At first, I thought this had to be time travel, but… even as insane as that sounds, of course it’s not convoluted enough for me to go through.”
It would have been perfectly understandable for Viktor to reject the lunacy of the statement, but while he was still clearly skeptical, he remained where he was. “I will admit, it would explain the change of behavior,” he said. “But I also wouldn’t put it past you to try to gaslight me so you may use the excuse of insanity, should you go through a trial after killing me. You love getting into your roles, after all.”
“I swear, Vik, I’m telling the truth—”
“So in that case—” Viktor interrupted. “Am I supposed to be content with the fact that there is a reality out there where you hate me more than you do here? To the point where you would murder me the first chance you got?”
“I don’t hate you!” Jayce exclaimed, his voice cracking at his genuine heartache. It took Viktor aback. “I have never hated you. It’s only ever been admiration and respect.”
It took a moment for Viktor to find his words once more. “You don’t try to kill those you admire.”
Jayce dropped the shovel and got back onto his own feet. Still, he retained the distance, but this time to show that he didn’t intend to be a threat. “I don’t want to,” he admitted, well aware that it sounded like a weak excuse. “But you… you’d changed. Become something far from human, literally, all because of the research we’ve done and you told me you wanted to destroy. I didn’t listen, and now…” It was getting hard to speak as his throat clench, an attempt to fight off inevitable tears. “Now I have to stop you, or our future is doomed. I need to save you from yourself.”
Viktor was quiet for a long while, and Jayce couldn’t help but use the time to really get a good look at him. He was still angry, and glared at him with the power of a thousand daggers, but God, was he so full of life. It felt like an absolute eternity since he’d last seen Viktor like this. He’d always had such a distinct personality that went unmatched. That was, until the day he left, and he’d been subdued by the burden of knowledge and power Jayce had inadvertently placed upon him.
There were footsteps, and then Viktor was only a few inches away from him. “You’re crying,” he pointed out with far less hostility.
As if on cue, a sob wracked through Jayce’s body, and he became aware of how wet his cheeks were becoming. “Of course I’m crying,” he said in a voice that sounded utterly pathetic to himself. “I’m so tired. I just want my partner back.”
And just like that, everything came crashing down on him all at once. He’d been through so much, had to survive off of basically nothing, all while going through perpetual physical and mental pain, on the run for far too long. Hardship after hardship, overwhelming guilt and responsibility, it was too much. He hugged himself and cried, just wanting this all to end, just wanting his old life back. They’d wanted to make a change that would help the world; why were they getting punished so severely for it?
“Jayce.”
Vision blurred by tears, Jayce could barely make out the figure of a man he’d once known. “If you are about to make a fool out of me, then there will not be a day that goes by where I won’t make you regret it. Do you understand?”
“What…?”
Viktor sighed, and then, bracing himself on his cane, he extended his hand out. “If you speak the truth, we’re dealing with a severely unexplored field. It will take immediate exploration if you’re expecting to make any kind of progress.”
He finally understood where Viktor was going with this. “Y-You… You’ll help me?”
“Unless you make me change my mind,” Viktor said. “Which you should know, would not take much.”
Did he really mean it? Jayce took a moment to consider. Clearly this Viktor didn’t get along well with this universe’s Jayce. Would that hinder the collaboration? Was this Viktor even someone he could trust, period? Jayce knew absolutely nothing about him.
But then again… what other choice did he have right now?
Pushing his reluctance to the side, he grabbed Viktor’s hand, standing back up. “Thank you, Viktor, thank you so much—”
“Let’s save the gratitude until we’ve spoken about my own conditions,” Viktor said, releasing Jayce’s hand. “I have no clearance to be here anymore, after all, and that in of itself will make our research rocky.”
Jayce tried not to frown, and instead gave a firm nod. “Explain to me what’s been going on here, and I’ll do everything in my power to help.”
Viktor straightened himself out, but the tension in his shoulders was still evident. “For both of our sakes, that better be the truth.”