Work Text:
Of course Viktors leg brace decided this was the perfect moment to jam. Lost in his work, he’d neglected standing up and stretching out his limbs. When the ache between his shoulders from sitting hunched for hours became really noticeable did Viktor put down his smouldering tool. The deadline for the latest Hextech had them spending countless hours in the lab; improved propulsion systems for the airships which the council members were very keen on so they could dominate trade routes.
Viktor sighed, stretching his neck first, rotating his shoulders which cried in protest after hours in the same position. He really needed to take better care of himself. His stomach agreed, voicing its displeasure with a hungry grumble. When was the last time he ate? Or slept? His eyelids did feel heavy. The lab did have cots installed, the two men frequently collapsing there instead of going home for the night.
Food, painkillers and maybe a nap before continuing. Viktor grasped the edge of the table to push himself up, only for his brace to remain stubbornly inflexible, causing him to almost tip back on his chair. A few native Zaun curse words escaped his lips as he began inspecting the brace. He took good care of it, the brace shouldn’t be acting up. Yet there was a slight metal whine as he tried moving it, the joints remaining locked in place.
“Viktor, everything alright?” asked Jayce, glancing up from his own work, “you were swearing in Zaun.”
“Why do you remember the swears? I taught you other words but no, you remember how to say fuck,” said Viktor, shaking his head.
Jayce rolled his eyes. “Are you alright?”
Viktor flourished his hand over his locked, straight leg. “It appears my brace has decided to lock up. I need to make some adjustments.”
His partner took off his goggles. “I can help. You’ve been sitting in the same position for hours. Your back must be aching.”
“Is the Man of Progress sure he has time for such a lowly task?” asked Viktor, nudging the nearby mug emblazoned with Jayce’s face.
The whole ‘Man of Progress’ was spearheaded by the council a year after Hextech began taking off. They stated the inventions needed a face which Viktor was not comfortable being. The council agreed; Viktor knew they’d rather have a native Piltie represent Hextech than a Zaunite. Jayce tried arguing it should be both founders ‘Men of Progress’ as opposed to just ‘Men of Progress’.
Viktor waved the whole thing off. He’d rather remain in the shadows and peacefully continue his work. Since becoming Hextech’s face, he’d been dragged off to countless meetings and getting paintings done. It sounded like a nightmare. Viktor wanted nothing more than to invent. And he considered how many Piltie investors might pull funding if they discovered a Zaunite co-created Hextech. Better he stay in the lab. Otherwise no progress would be made.
Jayce blushed deeply. “I didn’t ask them to do that. Mel presented the merchandise line to me the day before I could argue.”
“Your mother was very happy. I spied a shrine she set up in the house when we visited for dinner,” committed Viktor, deadpan.
Jayce went a deeper red. “It's not a shrine. She’s just very proud of the work I’ve done. And it’s not just me! She has images of you too!”
Viktor kept his face unreadable but inside he was laughing at how Jayce became so wound up over some harmless teasing.
“Well, are you going to help? I don’t think I can reach certain areas of the brace,” said Viktor, cocking an eyebrow.
Jayce grumpily put his hands on his hips. “Oh? Now you want my help?”
He shrugged. “Would you be so petty not to help a cripple?”
Jayce glared harder. “Really? You’re using that?”
“It is one of many things I can use.”
Jayce shook his head, grabbing his smaller tools. “You can be such an ass.”
Viktor faintly grinned. “And yet you remain.”
“You have some better qualities that keep me around.”
Jayce dragged a stool and carefully propped Viktors leg up. He’d repaired the brace before when it was causing trouble. It took Viktor a whole to trust Jayce with it. They had bonded quickly after the Hextech but there were a few things they built towards. Viktor’s braces for one. He designed them himself, only really trusting his hands to fix any minor problems. Then one day, Jayce walked up after Viktor tiredly tried mending the brace and took the tool from his hand. Before he could protest, it was already fixed and Jayce was pushing him towards the cot for sleep. After that, he did ask for help a little more.
Viktor drummed his fingers atop the table whilst Jayce worked loosening the brace. It was hard concentrating with his leg maybe jostled around. He did try to continue working. He'd only scribbled down a few more equations before setting his pencil down and watch his lab partner work. Jayce's tongue poked out the corner of his mouth, a habit when he was tinkering. In forge, he always furrowed his brow when working.
“You need to work the spring first. Otherwise the joint might snap,” said Viktor, following Jayce’s broad hands work. It's surprising he can work with such delicate mechanisms, his hands calloused from smith work.
“I know, V,” said Jayce, sounding vexed.
“Excuse me for not wanting my leg to be crushed.”
“I’ve done this before. I’m not going to crush your leg.”
Viktor huffed, leaning back on his chair. He should have gotten something to eat before letting Jayce tinker. At least he could have dealt with two things at once before returning to work. Sleep was probably a good idea. The cot called to him but Viktor realised he should shower too. Not that he smelt bad. Or at least, he didn’t think so. The lab partners quite told each other when they stank, Jayce more often due to his work in the forge. Which always made him grumble when Viktor pointed it out.
Heimerdinger often stopped by, insisting they go home for the day. ‘The science will be there in the morning,’ he’d say. Time must seem so much slower for someone who lived centuries. He couldn’t fault Heimerdinger, it must be hard to imagine having such a short life span. And in Viktor's case, one which probably had a good twenty years shaved off due to his upbringing in Zaun. His parents had died young too. Their area of Zaun was infected with chemicals which attacked the lungs.
Urgh, he hated being left to his thoughts. The depressing memories always tried bullying their way into his mind. Being occupied stopped his mind drifting away and the melancholy setting in. His golden eyes flicked down to Jayce who was doing well in fixing the bracing, completely engrossed in his work. A sly smile tugged the corners of his mouth as a mischievous thought passed his mind.
He let out a pained scream.
Jayce jolted upright, losing grip of the small spanner in his hand, flailing around to catch it as it danced through the air. “What? What? Did I hurt you? Are you OK?” asked Jayce, panicked.
Viktor shrugged. “This is taking a while.”
Jayce ran an agitated hand through his hair. “Did you - did you just scream because you were bored?”
“I was wondering how much longer this would take?”
“You could have asked instead of scaring the shit out of me! I could have damaged the brace more!”
He shrugged again. “Where would be the fun in that?”
Jayce exhaled heavily. “I should leave you to do this yourself.”
“But you won’t.”
“Don’t be so confident.”
Viktor leaned his hand on his chin, challenging Jayce with a mere eyebrow quirk. Jayce met his gaze before giving up and beginning his work again.
“See, I knew you wouldn’t go,” said Viktor, smugly.
“This doesn’t mean you’ve won,” replied Jayce, managing to loosen the brace.
“Doesn’t it?”
“You are awfully cocky for a man concerned I’d accidentally snap his leg.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.”
“You’re making it very tempting right now.”
Viktor snickered. Casual threats between them happened once a day. Viktor was more prone to threatening hitting Jayce’s ankles with his cane since his lab partner tended to be more energetic. This often translated to the other man manically pacing and bouncing a small ball off the walls. No matter how many times Viktor hid that irritating bouncy ball, Jayce somehow located it. But when he was chasing after a new idea, Jayce always played with something in his hands, eyes distance as he connected the dots.
Viktor’s thought process involved sitting and doodling. Equations, silly cartoons, nonsensical mess somehow helped clear the mind. Sharing his notes, he frequently forgot the cartoons in the margins which involved mocking council members like Torman. They often elicit an amused chuckle from Jayce. After processing their thoughts, the two men would discuss together how to make their ideas a reality.
Jayce experimentally bent his leg in gentle motions, the brace no longer locked in place. It was too loose now, Jayce beginning to tighten it up so it actually supported him. Viktor considered screaming again but knew he’d be pushing his luck. Grabbing treatment oil, Jayce smoothed it into the joints. Viktor briefly wondered how Jayce’s hands might feel massaging into his bad leg. How the callouses would feel along his muscles and skin.
“That should do it. You want to test it?” asked Jayce, putting down the small spanner.
Viktor felt his pale cheeks slightly blush. This was his partner, a man he trusted. He shouldn’t be wondering how his hands felt. Grabbing his cane, Viktor stood up, his body greatly displeased he’d been sitting for so long. He swung his braced leg back and forth. Bending it, the stiffness was gone in the joint, allowing him the same free movement again.
“Very good, partner,” he said, “the Man of Progress can still do the small stuff.”
Jayce shook his head. “You could just say thank you.”
“When have I ever done that?”
“You say it to my mother all the time.”
“Yes, but she makes good food.”
The mention of food made Jayce’s stomach growl, ending in a somewhat embarrassing gurgle. Viktor smirked but as if answering a cry, his own stomach called back. The two men burst into laughter.
“I think we should go get food. Otherwise our stomachs may continue having a conversation,” said Viktor.
“Hopefully they can come up with some good ideas,” replied Jayce.
“How about I say thank you by buying dinner?” said Viktor, patting his friend's arm. Was his bicep always that bulky?
Jayce grinned. “That sounds perfect.”
“Just don’t order too much. I know how much food you can put away.”
“It's not a thank you if you put stipulations.”
The partners walked from the academy space, hands centimetres apart but never quite touching as they headed towards food.