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Jayce had an unfortunate need to be helpful to anyone and everyone. That much was immediately obvious even upon just meeting him. This made him endearing; looked upon fondly with a shake of one’s head, the way one might respond to an enthusiastic puppy. This also made him an easy mark for those less than savory figures of Piltover’s elite.
For Viktor, it was equal parts a vulnerability he knew his less guarded partner to have- one he took care to watch for-, and an irritant. He didn’t need someone hovering over his shoulder at every turn, waiting for the slightest inclination to be able to do something for him. He did not need to be coddled. Janna knows he’s had enough of the shallow platitudes and feeble treatment Piltover had great home for.
That said, Jayce’s willingness to please also had its value. There was a certain appeal to the way he would light up with clear pride after any such “success”, eyes damn near sparkling. It conjured up a mental image of a fluffy tail thwacking from side to side. He could almost see the metaphorical ears perk.
It wasn’t that Viktor wasn’t curious, to an almost hazardous extent, as to how far that reaction went, but certainly there was no room for that sort of unprofessional thought in their work together. That did not mean however that Viktor did not consider it. Nor that he would stop having said thoughts.
He reflected on when he had first begun to really notice Jayce’s proclivity. In retrospect, it should have been obvious from the beginning, and in some ways it was. He’d seen the way Jayce would play pretty for all of the wealthy investors at those frankly vapid events, saw him preen and stand a little taller under the approving look of one Counselor Medarda. It hadn’t registered, the extent of it, nor how Viktor himself would feel about it.
The two of them had been hard at work for several hours without much success, having hit a particularly vexing snag in their current configuration of runes. It had been multiple sleepless nights chipping at their dilemma, testing different combinations over and over, adding a rune here, exchanging a rune there, all to the same result. Nothing was working to break through that final wall, and their proposals at solving it were getting sloppy; desperate, untethered from logic.
Needless to say, they were both more than ready to just be done with it, or barring that, to give in to the siren’s call of sleep for at least a handful of hours before dragging themselves back into it.
Somewhere in the delirium of exhaustion and practicing their best attempts at insanity, there was a break in the dam. A spark in the kindling. And of course it had been Jayce to click in the missing piece that had them chasing their tails in a loop. He had always seemed to grasp the Doing part of all this, moreso than Viktor. The rules of how it behaved and the way in which to make it work, in a practical sense, coming as naturally as breathing. Courtesy surely of the countless hours in his youth, pouring nigh obsessively over the subject. It only stands to reason his grasp on the mechanics would be more effortless.
They were going about this all wrong. Their theory was sound. All of their calculations precise, and applied as they should. The pure math of it was not the issue.
“It’s the sequence of events that’s off,” Jayce’s eyes were alight, sudden energy like static on his skin at the realization, “We’ve been looking at it like the runes are the first step, the power source to jumpstart everything else, but everything else needs to be working to power the runes”.
He said it like he’d found the answers to the universe, and for all intents, he had. It came to Viktor in dawning understanding, his own thrill ramping as he caught on Jayce’s thoughts, “There must be constant external force... In other words -”
“Yes! The rings themselves have to be moving- ”
“- To allow for continuous activation, -”
“ -Each rotation a new rune combination!”
“Jayce. Jayce, you utterly brilliant man, ” The two of them were very close together at this point, having inched closer at each back and forth, and now, as Viktor complimented the man, matching grins wide, they were practically nose to nose.
It had only been meant as a passing bit of praise, a celebration of finally reaching such a huge breakthrough, and yet Jayce reddened considerably, startled, still breathing heavily with the exhilaration of it all. These moments between them were irreplicable, where the reality of their work sparked between the two of them in a vivid dance, just like that first night floating amongst the celestial glitter of raw arcane magic. Viktor felt weightless, his mind a rush.
Soon enough though, altogether too soon, it caught up with him. They both seemed to realize at the same time the position they had gotten in, and jumped back before rushing back into their work, now armed with new adjustments to make to their prototypes, and blueprints to workshop.
At the time, he had barely even registered Jayce’s reaction, too caught up in the adrenaline of innovation between the two of them. Then, not too far behind, the sleep deprivation that had been begging to be taken care of for some time now. In the weeks following, once the novelty began to ebb and their days started returning to something predictable, Viktor would remember the flush that crept up Jayce’s neck, and the flustered way he had leaned after him, seemingly seeking Viktor’s closeness.
_______
Viktor was utterly fucked, to put it plainly. There was no avoiding it now, and despite the fact that there was barely a chance Jayce thought of him like that, and it would only complicate matters in any case, Viktor could not prevent himself from thinking about Jayce often, and in great detail. Clearly there was no limit to which his traitorous brain would go to wander off at something Jayce did or said, even looking at the man could be a dangerous pursuit with how his lips would purse and pout whenever he got frustrated with something he was working on, dragging Viktor’s eyes with them at every movement, or the way those large hands could work so delicately with the intricate details of their inventions, or the way his jacket would cling on his broad shoulders.. Or, dear fucking Janna, when the sweat would glisten across his chest after a few hours in the forge, hair tousled out of his typical slicked back style, altogether an undoing of the put together image Jayce so carefully attempted to maintain…
…
Today’s events were no exception to this, having thoroughly sidetracked his thoughts away from the equation he was meant to be working with, such that he was sure to not get any meaningful work done at all at this pace. He sipped idly at his coffee mug, long since cooled and left to the wayside in favor of one burst of inspiration or another. Or in this case, the crawl of his thoughts to a very Jayce-shaped place.
Really, it had been nothing out of the ordinary, and yet now Viktor was completely at a loss for continuing his work, all for the simple thought of Jayce. Like any other day in the lab, they had been working separately but nearby one another; Jayce over at a workbench, fiddling with a hinge mechanism for a new part he’d made, and Viktor at his desk sifting through the notes he had had Jayce look at the night before. It was always intriguing to pick his brain, be it in person bouncing ideas off each other, or just in his scrawled notes and little doodles in the margins of the pages.
The way his ideas flowed through Viktor’s into something new, and vice versa, a constant dialogue of electric signals. It was invigorating to work with him on their projects, their minds such a contrast and yet so entirely in sync. Two parts of the same nervous system, firing off back and forth to create a whole unprecedented, even in the mundane.
They had so much more space, now, to extend their research outward to so many more different possibilities. With the council’s approval, and now the funding they were receiving from their (mostly Jayce’s) play at the socialite game, they had a hard-won opportunity to really start to change things, to help people. To create as much as they could, in as many directions as they could take it.
As it always did, their work fully engrossed Viktor, and it had been quite some time before he looked up again. By then, Jayce had gotten the part working as it should, and had moved on to attaching, and then powering another prototype for use in the factory lines in hopes of reducing the human cost.
Jayce had an, optimistic, view of the ways he could help the people of Piltover and the undercity. It wasn’t to say he was misguided, per say, just, truly, generally ignorant of the greater picture, at times. The unspoken costs of each action.
They could not fix the corruption at the root of the problem, only mitigate its symptoms and treat its wounds. That said, when it was pointed in the right direction, that blind optimism could be a force of nature towards innovation. It was something Viktor admired in the man, when it wasn’t guided by his Piltovan “sensibilities”.
His designs were ingenious nevertheless, and this one in particular would do its part at optimizing the more dangerous parts of the factory assembly lines. It would save lives, and prevent countless other injuries. With or without the individual cost of less opportunities in an already scarce market.
The scale was much smaller than what it would be as a final design, and it looked as though Jayce had almost gotten it working. It wasn’t until he beamed and threw his hands up victoriously, having succeeded in powering it with seemingly no issues to speak of, that Viktor finally noticed he’d been intently watching him tinker at it the whole time, lost amongst his thoughts.
He startled slightly back into proper awareness, just in time for Jayce to catch the tail end of their one-sided staring contest. They locked eyes for a moment, a few seconds too long, before Viktor quickly looked away, feeling his cheeks warm ever so gently. When he looked back, Jayce still had on that silly grin that made Viktor’s insides flip, and he looked like he was waiting for something.
“Viktor! It worked! The adjustment you suggested was perfect,” It was something special, the joy Jayce had right at the moment of another success. Viktor wanted to bottle it up and keep it, in those moments, just to bask in it. Save it for a rainy day, as the saying goes. “What do you think? It still needs a filter for some of the materials specific to the undercity, and I have a few tweaks I’m thinking could speed things up, but,” And again, it seemed like he was searching for something.
Viktor had been piecing together a theory regarding Jayce’s behavior. One he had been adding to offhandedly over the course of their partnership, now that he had become more aware of Jayce’s various responses. Jayce thrived on praise, effectively ran on it. That much was clear from every reaction he’d had up until this point. It seemed the perfect excuse to test his hypothesis, though admittedly he had been hesitant in doing so. His scientific curiosity beat him to it, in the end.
“Very good, Jayce,” He praised, easy enough to be casual, to not relay his underlying motivation for the words, “That is impressive work, you’ve done well” It was probably a tad overdone, but nothing Viktor didn’t already think.
The reaction, though subtle, was immediate. If Viktor weren’t observing him closely for that very purpose, he could have missed the way Jayce’s pupils dilated in response. Could have missed his lips part gently, in a soft ‘o’, in the moments before collecting himself, cheeks once again stained that lovely warm color. It was tame, all things considered, but with the evidence laid out in front of him, it was clear it had an amplified impact on Jayce.
Jayce scrambled to put his expression back together after a split moment of dazed contentment, though not without the embarrassed rubbing at his neck he was prone to when receiving any sort of praise. As if he wasn’t expecting it, despite so obviously craving it. Like he hadn’t just asked; like Viktor would have had anything negative to say about his accomplishments. And lucky for Viktor, he was too preoccupied with his own reaction to notice it was a bit odd behavior from his partner.
“Oh- uh, yeah?” The way he said it was almost timid, stuttered out between his surprise “Don’t sell yourself short either, V. It’s your work, too, you know.”
Ever a paragon of humility, he was so quick to deflect once again. Always intending to give Viktor his dues. It might have been cute if it wasn’t like prying teeth to get him to admit to his own successes. Alright.. In truth, it was both. Still, the man gets so flustered over the attention he barely even accepts it.
“You worked out the base research,” He pointed out, “I merely expanded on what you already had.”
“Still!”
Just like the time before, and every other instance before that, Jayce seemed to come apart at the seams at just the slightest hint of approval. Even as he admirably tried to hide this fact.
Intriguing.
It was a confirmation of his theory. He wasn’t sure even to what end of all this would come, only that he felt the inexplicable need to see more of Jayce’s reactions. To cause them.
They had since returned to their own activities, but Viktor was still stuck on this. Personal project. Through the rest of the day, he hadn’t done much outside of fantasi-brainstorming the various further ‘tests’ he could run, and following that, what Jayce might do.
He couldn’t help but think that if he had such a lovely little response to the barest of vocal admiration, what might it be like with something more.. bold? What might he see were he to indulge?
_______
Viktor was not certain how they had ended up here. A lean too far over his shoulder, a collision in a moment of focus with an elbow, or a knee. Whether it was his or Jayce’s was unclear, not that the distinction made much of a difference.
“Shit, sorry! Let me..” Jayce knelt to pick up Viktor’s cane that had knocked over.
He’s not right in between Viktor’s legs but he is closer, far closer than he would be on a given day. Viktor can nearly feel his breath warm against his thigh, though such a thing would realistically, logically, be unlikely with the layers of fabric between them. He feels warm anyway.
Viktor is flesh and blood, but he feels as though there is a wire pinched somewhere, shorting out where it leads to his brain. The system is operational, though running with new resistance introduced.
He’s almost worried Jayce could somehow see the smoke sure to be coming out of his ears. Sure that Viktor’s gaze fixed intently on him betrayed the turmoil roiling behind it. At Jayce, on his knees, at his feet, nevermind the semantics.
Jayce only cocks his head- it’s almost resting on his leg now- returning his gaze with something Viktor can’t quite discern. Neither of them seeming willing to move, to break whatever spell they’ve found themselves under. To pretend that this was a normal, everyday interaction and they were not in the midst of whatever this is in hopes of drawing it out as far as it will go. The tension hanging in the air, thick and palpable, but not the least of which like a curtain for nothing stands between them.
It is then that he cannot help himself but to follow this strange but known impulse. To cave to his desire to find out. Toy, with Jayce. Jayce who allows it. Jayce who plays along.
“Come here,”
Their eyes still locked on one another. No sooner than the command is out of his mouth does Jayce move, almost surprising himself with the speed at which he complied. Close enough for their legs to brush against each other with the motion. Close enough that he could have almost been in his lap. Viktor’s mouth dries up in his throat, the gears in his brain shutting off, and then jump starting, turning at full throttle. He feels as though he were overheating, internal fans whirring away, creaking under the stress.
He followed Viktor’s directions so easily. So willingly. Eager to please, as he had suspected through it all. (So eager to please for Viktor).
“..Good boy,” Whatever possessed him to throw caution to the wind he would surely regret later, but in the moment it drives him forward to lengths he should not have been going.
There was a sound, choked and desperate, a whine in his throat, stifled only by Jayce biting at his lip. If Viktor thought the previous, far milder praise lit something in Jayce, then this is an inferno. He seems to melt with it. This time, the ruddy flush goes all the way up to his ears and down his neck. Viktor had a brief thought of trying to follow it, see how far down it went.
It had been obvious, that Jayce liked being good, regardless of for whom. Viktor has seen it. What he hadn’t seen was Jayce reacting so strongly. Never saw him melt, watched his pupils near immediately dilate. He’s leaned in, panting lightly. Viktor can feel the hot breath fan out over his lips, heat playing beneath his collar.
Without even registering the movement, Viktor is reaching gently towards Jayce, the subconscious desire to touch him setting itself free in his lapsing attention. Jayce responds in kind, an anticipatory hitching of his breath, and a telltale tilt towards him.
There’s this peculiar way, that Jayce is looking at him. The same sort of captivated reverence that mirrors the way he looked among those shimmering, arcane pseudostars. It’s almost like he could have been reaching for him, that night, instead of pure magic.
And oh- it’s. It’s Viktor. The mystery variable, the missing material in effect. It’s Viktor.
Perhaps that should not be cue for the world to come to a screeching halt, not a breathtaking revelation like it now is. Perhaps not worthy of the awe that wells up inside of him, at the idea that Jayce, wonderful, brilliant, completely unequaled Jayce, is looking at him like that.
Like he’s the only thing in the room, like nothing else could be worth paying any attention to. Like he’s the only thing that’s worth anything.
He does not.. hate himself, but it is only pragmatic, only realistic to acknowledge the simple truth that Jayce has a wide swath of options. And he.. does not. There is no reason to think that out of anyone Jayce could choose, that it might be him, even as he caught himself wishing it might be true.
“Viktor..?” Jayce breathes out, evidently noticing how he had lost track amongst his thoughts, still looking at him with that all too tender gaze.
His hand grazes Jayce’s cheek in a facsimile of a caress. A greeting of lovers.
The silence drags, and not for the first time they startle at their proximity, but more than that the inherent intimacy of the closeness.
Jayce drags a hand down his face and groans, once again flushing that enticing rose, “Ugh.. Wow, I'm. I’m sorry. That was entirely inappropriate and I know you prefer to have your own space, I’ll just go-”
“Jayce. You have no reason to apologize. I am the one who acted inappropriately,” and he is realizing that he did, in fact say that. The mortification at so blatantly lapsing in social conduct washes over him, but Viktor pushes past it intent on making this right, “Clearly I should apologize. I’m sure it made you uncomfortable.”
“No! No, it didn’t. Far from it actually..,” Jayce looks down, breaking the contact, “I completely understand if I made this weird, and you don’t want that. We can just go back to how we always are. I- don’t want to jeopardize our partnership over something like this.”
There is a lot to unpack here, but he can only focus on one part at once.
“Jayce. Jayce. Anyone would want that from you,”
(..I would want that from you)
“You have not made anything weird,” he continued.
“Even you?” Jayce grew bold then, daring to ask aloud.
There was a pause. A moment of pregnant silence.
“..Yes. Even me.” he admitted,
“...Especially me.”
The moments stretch between them where he waits with bated breath. Each second thin and long, longer than he can take after his admission.
“Oh thank god,” Jayce sighs, tension he wasn’t aware of fading out of his shoulders, and Viktor relaxes alongside him.
He closes his eyes, relief evident, before looking back at him, “You saved my life Viktor. Everything I have today, every success we share, every new thing we learn.. I would never have gotten a chance to see if it weren't for you,” He’s smiling, wistful and joyful all at once, in his reverie. “All because of you, Viktor.”
He takes a breath and Viktor still hasn’t said anything, caught somewhere between awe and choking on the vulnerability.
“I think I’ve loved you since we met. Maybe even before that.”
Viktor doesn't wait anymore; he moves forward, their lips meeting in a firm but gentle kiss. It’s filled with the yearning both of them have been holding back. The tension wire finally snapping after so long, speaking the depth of their affections into the others mouths.
When they pull back for breath, both of them are gasping, sharing identical smiles.
“And I, you.. Jayce, since it could have ever been an option. Before I even recognized it for what it was.” It doesn’t feel like enough; he feels so much it feels impossible to put to a language. But Jayce doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looks as though his best dreams have come to life between them.
“That long?!”
Viktor laughs then. A quiet thing, almost unbelieving. He closes his eyes, pressing his forehead against Jayce’s, that tranquil smile still on his face.
“We are a bit silly, aren't we? So much wasted time when we could have been here from the start.”
Jayce joins in his laughter, carefree and happy.
“I guess we are. I don’t regret a single thing with you though.”
“Sentimental” He rolls his eyes, so obviously fond, “But then so am I.”
Honestly nothing could ruin Viktor’s day now, nor Jayce’s for that matter, too content after quite literal years of mutual pining they hadn’t known was mutual. A honeymoon for a wedding that hadn’t even happened (yet), the satisfaction clinging on both of them for weeks after even as they returned to work.
As if they weren’t already practically an old married couple at this point. As if, when they had finally started to let it slip to others (some intentionally, some clued in immediately), the majority of responses were not some variation of: “About time”.
Maybe they would consider it, later, to make it official. Jayce was always a steadfast romantic, and Viktor could not say he didn’t enjoy it. Once he’d found out Viktor had no last name to speak of, Jayce seemed utterly hellbent on giving him his.
That could be for another day. They had all the time in the world to experience every bit of this love between them, new and old. Every version it could be. So integral to the very concept of Jayce and Viktor that it might as well be built into universal truths. If there is a Jayce, then there is a Viktor; two parts of the same gear.