Chapter Text
Viktor’s body had always worked against him.
Whether it was his leg, his lungs, his spine, and frankly any other body part you could name, it failed him. Repeatedly. Relentlessly. But Viktor would not be where he had made it if he didn’t push through the agony, fight against his body’s limitations, and climb with sharp nails and gritted teeth to rise above. A lowly, disabled, orphaned child from Zaun.
And, to top it all off, an omega.
Being an omega was both a blessing and a curse. There was no expectation for him to be physically strong, and he was kept away generally from any strenuous activity. His body certainly would not be able to handle many of the tasks that alphas were expected to do. However, people saw him as weak, needy, and helpless; which he most certainly was not. People underestimated him constantly, telling him not to worry his ‘pretty little head’ about complicated matters. But Viktor always fought back, forcing others to include him. He eventually pushed so far in his studies and ambitions that he ended up at Piltover Academy. A student, who worked as a part-time assistant for the dean.
He had planned to go through his years at the academy quietly, not allowing anyone to get close, and just focus on his work.
But that was until he met Jayce Talis.
Given that the man was an alpha, Viktor was cautious at first. He had never been given any respect by alphas, who only were nice to him when they wanted something from him. Initially, he thought Jayce was doing exactly that.
But when his kindness and gentle nature persisted, he wormed his way through Viktor’s high walls, and into his heart.
Jayce was everything an alpha should be. Smart, strong, brave, kind, thoughtful. Sometimes, he was like a literal puppy with the way he acted. He was always eager to please, happy to help, and it warmed Viktor’s heart to no end just how sweet and endearing the man was. He wasn’t exactly sure when he fell for him, but he does know he fell hard. Believing the man could never return his affections, being a broken omega, he kept his feelings silent throughout the months they had known each other, even when they had become partners researching and developing prosthetics and medical equipment.
Regardless, he made an effort to return the kindness in any way he could, not wanting to take advantage of the poor alpha. He just did it… in his own, Viktor way.
Where Jayce would show his love with physical affection and acts of service, Viktor showed his by letting Jayce into his bubble, letting Jayce help him with the little things, such as asking for him to look over some equations or letting him carry his bag from time to time. Little words of praise here and there, and sending smiles his way whenever he looked down.
He was cautious to keep him away from anything bigger, though.
So, when Viktor was confronted with his upcoming heat, and found his leg having a painful flare, and his spine aching more than ever, he didn’t go to Jayce.
Viktor would need a nest if he was going to survive his heat, and he was in no condition to build one. Having the alpha would, of course, be a massive help. But he couldn’t ask Jayce for help with something like this. An omega who couldn’t construct his own nest was seen as pathetic and broken. He isn’t sure if he could handle it if Jayce saw him that way. There was a reason he had never invited the man back to his apartment, lest he see the mess he leaves it in, unable to tidy it most of the time.
Instead, he turned to professionals.
Professionals was perhaps a strong word, and it certainly wasn’t a service commonly advertised, but if you looked in the right places, you could find services who helped omegas with these sorts of predicaments. People who for the most part, weren’t overly judgemental, so long as you paid.
It was a Wednesday evening when he finally had the courage to make the phone call.
“Hello, I understand that you offer services to assist omegas in building nests?”
=====
The conversation had lasted some time, Viktor and the lady on the phone going back and forth discussing Viktor’s particular needs, what he was looking for, pricing, and so on. They had agreed Saturday morning.
“Alright, we will send over one of our alpha volunteers on Saturday morning to help you build your nest. We train our volunteers thoroughly in nest construction and caring for omegas in need, so you are in good hands I can assure you.”
It was Friday evening in the lab. It was a miracle he had made it into work that day considering how much his leg was bothering him, but of course he would never let his pain stop him from pursuing his work. But, despite this, Viktor was uncharacteristically distracted, thinking about tomorrow.
An alpha, a stranger no less, was going to come into his home and help him build his nest. For his heat. Part of it felt humiliating, despite Viktor having asked for this himself. But he knew it would be essential. He didn’t want to risk going without a sufficiently supportive nest and his heat not breaking, which would land him quickly in hospital.
Viktor hated conceding that he needed help whatsoever. In a perfect world, he would be able to do this himself. However, he was going to end up needing help no matter what. And between having help building a nest and having help at a hospital, Viktor knew which one he found less embarrassing.
But clearly, his distraction was evident to Jayce.
“-iktor? Earth to Viktor!”
Startled out of his thoughts, Viktor turns to Jayce, who smiles at him.
“Welcome back to the real world, how was dreamland?”
Viktor snorts.
“Quite lovely thank you.”
Jayce laughs in return.
“Seriously though, what’s on your mind? You’ve been distracted all day.”
“Nothing to concern yourself with, Jayce. I am simply tired.”
Jayce raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t quite believe him, but Viktor simply stared back. Jayce knew better than to push, so he shook his head and raised his hands in a placating gesture.
“Alright, alright. Just try and get some rest this weekend to start work again on Monday, yeah? Not that you won’t come to the lab anyway, knowing you.”
Viktor hummed.
“I will do my best.”
Of course he didn’t tell Jayce he was expecting his heat any day now. He would simply wait and send a letter to say he was under the weather and wouldn’t be in, like he did for all of his heats.
Viktor begins to pack up, and makes friendly conversation with Jayce as he does so.
“Any plans for this weekend yourself?”
“Only a bit. I have work tomorrow, and I’ll be meeting Cait tomorrow evening for a drink. But otherwise no.”
Ah, that’s right. Jayce worked a second job. Viktor didn’t know about it though. It was just one of the many things he and Jayce didn’t talk about.
“Splendid. Well, I will see you on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.”
“You too, Vik!”
Viktor left, thankful that Jayce couldn’t see the smile on his face in response to the nickname.
=====
Saturday morning arrived, and Viktor waited anxiously and sat on his couch. He had pulled out all of the blankets, clothes, and cushions needed to construct his nest, and now simply had to wait for the volunteer to show up. His leg bounced up and down, and tried to calm his nerves down.
Stop panicking. It is a job. You will be fine. This person will help you build the nest, and then get out.
Viktor was pulled out of his self-scolding by a knock at the door. He slowly rises, unlocking the door and pulling it open.
“Hello! My name is Jayce. I’m here to help you- Viktor?”
Viktor was simultaneously surprised and terrified to see Jayce standing in front of him. The two of them simply stare at each other for a few beats, before Viktor’s fight or flight finally kicks in and he slams the door shut, locking it quickly.
“Viktor? Hey, it's okay. Please open the door.”
“Jayce, please leave.”
Viktor curses himself as his voice shakes, leaning against the door as if his weight would help to keep it closed.
His worst fear come true. Jayce, seeing him weak and needy, in the worst possible way he could think of. The man he was in love with was about to see just how pathetic and useless he was.
“Viktor… you paid for someone to come help you. Let me do that much. Let me do what you paid for. We never have to speak of this again if you don’t want to. But… But I want to help. Please?”
Even through the door, Viktor can hear the sincerity and pleading in Jayce’s voice. He sighs, unlocking the door and simply walking back to the couch, leaving Jayce to close the door behind himself and follow him through, sitting on the opposite end of the couch to give Viktor space. They sit in silence for a little while, until Jayce speaks first.
“I- I’m really sorry, Viktor. If I had known, I would have asked them to send someone else.”
Viktor scoffs, but says nothing.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, but I know you need my help right now. And I don’t want to waste your money either. I can imagine how difficult it was for you to reach out for help. So please, let me help you. Like I said to you before, I can simply do the job, leave, and I will never mention this to a soul.”
Viktor sighs.
“You promise?”
It feels a childish question to ask, but he is extremely out of his comfort zone right now, and is desperate for any shred of reassurance. He finds it in Jayce’s small, almost shy smile.
“Of course. So, where would you like your nest to be built?”
Viktor leads Jayce to his room, where all of the clothes, blankets, and components of the nest are set out, ready to be scented and crafted into a beautiful nest. Viktor takes a seat on his desk chair, and begins explaining to Jayce what he would like his nest to look like, presenting him with a diagram that he had drawn the night before.
“Wow. This is really cool, Vik!”
Viktor rolls his eyes.
“You don’t need to perform for this job, Jayce. I’m sure you say that to all your clients. But you don’t need to lie to try and comfort me or make me feel better.”
Viktor almost regrets the words as soon as they are out of his mouth, simply because of the way Jayce’s face falls, and Viktor is almost sure he can hear the sound of Jayce’s heart breaking.
“I really mean it, V. It is a beautiful design, like all of your designs are.”
Viktor doesn’t respond with words, but simply nods, and Jayce sets to work on following Viktor’s blueprint and constructing the nest.
They work mostly in silence, Jayce following the plan and Viktor asking him to make some adjustments here or there to satisfy his needs. When Jayce picks up an old jumper of Viktor’s, he looks back to Viktor, a little unsure.
“Do… Do you still want me to scent some of the clothes and blankets? I don’t have to if it would make you uncomfortable.”
Viktor thinks about it for a moment. Having a mixture of scents in a nest is best during heats. Viktor is certain to become sick of his own scent very quickly. But… would having Jayce’s scent in his nest be too much? Of course he has dreamed of this very thing, just under very different circumstances. In the end, he simply decides to shrug.
“Go ahead. It is a job for my benefit. My heat will be safer and more manageable with multiple scents in the nest.”
Some emotion Viktor cannot name flickers through Jayce’s eyes, but it is gone quickly, hidden behind a smile.
“Of course.”
When Jayce starts releasing some of his pheromones to help scent the clothes, Viktor cannot avoid the way he tenses at first. Instinct against an alpha invading his space. But when the scent of firewood, metal, and something sweet - cinnamon? - fills the air and hits his senses, Viktor is helpless but to relax into it as it soothes his aching heart.
It takes the better part of two hours, but eventually, the nest is finally fully constructed.
“What d’ya think Vik?”
Viktor stands, taking a moment to stretch his back. He walks over to the foot of the bed, and looks long and hard at the nest Jayce has built for him. He feels a surge of emotion in his chest, and tears pricking at the back of his eyes. His voice comes out no louder than a whisper.
“It’s… incredible.”
Jayce grins.
“That’s because all of your designs are incredible, Viktor. You’re incredible.”
Viktor snorts.
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“Viktor, you are-”
“Enough!”
Viktor feels his anger begin to simmer at Jayce’s insistence on this meaningless flattery, and feels his heart break at the same time. He cannot stand it.
“I understand part of your job is making omegas feel good about themselves. But as I have already said to you, you don’t need to lie to me to make me feel better. Empty words are meaningless. You’ve done your job, now you can leave.”
Viktor is helpless now to stop the tears streaming down his face, and he feels his whole body flare with heat. He feels unsteady, dizzy, and would have fallen to the floor if Jayce were not there to catch him. His cane clatters to the floor without ceremony.
“Woah, alright. Let’s get you into your nest, hm?”
Viktor doesn’t argue as Jayce guides him to sit on the edge of the bed, crouching down in front of him.
“May I remove your leg brace, Viktor?”
Viktor sniffs despite himself, and scowls.
“I will do it.”
He did mean that sincerely, but he fumbles at the buckles unsuccessfully for some time, until Jayce reaches out to hold both of Viktor’s hands in his own.
“Viktor, I know you don’t believe me right now, but I want to help you. Not just because this is a job, but because I care about you so much. I would have done this for free if you asked for my help. But that doesn’t matter right now. Please, let me help you.”
Viktor huffs, looking away.
“Make it quick.”
“Thank you.”
Jayce undoes the buckles of his brace swiftly, gently removing it and setting it to the side. He then recovers Viktor’s cane and rests it against his bedside table, within Viktor’s reach. Viktor moves to lay down in his nest, and Jayce returns to crouch down next to the bed.
“You’ve got me for as long as you need or want me. How can I help you, Viktor?”
“You can help me by leaving.”
“I’m not going to leave you like this!”
Viktor fidgets as his internal temperature begins to rise, and he does his best to bury himself in the safety of his nest. But it almost defeats the point when the clothes and blankets smell like Jayce as well as himself.
“Please, Jayce.”
“Viktor, you’re going into heat. I’m just glad I finished the nest in time. You shouldn’t be alone. If you really want me to leave, I will. But only if you give me the name of someone else I can call upon to come take care of you.”
He comes out from under the covers to glare at Jayce.
“You know there is no one else.”
“Then I will help you through this.”
“That isn’t part of your job.”
“No, it isn’t. But you’re my partner, Viktor. I care about you.”
“Why?”
Viktor begins sobbing, and Jayce looks surprised, not having seen Viktor cry before. He reaches out a hand to wipe the tears away, and Viktor leans into the touch despite hating himself for doing so.
“What do you mean why, Viktor?”
“I… I'm nobody, Jayce. A cripple from Zaun, a dysfunctional omega who can’t even build his own nest. My body is failing, and I was so distracted yesterday I couldn’t contribute to our work, the only thing I am useful for. You have no reason to care about me so long as I come into the lab and do my bit. Why do you care?”
Viktor continues to sob, tears blurring his vision, but he can see the devastated look on Jayce’s face regardless.
“Is that really how you see yourself, Viktor?”
“It is how everyone sees me, Jayce.”
“It isn’t how I see you.”
Viktor laughs, but it isn’t kind or gentle. It is a kind of sarcastic laugh, and it hurts his chest to do so.
“Oh really. Pray tell, how do you see me then?”
Jayce simply smiles, undeterred by Viktor’s cold laugh.
“I see a beautiful man who has worked so hard for everything he has. Someone who fought tooth and nail to get to where he has, and has excelled past everyone’s expectations. A man with a sharp and bright mind, big ambitions, and everything he needs to make his dreams come true.”
A moment of silence passes as Jayce takes a breath and continues to wipe the tears from Viktor’s face.
“I see a man who found me at one of my lowest points, and saved me simply by believing in me. A man who taught me to believe in myself. A man who also wants to change the world for the better, which is what we are both working towards.”
Jayce runs a hand through Viktor’s hair.
“And I see a man who has had to take care of himself for far too long, because no one else was there to help take care of him. But that stops today. I’m here. I want to help you. You have done so much for other’s Viktor. It is your turn to be looked after.”
Viktor begins crying harder at Jayce’s words, overwhelmed by the sheer honesty and affection radiating from the man. He reaches out his arms towards Jayce, and Jayce reciprocates, climbing into Viktor’s nest to hold him close, tracing soothing patterns on Viktor’s side.
“It’s alright, Vik. I’ve got you. Let yourself fall apart, and I’ll help put you back together. Always.”
Jayce releases as many calming pheromones as his body can physically produce, and Viktor relaxes into the scent, the comfort removing the tension from his body. Viktor cries so much, and he doesn’t know how long for, but he eventually cries himself to sleep.
=====
When Viktor wakes, he feels scalding heat running through his body, and he is drenched in sweat. But there is a soothing weight slightly on top of him, keeping him calm. He shifts and blinks a couple of times, before fully opening his eyes and finding Jayce next to him.
“Hey sleepy.”
“Hello.”
Viktor’s voice is croaky, hoarse from how much he cried, presumably. Jayce leans over and grabs a glass from the bedside table, slowly raising it to Viktor’s lips.
“Here, have a few sips.”
Viktor obliges, feeling oddly calm at a gesture that would normally infuriate him. It isn’t that he couldn’t hold the glass himself, but…
Maybe it was nice to be looked after.
“How are you feeling?”
Viktor hums.
“Tired still, and very hot, but otherwise alright.”
“Would you like me to go get you a cool rag?”
“Please.”
Jayce rises, and Viktor is loath to admit he immediately misses the presence of Jayce in his nest. But Jayce returns quickly, and takes the rag to gently wipe the sweat off of Viktor’s face, before resting the rag on his forehead.
“Thank you, Jayce.”
They remain in silence for a little while, Jayce holding Viktor, and Viktor letting himself be held. But eventually, Jayce speaks up.
“Viktor?”
“Hm?”
“Why… why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you come to me for help with this?”
Viktor hesitates. He initially wanted to laugh, but something about the question betrays an underlying insecurity within Jayce, and he wanted to stamp that out immediately.
“I… simply didn’t want you to think less of me.”
“You know there is nothing that would ever make me think less of you, right?”
“Hmm, I am positive I can think of a few things.”
The joke doesn’t land how he wants to. Instead, Jayce just holds him closer.
“I mean it, Vik. You can tell me anything. I want to be here for you. And I know that you know that. What really stopped you from reaching out to me?”
Viktor sighs, and raises a hand to hold Jayce’s arm currently wrapped around him. He takes a deep breath.
“I didn’t want to ask for your help because I didn't want you to think less of me… because I’m in love with you.”
He feels Jayce freeze next to him, so he ploughs on to get the words out as quickly as he can.
“I’ve been in love with you for a while. But you are such a perfect alpha and I am so… not a perfect omega. I couldn’t give you everything an omega is supposed to give their alpha, but you deserve everything, and I don’t want to keep you away from that or hold you back. But I can’t hold my feelings in anymore. I will get over it, I swear, but- mmph!”
Viktor is cut off by the gentle press of Jayce’s lips to his own, and it is his turn to freeze, unsure how to respond. But after a moment, Viktor reciprocates, and they kiss until they have to pull away to breathe, foreheads resting against one another.
“I love you too, Viktor.”
“What?”
Jayce grins.
“I love you too.”
Viktor laughs, more real this time. It is light and airy, and releases some of the pressure in his chest.
“Honestly? You mean it?”
“I do. I have loved you for such a long time.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Jayce reaches a hand to scratch at the back of his head, looking bashful.
“It's just… you get really stand-offish with other alphas. I thought… I didn’t think you wanted to be with anyone, let alone an alpha.”
“I didn’t want to be with anyone other than you, Jayce.”
Jayce giggles.
“We’re idiots, aren’t we?”
“It does seem so.”
The two of them settle into a comfortable silence after that, holding each other close now that they know they have permission to do so. Viktor simply stares at Jayce, taking him all in without embarrassment, and Jayce does the same.
“Thank you, Jayce. For everything.”
“Thank you for everything too, Viktor.”
The peaceful moment is interrupted by Jayce’s phone buzzing. Jayce frowns, and pulls it out of his pocket to look at it.
“Shit! It’s Cait!”
Viktor begins cackling, loud and unashamed. Jayce answers the phone.
“Sprout! I’m so sorry. I won’t be able to make it tonight.”
“From the sound of it, you found better company. Who is that in the background?”
“Uh-”
Viktor leans in close to the phone.
“Hello, Miss Kiramman.”
“VIKTOR?! OH MY GODS JAYCE DID YOU FINALLY GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND CONFESS?!”
“Maybe. Gotta go love you byeeeee.”
“JAYCE-”
They don’t get to hear the end of Caitlyn’s sentence, because Jayce hangs up the phone and groans, running a hand down his face.
“It is her life’s mission to embarrass me. I will never live this down.”
“No, probably not.”
Viktor keeps laughing, and Jayce eventually joins him as the two of them settle back into bed.
“She’s probably going to storm into the lab tomorrow to throttle me.”
“I would expect no less from her.”
“Heyyy you can’t let her kill me! That’s mean Viktor.”
“I don’t think I would be able to stop her. And you do deserve it for making her suffer by not confessing sooner.”
The two of them devolve into giggles, until Viktor is cut off with a yawn. Jayce smiles warmly at him, and Viktor can’t help but return it.
“You should get some rest. Your heat is gonna tire you out.”
“You’re telling me.”
The two men snuggle closer together, and Viktor closes his eyes, following the rhythm of Jayce’s breathing.
“I love you, Viktor.”
“I love you too Jayce.”
And the two of them fall asleep just like that, in each other’s arms, knowing they are loved.