Chapter Text
Viktorie wanted nothing more than to go home.
The sun was setting outside, the last of its rays beating furiously through the lab’s window. They caught Viktorie’s eyes, forcing her to squint and worsening the ache deep in her skull. It wasn't even seven o’clock, and her body was about to give up.
Normally, she would be here much later than this—she and Jayce. The two of them were no strangers to late nights, poring over books and papers beyond any reasonable person’s bedtime. The pain that never escaped Viktorie’s body would retreat to the back of her mind while she distracted herself with equations and figures. With Jayce beside her, she felt like more than her physical limitations. She felt unstoppable.
Yet, tonight was insistent on humbling her.
Viktorie mustered up the strength to turn the page of the blueprint she was examining. She hadn’t even made it halfway through the stack. Her teeth sank into her lower lip, biting back a curse. She must not let Jayce know that something was wrong.
As if summoned telepathically, Jayce turned her head over to Viktorie, away from the tools she was fiddling with. She said nothing, but Viktorie felt her eyes piercing the back of her head.
Jayce, as usual, was unspeakably, effortlessly gorgeous. Tonight she wore clothes that should have been boring—a light gray tank and pants that were a shade darker. It was one of Jayce’s favorite outfits because it allowed her ease of movement for forging and tinkering, and it perfectly highlighted the muscular contour of her upper body. She sat leaning over her desk, screwing and unscrewing a piece of a device she was making to stabilize the Gemstones. Viktorie followed the movement of Jayce’s hands, willing her brain to focus on that instead of the pain in her skull.
She must have taken too long to reply, because Jayce turned her head, quizzical. A bit of her makeup had smudged from mindlessly fidgeting, and a few strands of hair had escaped from her normally well-coiffed ponytail. It must have been a long day for her as well. Even Miss Progress can’t be perfect all the time.
“V?” Jayce tried, in the voice she used when she was worried about Viktorie but didn’t want to upset her. It was as if trying to calm a startled animal. Viktorie should have hated it, except for the fact that it was Jayce. She couldn’t hate anything about Jayce.
“What?” Viktorie replied. It came out sharper than she wanted. Now Jayce would really be certain something was wrong.
“Um, nothing really. Well, it’s just—you’ve been a little quiet recently.” Jayce searched for the words to express her concern gracefully.
Viktorie scowled, avoiding Jayce’s eyes. “Honestly, Jayce. You speak enough for the both of us.”
“Not when you’re working with me,” Jayce responded. She wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t like Viktorie to be this quiet in the lab. The two of them could get into conversations for hours, without even trying.
“Just humor me. What’s up? Blueprints not making sense?” she continued.
Viktorie let out a little sigh of relief. At least Jayce’s first thought wasn’t Viktorie’s health. Or she had the foresight to not bring that up first.
“Something like that,” she acquiesced, hoping Jayce wouldn’t push. Jayce’s eyes were inquisitive and yet careful. She didn’t pity Viktorie, yet the burn of embarrassment still scorched Viktorie’s insides.
“Okay,” Jayce nodded. She then tilted her head, a sly smile appearing on her face. “So you won’t mind if it’s a late night then? I can always help you if something comes up.”
Viktorie winced, then immediately regretted it. It was so typical of her body to betray her.
“Aha!” Jayce gasped, rising and making her way over to Viktorie’s desk. “I knew it. It’s bad tonight, isn’t it?”
Viktorie’s face flamed. After all these years, she still hated admitting her weakness to Jayce.
“You don’t have to say anything, Vik,” Jayce said, leaning against her desk and peering down at her. “I know you. You can’t hide from me, and I won’t let you burn yourself out.” She gazed up at Viktorie, and there was only affection behind her eyes. Viktorie’s stomach twisted.
“I don’t want to leave you to work on this alone. We need to figure out these diagrams; everyone’s expecting something from us.”
“Fuck the diagrams,” Jayce interrupted firmly. “I wanna get out of here too. Let’s get dinner, call it a night. I’ve got spare meds in my bag, and you will be taking some before we go.”
“We?” Viktorie questioned. Her heart flipped. She didn’t like where this was going.
“Yes, we,” Jayce smiled, making her way to her bag, thrown haphazardly against the door. “We’re getting some food in you, whether you like it or not.”
Viktorie grimaced, her head in her hands to hide her expression from Jayce. Could it be possible for someone to be so embarrassed and relieved at the same time? Inexplicable—and Viktorie hated impossibilities.
***
Dinner at Jayce’s apartment was always interesting. Viktorie used to feel out of touch in the spacious, well-decorated rooms, but Jayce would always go out of her way to make Viktorie feel at home. Eventually Viktorie had come to think of the apartment as just that: a second home.
At the moment, Jayce bustled around the kitchenette, throwing together several leftover ingredients and trying to make a presentable dish for her partner. The first few meetings here, Viktorie would offer to help with dinner. Every time, Jayce would insistently push her out of the kitchen. Viktorie wasn’t sure if it was some sort of politeness or stubbornness.
Maybe Jayce was embarrassed at the state of her kitchen? Haphazardly organized and meagerly stocked, Jayce would often opt to dine out or snag food from whatever Councilor’s mansion she was dragged to that night. No, cooking was not necessarily one of Jayce’s many skills. Yet, she was determined to act like it was, at least for Viktorie.
Viktorie watched a few birds circle the terrace, eventually landing on the railing. Jayce’s apartment had an incredible view of the city. It was fitting. The city loved her. She was Miss Progress, the key to Piltover’s future—yet never was that same love extended to Viktorie. Not like Viktorie wanted to be in the spotlight. Her job was to improve people’s lives and work for a better future. Jayce was perfect to handle the publicity, as her good looks and popularity won her—and Viktorie—all the more supporters.
Nowadays, that publicity work was ramping up more and more, and the days tinkering in the lab were fewer and further between. Viktorie had debated calling the whole partnership quits on more than one occasion. Jayce could have whatever—whoever—she wanted, in the lab or elsewhere. She had the whole city wrapped around her finger. And on the one miraculous day where she and Jayce had the chance to actually work together again, like real partners, what was Viktorie doing? Allowing herself to cause problems and distractions, that’s what.
The sun beat down harshly on the horizon, scorching Viktorie’s eyes and head. A jolt of pain ran all the way down her back. She exhaled sharply, burying her face in her hands.
The darkness from squinting her eyes shut gave a small, but needed, relief. After a few moments of calm, Viktorie heard Jayce’s footsteps make their way towards her from the kitchen. She groaned internally. Jayce was abandoning her pot on the stove to come check on her.
“Oh,” Jayce breathed, and Viktorie curled around herself further. The aroma of mixed spices floated out from the kitchen, flooding her overwhelmed senses even more. Damn it, Jayce, not now; just give me a minute! She willed Jayce to focus on anything but her.
“Hey,” she spoke softly, worry bleeding through her tone. She placed a comforting hand on Viktorie’s shoulder. “V? Hey, it’s okay. I’m here. Anything you need, I’m here. Dinner will be ready soon, and then we’ll have a little food, and then you’ll feel so much better. Shit, I should have checked on you sooner.”
No, you shouldn’t have, Viktorie wanted to say. You should have stayed where you were, keeping yourself busy, not worrying about me.
What came out instead was a muffled, “Go away, Jayce.”
Despite Viktorie’s grumpiness, Jayce laughed. The sound was colorful and clear. It immediately started soothing a part of Viktorie’s brain.
“Viktorie, you should know by now that your dramatics don’t work on me. Here,” Jayce paused and rummaged for something in her pocket. Viktorie dared to peek out from underneath her hands. It’s a pill. Oh, perfect. Now Jayce has resorted to carrying pain relievers on her like a nurse.
“Oh, forgive me, V. Let me go get you some water.” Jayce scurried off into the kitchen, then set the heat on the burner to low. Viktorie was glad that she remembered she was supposed to be cooking.
Jayce arrived with a clear glass filled with water. With glass in one hand and pill in the other, Jayce approached Viktorie as determined as she always was.
“Alright. Let’s try this,” she said, kneeling in front of Viktorie on the couch. Viktorie peered out at her. Jayce’s eyes shimmered the way they did whenever she had just figured out a new plan for one of their projects.
“Oh, Tori, always so tense,” Jayce murmured, carding a hand through Viktorie’s hair. She reached for the clip holding up her wavy brown locks and released it, setting the curls free. Viktorie reddened at the nickname. It wasn’t one of her favorites.
“Does that help?” Jayce questioned. Viktorie wanted to roll her eyes, but to her dismay, the throbbing in her head was slightly relieved. She nodded, ever so slightly. She didn’t want to give Jayce the satisfaction of being right, but in this state, it was easier to just go along with Jayce’s whims. Then it would be over sooner.
Jayce sighed and continued, “I couldn’t tell for certain, but you were acting like your head was bothering you.”
Viktorie’s hand curled, squeezing the fabric of her pants. Jayce’s skill at reading her was getting embarrassingly good.
“But don’t think I haven’t forgotten this,” Jayce smiled, holding up the pill with her free hand. She tugged lightly where she had gripped onto a few locks of Viktorie’s hair, near the base of her skull. Not enough to hurt, just to guide.
Still clinging onto stubbornness, Viktorie refused to meet Jayce’s eyes. Her leg brace dug into her skin as she squirmed under Jayce’s touch. Finally, she reached out her hand to receive the pill, ready to end this foolishness.
“Uh-uh,” Jayce shook her head. Then, one more tug on Viktorie’s hair, and she continued:
“Open up for me, V.”
Caught off guard, Viktorie gasped, and Jayce took the opportunity as she saw it. She nudged the pill past Viktorie’s parted lips and pushed the pill into her mouth, the tips of her manicured fingers now wet with saliva.
Viktorie flamed. She wasn’t a child! She knew how to take pills! She didn’t need Jayce… babying her.
Viktorie met Jayce’s eyes, hoping her wordless fury would finally scare Jayce off. Pointless, as Jayce simply stared right back, relieved. Viktorie didn’t care to read into that expression.
“That’s it,” Jayce soothed Viktorie, stroking her jaw as she reached for the glass of water. She raised it to Viktorie’s lips, tilting it forward.
“Now drink.”
And Viktorie did, the cool fluid helping the pill go down easily. Jayce’s sharp eyes were locked onto her, following the gleam of water on her lips down to the muscles in her throat working to swallow. When she determined Viktorie was done, Jayce broke into a smile, pulling Viktorie close to her.
“Good girl,” she murmured.
What the actual hell? Viktorie froze. This was going too far. She was not Jayce’s pet. Why did she think that was an acceptable thing to say?
“You’re insane,” Viktorie whispered back, unable to find her full voice.
Jayce pulled gently away at those words.
“Yup,” she said as a grin spread across her face. So smug. Viktorie wanted to throttle her.
“And I’m hungry too, so you bet we’re eating soon,” she continued, rising to her feet. “Take a minute or two; I’ll set the table.”
Viktorie watched Jayce pull the curtains closed. The darkness and the effects of the medicine were helping the overwhelming ache in her body settle down to just an annoyance. That could be dealt with. Now, Jayce’s actions, on the other hand? Viktorie didn’t even know where to begin.
The clink of bowls and silverware emanated from the kitchen as Jayce finished up preparing dinner. Viktorie watched Jayce set their food down at the table. Rice, meat, vegetables…despite its simplicity, Viktorie felt her mouth starting to water. She took another sip from her glass. Then, placing it down on the floor, she struggled to get up, fumbling for her cane.
All of a sudden, warmth enveloped Viktorie as Jayce’s strong body helped her up.
“I got you,” Jayce smiled, leading the way.
Viktorie sighed. She hated that Jayce extended herself so much for her.
“Jayce…” Viktorie tried, but once again, couldn’t find the words. Why do you do this? Why do you go out of your way? Why do you care so much?
“Hmm?” Jayce hummed, helping Viktorie into the chair like it was the easiest thing in the world.
“I…” she trailed off. Across the table from her, Jayce looked more content than anyone in the world. Only her eyes betrayed the depth of the emotions that Jayce felt so deeply.
“Thank you.” Viktorie managed to get out. Not entirely what she wanted to say, but even she couldn’t ignore that she was feeling better than she would’ve if Jayce hadn’t forced her away from her work. That spark of gratefulness had outweighed the storm of frustration from everything about today.
Jayce broke into a smile. “Please, V, it’s nothing. Really.”
“What you do…is not nothing,” Viktorie said, feeling a bit of heat rush to her cheeks. She had always hated being taken care of and was desperate for Jayce to realize that this was a special occasion.
“Okay,” Jayce relented. “It’s not nothing. But it’s worth it. Now let’s eat, okay?”
Those words echoed in Viktorie’s head for the rest of dinner. It’s not nothing. But it’s worth it.
A few moments passed by as the two picked at their meal. Viktorie became lost in her thoughts, unaware of Jayce’s efforts to gauge her feelings.
Jayce nudged Viktorie’s wrist, pulling her out of her head. “Vik?”
“Yes?”
“I was thinking.”
“Oh no, Jayce. You know that’s dangerous.”
“Ha ha. Well anyway, I was thinking. Today was a lot.”
“Clearly.”
"And… I was thinking… It might be a good idea…for you to stay here tonight?” Jayce finished her question, eyes turning up to look at Viktorie, pleading.
Viktorie colored. She turned away from Jayce immediately. “I am perfectly capable of making it back to my apartment.”
Jayce grasped tighter onto Viktorie’s hand.
“I know you’re capable. I know, Viktorie. You’re strong and tough, much tougher than most people I know,” Jayce insists.
Viktorie frowns. Where was she going with this?
“But just because you’re capable doesn’t mean you have to,” Jayce says, stroking Viktorie’s fingers with her own. “It’s because you’re so strong that I’m worried about you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Viktorie’s words were cold, but inside she felt shockingly warm. Something blazed inside her: anger and embarrassment mixed with foreign feelings that she hated the strangeness of.
“I mean, you’re not looking out for yourself. You’re pushing yourself further and further. I see it, V. I know you.”
“You’re serious?” Viktorie glared. She knew she shouldn’t push it, but the stress from the day had started to take a toll on her ability to regulate her actions.
“Miss Progress herself, who is so busy meeting Councilors to work on our projects, says I’m pushing myself.”
Viktorie would have missed it if she blinked, but Jayce’s expression turned a shade more sour after hearing those words.
“Come on, V. You know I’m trying. Everything I do, I do it for us.”
“Are you certain?”
“Of course I am. Don’t test me about this. Not right now.”
“Then when? Why do you act like nothing is wrong?”
Jayce affixed Viktorie with a hard glare. Viktorie decided she didn’t like that look in Jayce’s eye. She turned to her food, poking at the crumbs left on the plate.
“...You’re right, Vik.”
Viktorie blinked. Out of all the things she was expecting Jayce to say, that was not one of them.
Jayce looked down at the table, pushing around the remains of her dinner with her fork.
“You’re right. I’ve been trying to act like nothing is wrong, when something clearly is wrong when we haven’t been able to work together for days. I can't forgive myself for that.”
Viktorie hunched back over herself. This conversation was taking an uncomfortable turn. She realized Jayce had her commitments, and she realized how frustrated she felt about that, but it’s not like any of this was Jayce’s fault, was it?
“The truth is, I’m stressed. I can—I can feel it, Vik, just wearing me down. Shaping me into something I'm not.” Jayce said as she turned her head up to look at Viktorie. Viktorie dared to meet her gaze and spotted Jayce trying to blink away a bit of wetness forming there without ruining her mascara.
“It’s been eating at me, Vik. You know there's no place I’d rather be than here…with you.”
Viktorie forcefully shoved down her guilt at assuming the worst of Jayce. She tried to clear the tightness in her throat.
“I know.”
“And you also know why I have to do what I do.”
“I do.”
“And you know I want to include you in everything involving Hextech.”
Viktorie exhaled and looked up.
“I…am sorry, Jayce. There is much demanded of you right now. I wish I could be of more help… and I wish you could help us more. Something needs to change.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, V. I get it. I really do,” Jayce sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. “Part of me is glad you don’t have to see who I become when I’m in front of all those people…You know, people who are potentially interested in supporting us. It’s like I’m not just selling our project but also kind of pitching myself? Selling myself?”
Viktorie flinched at Jayce’s words, the implication not lost on her.
“Oh my God, Viktorie, don’t look at me like that,” Jayce laughed, her cheeks flushing. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You do get awfully dressed up, though.”
“Oh, shut up. I may look pretty, but I’m sharp. And dangerous if I have to be!”
“Hmm, so pretty on the outside and ugly on the inside?
“Are you calling me pretty?”
Jayce’s smirk made heat pool somewhere inside Viktorie where she wasn’t used to feeling it.
“Hmph.”
“Not an answer.”
“Decide for yourself then.”
“Okay, then, it’s a yes,” Jayce decided firmly. “And actually, that’s a good segue into something that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
Oh no. Viktorie mentally prepared herself for any number of crazy ideas to come out of Jayce’s mouth.
“Alright, hear me out, V. You know about the gala this weekend? The one that Councilor Hoskel is hosting?”
“Sure.”
“What if—what if I asked you to come with me?”
Jayce’s question came out quickly and breathlessly, as if asking it quickly would give it less impact. Viktorie still blinked at Jayce in surprise, looking quizzically at her partner.
“Jayce…what? We just talked about this. You know how I feel about these things.”
“I know, I know, I swear. I just… I feel horrible for leaving you out so much. You deserve to be part of the promotion, too. And think of the connections you could make…”
“Jayce, I don’t care.”
“Alright, fine. I want you to come with me. For my sake.”
“Oh?”” Viktorie blinked. A personal request? Why was Miss Progress feeling antisocial all of a sudden?
“Please, just hear me out,” Jayce begged. “I am at my limit. I can’t do another one of these things on my own. And I hate Hoskel and anyone who’s in league with him. With you there… I don’t know, it might almost make this night tolerable.”
“Actually, I’m flattered, Jayce. But don’t think this won’t change my mind. I mean, when is this event? Three days from now? I have nothing to wear, let alone the time, or the fact that I hate galas…”
“And what if I told you I can fix that?” Jayce leaned back, a small smile on her face. “Well, at least the first part.”
Viktorie purposefully lowered her fork and looked Jayce in the eye. “Jayce. Seriously.”
“Just listen,” Jayce pressed. “I…may have already booked a fitting. And tailoring. For us. For you.”
Viktorie would have stood up if she could. “Are you kidding? Without asking me?”
Jayce pressed her forehead into her palm, squeezing her eyes shut. “Tori, please, I know how it sounds.”
“Don’t call me that,” Viktorie hissed.
“Okay, sorry.”
“Jayce, just…why? Why not ask me?”
“Because…because I knew you’d say no. But I can’t do this without you. Just one gala. One event, and then if it totally and completely sucks, I’ll never take you again. But please, Viktorie, just this once, I need you by my side.”
Jayce met Viktorie’s steeled gaze with her own pleading expression.
A few moments passed, and Viktorie let out a frustrated sigh.
‘What happens if I say yes?”
“Okay, so, at the end of the week, we’ll take off from work, and we’ll spend the day at my stylist’s. We…may have already been talking about you and some ideas for our outfits, so we’ll have a few pieces ready to go. We’ll need to try accessories, too. And shoes, of course. Everything needs to be perfect, especially for your official debut,” Jayce explained breathlessly.
Viktorie muttered something unintelligible under her breath.
“What was that?”
“Just saying that if anyone…actually, never mind,” Viktorie mumbled.
“Are you worried about how they’ll treat you?”
Damn Jayce and her mind-reading skills.
“Hmm.”
“They won’t dare try anything. I promise you. If they do, they’ll lose my support and my business. Forever.”
Viktorie pondered for a moment, weighing her options. On one hand, she could continue with her normal day-to-day life, busying herself in her work, counting down the hours until she could see Jayce again. On the other hand, she could accompany Jayce on one singular excursion, play dress-up for a bit, have some wine, let Jayce do the talking, and go home with a happier Jayce. Well, not “go home with her,” per se, but…
“Let me think about it.”
“Great! That’s not a no.”
Jayce, seeing the positive as always. Viktorie rolled her eyes.
“You’re tiring me, Jayce. I think I need to lie down,” she teased, a humorous glint in her eye.
Jayce huffed, a semi-annoyed smile on her face.
“Alright, fine. Go head up to the spare room. Just put your dishes in the sink, at least. I’ll clean up.”
“You’re an angel, Jayce.”
“I am absolutely not. But thank you!”
Viktorie twisted herself out of the seat with some effort and reached for her cane, which Jayce had propped up near the table.
“Alright. I’m leaving now, Jayce. Don’t push it, and I might consider what you were proposing.”
Jayce grinned. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
***
A few hours passed, and Viktorie’s head was feeling better, even if the rest of her body was still unhelpful. As always. She had debated forcing herself to go down the few stairs to the main floor, but the apprehension as well as the physical struggle was holding her back. Why was she so hesitant to say “yes”?
Viktorie started rummaging through the room’s dresser drawers, trying to find something suitable as pajamas. Some of her clothes had remained here from previous nights spent here, when she was too in pain—or too stubborn—to head back to her own place.
Eventually, she took out an old shirt and shorts, loose enough to be comfortable to sleep in. She pulled off her sweater, folding it and laying it to the side. As she began to lift up her undershirt, she heard a slight creak from the floor behind her. She turned around.
“Jayce?”
Shit, Viktorie thought as she realized she left the door open. Jayce stood in the doorframe, illuminated by the glow of the hallway. Her deer-in-the-headlights look quickly morphed into one of guilt.
“...How long have you been standing there?”
“Oh, shit, sorry—uh, not long, I promise,” Jayce stuttered, holding her hands up defensively. “I just wanted to come see how you were doing?”
Viktorie adjusted her top. She hoped her bra wasn’t visible through the thin fabric.
“Well, as you can see, I am fine. I was actually hoping to get ready for bed.”
“O-of course, you’ve had quite a day. Um, I guess I’ll leave you be, then.”
Jayce stepped out of the doorway, sheepish. She wrung her hands once, then twice, looking like she wanted to say something. Finally, she stepped away.
“Good night, Tori.”
Viktorie watched her walk away, letting the awkwardness of the moment diffuse. Something inside her—maybe that dumb nickname—pulled at her heartstrings. A strange feeling started spreading in her chest, reaching up into her throat. She called out, “Jayce?”
Jayce immediately stopped in her tracks.
“Yeah?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“W-what?”
“On Saturday. I’ll go with you to the gala. Just…promise me it won’t be more hassle than it’s worth.”
“Oh my God, yes, of course, V. Anything to make it a good experience for you. I won’t let you down. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Jayce dashed over to her partner, folding her into an embrace. Viktorie tensed at first, then relaxed, slightly overwhelmed at Jayce’s ecstatic response. Her arms were always so warm, so strong.
“You can trust me, V. It’ll be so worth it. I can’t thank you enough,” Jayce murmured into Viktorie’s shoulder.
“Don’t make me regret this.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
Jayce finally pulled away, smoothing out Viktorie’s top where she had smushed it.
“Okay, good night for real this time,” she smiled.
“Sleep well, Jayce.”
“I don’t know if I can. I’m so excited!” Jayce laughed as she twirled down the hallway.
Viktorie rolled her eyes. Now just what exactly had she signed herself up for?