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The sun was up at– well, they didn’t have a clock yet. It was something on their to-do list to eventually tackle in their new home. Until they could get either a clock or alarm, the set of four displaced adults had to really just guess the time by the placement of the sun.
The rays trickled through the gap in the curtains of their bedroom window, nearly blasting a perfect beam of golden light at the sleeping faces. A soft, growing symphony of groans began to stir as the four huddled bodies in one bed shifted around.
Elbows and feet jammed in random sides as the pair in the middle found themselves awake well before the two sleeping on the outer sides of the bed. Sky didn’t squirm or wiggle as much as Viktor did in the morning, though she did wrap herself around Jayce’s side to nuzzle her nose in the back of his neck.
“We should get thicker curtains, maybe double layer them,” Viktor whispered, and Sky shifted too much for a sleeping person.
Viktor rolled slightly on his side to also bury his face into the back of Sky’s head, which seemed to prompt Mel to spoon him from behind in a warm cuddle session. It was slightly uncomfortable for the shortest of the four, since his leg had been cramping.
Silence, except for the birds chirping outside, replacing the crickets that had serenaded them asleep. Once awake, it was impossible for Viktor to just go back to sleep. His brain began racing non-stop if he wasn’t given a task to focus his mental energy into.
Thoughts of what he did back in Zaun, in Piltover.
All those people he robbed of autonomy.
How close he was to destroying the very fabric of their world because of blinded ambitions.
“You’re thinking too loud,” Mel whispered behind him, her lips cool on his shoulder as she kissed the sprinkles of freckles and moles and dusted his skin.
“I’m not thinking-” Viktor went to argue, even wrinkling his nose.
“Yes, you are,” Sky hummed in sleepy agreement as she loosened her hold on Jayce’s midsection to croon her neck, looking at him and pressing their foreheads together for a small exchange.
Viktor seemed placated for a second while being doused in affection, a sensation he still felt was foreign and undeserved given his actions.
People died because of him.
Sky was nearly lost forever, Mel had to bury her mom, Jayce was tortured in some hellscape-
“Viktor, I can feel you vibrating the whole bed,” Jayce’s groggy voice came from the silence of the room, earning a groan from the guilt ridden Zaunite as a response.
Viktor shifted and pushed to pry himself from the collective mass of bodies snuggled on the bed, squirming even as his hips and legs popped in protest. “Enough, I’m not going to be the victim-filling of this sandwich-”
The imagery was amusing, making Jayce let out a hearty laugh as he rolled on his back, pulling Sky to his chest while he watched Viktor climb over the bed like a child. Mel took the other man’s spot, worming herself closer against Sky to start peppering and spoiling her arm with kisses despite her morning breath.
Silence settled while they listened to the taps of Viktor’s staff against the wooden floorboards, finally Mel sighed while opening her eyes to address the duo she was cuddling with.
“Shall we get the day started?” the ex-councilwoman asked, looking over at Sky and then Jayce. Admiring the crystalline fingerprints that marbled on his forehead, like gemstones embedded in his skin.
“No time like the present,” Jayce chimed while looking at the two lovely ladies in his life.
“Surely a few more minutes couldn’t hurt, right?” Sky pouted as she basked in their affection.
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Sky knelt in the garden with the basket next to her, carefully picking the ripest red strawberries from their stems. She perked up when the sound of clattering and crackling from the open cottage window could be heard, looking over her shoulder to see artificial light shining. Her eyes widened as she pushed herself up to go over to the kitchen window and poke her head inside. She found Jayce proudly looking at the breaker box he had been determined to fix.
“I knew you could do it,” Sky praised the man, causing him to look over his shoulder at her with a cheery expression on his bearded face.
Jayce leaned on his crutch while placing the screwdriver down, closing the metal door to the box with a proud ‘hmph’ escaping his lips. The door hinge did squeak a bit, which made the man open and close it several times with an annoyed scowl on his scarred lips.
“This means we can reserve candles for special occasions now,” Jayce hummed back while pulling on the metal cord to turn off the lights, giving up on the box for just a little bit.
“Never doubted you,” Sky sighed as she rested her head on her arm, eyes relaxing behind her lens-less glasses. She only wore them out of habit, though Viktor assumed it was for other reasons.
Speculations, but she seemed happy either way.
“Those two are going to be so excited when they see it! Do you need help in the garden?” Jayce asked her, unable to sit still now that his task was complete.
Sky shook her head in response, “How about you relax a bit? I should have enough for dessert soon, then I was going to just water the rest.”
Jayce’s face fell at the refusal, but he hobbled over to the window to close the gap between them. After losing Sky the way they did, he felt himself nearly ecstatic when she returned to them after the fall of the Arcane Herald. He leaned over the counter and ledge, careful of his bad leg as he kissed her cheek softly.
She smiled and then exchanged a kiss on his cheek, not minding his beard and ignoring the sweat on her face.
“Relaxing isn’t my specialty,” he hummed while moving to pour them both a glass of lemonade made with the lemons in their garden.
“Well, time to learn a new skill then, Mr. Young,” Sky chuckled, resting her head on her folded arms while watching the man with a dreamy stare. Jayce chuckled under his breath as he placed her glass close enough to press against her elbow. The coolness of the drink made goosebumps form on her freckled skin, which was exciting.
To have a physical feeling again-- like it was all for the first time.
“Yes ma’am, Mrs. Talis,” Jayce replied as he took his own glass and crutch, going off into their cottage to attempt to relax. Both of them knew it wasn’t going to last long, but they could at least try to enjoy their peace. “I’ll relax, after we put some fresh flowers on the table. What do you say?”
“I say that you’re pushing it,” Sky smiled, but motioned for Jayce to join her in the garden.
After all, tonight they were going to attempt something to finally bring a smile on Viktor’s face since they found refuge from the chaos Hextech unleashed.
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Viktor and Mel sat next to each other by the babbling brooke, listening to the sounds of nature while taking a break on their way to the village. Taking advantage of alone time to meditate with the voices awoken during the mayhem, they let their minds sort through the madness and pain they were still afflicted with.
“You should try not to look like you’re about to throw up,” Mel teased as she snuck a peek at the man next to her, seeing his marbled opal scars catching the sun beautifully.
His eyes clenched a bit tighter and his nose crinkled at the comparison, until eventually he sighed and threw back his head. “Then how would you like me to look?”
There was no bite or bitterness in his words, a genuine question that teetered on emotionless. Control that was barely there.
“Around, you can just look around you,” Mel offered, taking Viktor’s hand into her own to rub the top of his knuckles soothingly.
There was quiet as she pampered his flesh with affection, his face tinting pink before he hummed and looked down at the grassy knolls that rolled past the stream. His face showed him tossing his options around in his head, ping-ponging them back and forth as he dissociated.
“Like that,” she whispered, placing her head on his shoulder as she scooted closer to cuddle with him. A sigh left his lips, realization returned back to his eyes as they fluttered awake from his daydreaming. He blinked once, twice, then focused on the sweet wonder that swam in her eyes.
“Well that’s just staring off, not really sorting through–” Viktor made a vague motion to his head, which only brought a sad smile to Mel’s lips.
“Then focus on me,” Mel offered in a cool, sultry voice that warmed his insides.
Viktor laughed, his face lighting up as he looked genuinely amused by the suggestion. “And you know as well as I do that neither of us would get much done if we were just looking at one another,” Viktor said while reaching for his staff to push himself up.
Mel sat back with her palms on the grassy field, looking up at the sun and then the man managing to stand on his own. She knew better than to offer help, knew he was stubborn and proud of his own independence.
“Shall we head to the market then, Mel? You still need to learn how to properly barter,” Viktor teased while offering her his hand.
The mage smiled up at her partner before taking his hand, standing up and adjusting her robe in the process. “Oh please, Viktor. It’s Jayce who needs your focus, not me,” Mel jabbed playfully as she handed Viktor one of the wicker baskets they had brought for their haul.
Viktor pulled up his hood to help protect his skin and identity, even though these Ionians had no clue who any of them were. It never hurt to be too careful.
“That man is a lost cause,” Viktor chuckled back, his smile reaching up to his eyes as they began to meander down the road towards the markets. They had a list of supplies they were sent to collect for their home, and they had spent enough time trying to commune with the Arcane and nature.
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How many well educated adults did it take to make a cake?
Apparently, three cooks in the kitchen were either too many or not enough, because the lot of them were nearly covered head to toe in flour while looking at various bowls with their attempts at batter and filling. Icing was a bust, a complete sugary failure that radiated toothaching sweetness.
“Trust the process,” Jayce whispered as powdered sugar whitened his beard, puffs of it pluming out like smoke as he spoke. The two women looked at him before they shared a shocked expression at the mess. This was supposed to be them making a strawberry cake for Viktor, and yet here they were coating their entire kitchen in a layer of white flour-dust.
“I am going to be honest, I do not trust anything happening here,” Mel admitted as she reached for a dish towel to clean off her hands from the flour.
Sky sighed in agreement, moving to put the bowls away in rejection while silently praying the strawberry filling wasn’t contaminated with any flying ingredients. She looked over the rim to see the jammy filling was still mostly red, though there was a slight layer of white powdered sugar and flour from their attempt.
“Should we– try again tomorrow?” Jayce asked while dusting off his beard, even licking the sweetness curiously.
“Doubt we can master baking in a day's time, darling,” Mel sighed.
The trio just had to pause and groan at their mess and mistake before them, feeling a mix of guilt and shame over their failed plans. “My mama would be so disappointed!” Jayce whined almost childishly while Sky patted his back. “I’ve always been so good at cooking-”
Mel was removing her apron when she paused, turning around to see Viktor watching them with his arms crossed from the doorway.
“That’s because baking is a science, Jayce,” Viktor informed them, his brow raised as he looked at the mess his patterns had made of their kitchen.
Guilt. They stared with wide eyes like kids with their hands stuck in a cookie jar.
Viktor limped over to them with the basket, eyeing Mel with an annoyed and amused expression. “Really? Pretended to leave the groceries to buy time?”
Mel shrugged, “As if you would have taken a nap if we asked?”
“Alright, point taken,” Viktor mumbled back, placing the basket on their kitchen table where the flour explosion had not reached.
Sky dusted off some of the flour in her hair into the sink, though the color wasn’t too different from the blonde shade the Arcane had bleached her strands. She untied her apron and then reached for a broom. “We just figured a cake— well, it would have been a nice treat.”
Viktor limped over to look in the bowls, inspecting them before reaching for the scale they had on the counter. “It does sound nice… Oil up two pans, I’ll need some eggs too,” Viktor said as he grabbed a measuring cup. His instructions caught the trio off guard, though Sky collected herself the quickest.
“You can bake?” Jayce asked.
“Yes, I did absorb the collective consciousness of thousands of Zaunites and Piltovians, one was bound to be a baker or have a family recipe for a decent cake,” Viktor dryly told them, which caused the room to go cold.
Painfully still.
Stiff, frozen.
Viktor smiled weakly, looking at Jayce and then back at the bowl he was measuring from. “I’m joking, lighten up. I was poor, of course I learned how to make my own food. I think I remember how to do it, it's been a while since I would just buy slices at the corner bakery by the academy once I moved to Piltover.”
“That was a horrible joke,” Sky mumbled while grabbing one of the cakepans, her eyes sympathetic.
“Well I don’t think I absorbed a comedian,” Viktor continued, which made Jayce actually snort that time. Mel elbowed the taller man, even while struggling to fight a small smile herself.
“You’re both horrible,” Mel rolled her eyes, but honestly the lighthearted conversation felt nice.
They were all smiling, even if it was a slightly painful grimace through the tension while Viktor measured out the ingredients.
“Oven preheated,” Sky informed as Mel poured the batter into the second cakepan.
“Great, and the icing looks good,” Viktor sighed as he tasted the spoon for flavor. “Could use vanilla, but maybe next time.”
Jayce slipped his hands into the oven mitts, then placed the pans in the oven while Mel was just finishing wiping down the last of the rogue flour from their earlier attempt.
“About twenty five or– thirty or so minutes, then we can test if it is done in the center,” Viktor informed. “Once it is cool we can add the filling and icing.”
“Fuck, why does this take forever to make?” Jayce whined and closed the oven door, which squeaked loudly with irritation.
Another squeaky door he was going to need to fix.
“Desserts take the longest to make, but the quickest to eat,” Mel chimed while washing her hands.
“Enough time to change, wash up,” Sky began to list as she moved to loop her arms around Mel, letting the other woman rest her chin on her chest.
“Relax.”
Jayce and Viktor shared grimaces at the last item on her list, but relented while the timer was set.
Change, wash up… and begrudgingly relax.
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The timer dinged, and the cake was left out to cool on a wire rack with Viktor excitedly watching and temperature testing. Sure, the cakes looked a little– burnt, but enough icing and strawberry filling would make even the driest of cakes moist and flavorful.
In theory.
“Shoo, out of the kitchen,” Jayce huffed as he almost grabbed the broom to swat the man out like a pesky bug. “We told you this was something we were doing, okay? You’ve helped enough!”
“I am not a cat, or insect!” Viktor gawked as the head of the broom tapped at his leg.
“Can you at least sit down long enough for us to assemble it?” Mel asked as she put her hands on his shoulders. “How hard can that be?”
Viktor pouted rather cutely at them before looking to see Sky was already grabbing out a knife to scrape off the burnt part of the cake. He admitted defeat and slinked off the kitchen table, watching them with half hooded eyes attempting to assemble the strawberry cream cake.
They were smiling, laughing, and alive.
Eyes filled with so much life and light that it was almost like they hadn’t lived through an apocalypse-level event that shook Runeterra just a year ago. Here and now, they were living some life that felt like an undeserved fantasy for him.
They could have lived such a wonderful and fulfilling life, yet he had to muck it up with creating the Hexcore, and other
snowballing events
beyond their immediate control.
After a while the trio walked back to the kitchen table with Mel carrying their largest plate. On it balanced a lopsided, creamy pastel pink mess of sugar and strawberries that looked very juvenile. It looked like the berry juices and the icing mixed to make a pink saucy mess while they tried to throw some of the strawberries on top to distract from the fact that the cake was drooping and off balance.
Viktor’s eyes went wide as the trio sheepishly presented the dessert on the table, watching it unnaturally jiggle as it was placed down.
“It’s–” Viktor blinked a few times, his words weighing on his tongue as he looked from the baked monstrosity to his lovers. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to force yourself,” Sky reached to take the plate away, though Viktor pulled it towards himself instead.
“Are you just saying that to hog it to yourself?” He asked back, raising a brow while going to grab one of their forks sitting in a cup on the table. “Because there is no forcing or arm twisting happening here.”
Jayce rolled his eyes and sat down, sighing with relief as the pressure was taken off his bad leg in one fell swoop. He placed his chin in his palm while watching his partner, as if daring him to take a bite of their attempt. Mel stood behind Jayce, wrapping an arm around his shoulders in a hug before resting her chin on his head. “Well, you get the honors of being first.”
Viktor hummed in agreement and appreciation before stabbing the sweet, gooey (yet somehow still dry) mess with his fork. It was sloppy and crumbly at the same time, somehow a marvel of disastrous cooking compiled on the plate.
Not even Sky’s berries could save the taste when he put it in his mouth. All he wanted to do was spit it out and wash his mouth out with water or a fist full of vodka, but he grinned and bore it while swallowing down the blasphemous attempt.
Seeing Viktor actually eat it made the other three decide to each get a forkful of the dessert, though their reactions were not as resolved or stone faced at the more reserved Zaunite. The room fell quiet as they looked at the failure on the table in shame and–
Amusement.
“This– has to be our second worst creation!” Jayce laughed out loud as he placed the fork down by the side of the plate. Viktor couldn’t hold back his own laugh at the comment, snorting out and scrunching up his nose while placing his own cream coated fork on the table.
“Oh gods, this is – actual torture—” Mel hacked, coughing and thumping on her chest to dislodge a stuck chunk of cake. Sky grabbed a napkin before turning her body to discreetly spit up the bite she had taken, folding it up as politely as she could while pouting over her wasted berries.
They all stared at the cake, then looked at one another to see who would break first.
“We—” Sky started, but couldn’t bring herself to finish.
“We all agree to throw this away, right?” Mel asked, getting an enthusiastic nod from Sky and Viktor.
Jayce sighed while pushing the plate away. “Sorry, Vik, but I’m gonna blame it on your burnt cake,” Jayce teased.
Viktor rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair before a devilish and cheeky smirk stretched across his face. “Then maybe we should just – I don’t know, open a rift through time and space to pop into Piltover and get a replacement cake?”
Again, silence weighed in the room as the three didn’t know if this was just a poorly done joke or a guilty idea from a sweet craving mage.
“Perhaps… Visiting your mother would be nice,” Sky mentioned as she faltered. “Maybe getting a few other– missed delicacies from home.”
Mel chewed on her bottom lip as her arms crossed, shifting on her hips as she stared down at the cake as if it would suddenly explode.
“I do miss that wine shop,” Mel whispered out while chewing on her knuckle.
Jayce couldn’t believe this, turning his head between the trio before exhaling. “Alright– in and out: visit mama, get some wine, a cake– and then NO more tampering with the Arcane!”
Yeah, they were
all
bad relaxing.
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