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Jayce was, for once, working late. He had had enough of Viktor’s snide remarks regarding his commitment to their work and so was determined to prove him wrong. Still, the many late-night meetings with the council, and time spent with Mel and at galas, were taking their toll. Whilst attempting to calculate the correct calibration of the hex arm’s laser focus, he found that his vision was blurring. Shaking his head, he took a swig of cold coffee and continued. Triumphantly, he rolled over on his stool to the adjacent desk and began to tinker with the arm. As it began to whir, he laughed giddily, thinking: I can’t wait to see Viktor’s face when he sees this. The arm began to sputter and fizz with electricity.
“Oh no-”, he began, but it was too late. A loud boom was heard and he felt himself being thrown backwards, landing with a thump on the cold, hard ground.
The arm clanked onto the floor, but not before it bounced off the side of the desk, letting out streams of laser across the room. Deep marks seared into the walls, cutting through their board with calculations, slicing some notes and pens in half on the desk and hitting the hex core, which spun and screeched. The hex core absorbed the blast and for a moment, as Jayce held his breath, everything seemed alright. Until it wasn’t. It shot out a blast that hit Jayce square in the chest.
Knocking the air out of him, he fell back flat onto the ground. Bracing himself for pain, he felt nothing but the shock of impact. Hyperventilating and regaining his cool, he let his hands roam his body looking for signs of injury but yet again seemed entirely unscathed. Sitting up, he held his hands up, feeling a jolt of electricity running through him, a sort of low hum beneath that settled and dissipated.
Swallowing hard, Jayce got up and dusted himself off. Deciding he had had enough near-death experiences for one night, he began to tidy up and prepared some sort of excuse in his head for what had happened. Note to self, he thought, don’t work sleep-deprived. Thinking back to all the times Viktor had spent all night at the lab, he thought, I don’t know how he does it.
He was most certainly not looking forward to the look on Viktor’s face when he arrived in the morning.
-
Jayce felt himself falling through a deep and dark void. Screams were heard all around him. Throngs of people, hands at every side of him, writhing, pulling at his clothes and skin. His hand was caught and he stopped midair. Feeling objects fall all around him, he held onto the hand. Looking up, he saw Viktor’s face. It was gaunt, and his eyes were black voids.
“My… partner,” Viktor whispered.
“Viktor!” he heard himself yell.
“You killed…,” Viktor smiled enigmatically, and blood began to pour out of his eyes and mouth. “Me,” he said pointedly and let go of his hand.
Jayce wailed as he fell. Hands enveloped him from below, pulling him down faster and faster.
He closed his eyes and screamed.
-
Sitting up screaming, Jayce looked around. Feeling around him in panic, he remembered last night. He was in his bed, soaked in sweat, the morning sun glaring into his eyes. It was just a dream, he told himself, as he tried to calm down. Taking a few deep breaths, he got up, thinking of only one thing, Viktor.
Stepping into the lab, Viktor was, of course, already hard at work. He sheepishly tiptoed into the room, expecting to be told off vehemently. It wasn’t just the damage to the lab to think of, Jayce might have jeopardized their prototype by acting rashly and trying to prove something.
As he neared the desk, he was dumbfounded.
“Finally graced us with your presence, Councilor?” Viktor jibed without taking his eyes off the notes in front of him.
The lab was unscathed. Somehow. Not a single mark was left from the laser. It doesn’t make any sense! he thought.
“I… uhm, yeah,” he said absentmindedly as he touched the board, unable to find a single mark or blemish.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” said Viktor teasingly. “I’m sure the council are expecting a little more from our presentation.” Turning to him, Viktor frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
Jayce spluttered. “No, nothing,” he assured him. “I just… have you noticed anything off, I mean here? Since last night?” he continued enigmatically.
Viktor’s frown deepened. “Not since I locked up last night,” Viktor said, eyeing him warily. “Are you sure you are alright?” he probed.
“Fine!” He smiled a little too widely, no doubt, but quickly gathered himself at his desk.
As he took his seat, he noticed some things were missing. “Hey, have you seen my calibration for the arm?” His cheeks flushed a bit at the memory, but before him lay half-finished notes, he knows he completed them the night before.
Viktor stood and walked over.
“Jayce, we are starting that today.” Lifting one hand to his forehead, Viktor sighed exasperatedly.
“No fever, but I’m keeping an eye on you,” he shot him a look and went back to his work.
Jayce’s mind reeled. Had he dreamt it all? Couldn’t be.
Commencing the calibration, he simply laid out what he was certain they had worked on yesterday, and when completed walked with uncertainty over to Viktor.
“Need help so soon?” Viktor joked, but his face fell as he looked through it.
“This… this is… good,” he swallowed. Looking up at Jayce with a mixture of surprise and awe, he smiled. “I do not know what has gotten into you today, but I am not going to complain.”
Jayce returned his smile and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Just trying to do my part.”
-
Working on the arm calculations he had done last night, he went over them with Viktor, who corrected a few mistakes. When they finally turned it on, Jayce tensed, but as it whirred and came to a low hum, Viktor flashed him a brilliant smile. “You did it,” he said breathlessly.
Jayce enveloped him in a hug, taking Viktor by surprise, but he didn’t seem to wholly mind.
“We did it.”
As he lay his head on his pillow that night, he marveled at the enigmatic and vivid dream he had had. Hoping for a dreamless sleep, he let his fingers caress the rune on his wrist as he thought about their successes and Viktor’s elated expression as he drifted off into sleep.
-
He was floating downstream. His arms tried to break through the rough current, but they felt weak, like he was wading through mud. It was all he could do to just keep his head afloat. Gasping, he tried to shout for help, but the moon was low across the dark sky, and he was alone.
The tide picked up speed, and he felt rocks underneath his feet scraping his skin, and branches overhead slapping and lacerating his face. He could taste blood. His back hit into a sharp rock and he cried out. Clambering onto it with his arms, he breathed hard, choking out water. The sharp rock face dug into his skin but he had to hold on. Howling winds began to whirl around him as rain began to patter down. He saw strands of crimson dripping down his arms, his fingernails digging into the rock face. Teeth began to graze his feet and legs beneath the water.
“No, please!” he cried out. Kicking back, he freed himself, pulling himself up and onto the rock.
His muscles were raw with fatigue, and the rain began to come down at a brutish rate, burning his skin with each heavy drop. From beneath the water, he saw them. Ghoulish white eyes and open mouths screaming, begging. His heart was racing as he took care not to let any part of him touch the water.
“Get away from me!” he yelled.
A being lurched out of the water. It took a hold of him, thrashing wildly as Jayce tried to push it off.
As he finally managed to wrestle free, he threw it back into the water.
To Jayce’s complete shock and regret, he saw Viktor’s face.
“Help me,” he wailed.
Frightened and in disbelief, he was dragged down by hands into the dark waters below.
-
Jayce jumped up in bed. Cursing, he held his throbbing temple. His bed once again soaked, the sunshine giving him little reprieve as he made his way to the shower, wondering when his mind was going to let him rest. Why was he having so many nightmares? Why did they all involve Viktor? Sleep deprivation, he decided. And it was only getting worse.
Deciding to focus on the positives, he thought back to their milestone, letting the hot water wash away any remnants of his poor mood.
Entering the lab, he snickered at the sight of Viktor once again hard at work, no doubt hours into it by the time he arrived.
“Morning, partner,” he smiled as best he could given the circumstances. Nearing the desk, he set down some pastries and coffees he had stopped to get on his way.
“Finally graced us with your presence, Councilor?” Viktor joked.
“And here I thought you were going to be original,” Jayce retorted with a smile.
Viktor glowered at him but accepted the coffee.
As he took his seat, his eyes widened.
In front of him were the same unfinished notes as the day before.
“Are you playing a prank on me, Viktor?” He looked over at Viktor, who was halfway through his coffee.
“You know me,” Viktor began, “ever the prankster,” he said absentmindedly.
“Where are my notes? For the calibration?” Jayce questioned exasperatedly.
Viktor shot him a look but continued his work in silence.
Clearing his voice, he failed to garner his attention.
“Viktor?”
“Jayce,” Viktor said back matter-of-factly.
“The notes?” he insisted.
“What notes? We are starting that today, Jayce. Are you well?” He looked genuinely concerned.
Jayce paused. Then, leaning back, he let out a hearty laugh. This visibly increased Viktor’s concern.
Standing up, he made his way over, placing his hand on Jayce’s forehead.
“No fever,” he mused.
Jayce’s laughter died down. “Okay, enough with the games,” he said amusedly. “I apologize for the arm. Can we just get back to work?”
Viktor just stared at him.
“I just need to get the schematics for the arm and then we can present it to Heimerdinger,” he concluded.
“Jayce,” Viktor spoke at last. “We are starting that today.”
Jayce felt himself get a bit flustered. “Very funny,” he said. “It’s not gonna work a second time.”
“Jayce, I think you should take the day off, maybe have a rest,” Viktor implored, looking at Jayce as though he had grown a second head.
Laughing bitterly, Jayce got up and went over to the arm. “I’ll just have to find them, then-” Pausing as he stood before it.
In front of him lay the arm, with the final parts missing, just as it had been the day before. As realization sunk in, he felt a pounding headache all of a sudden coming over him.
“Jayce!” Viktor yelled, but Jayce held up his arm as though to stop him.
“I-I just need to rest,” he assured him and ran out.
As he made his way home, he looked around, noting the people on the streets. A girl tripped momentarily as she was walking across the road, before running across. A man in a black hat and red pants bought a newspaper. A carriage fleeted past with a couple inside.
As he stepped into his apartment, he sunk to the floor, feeling the booming ache pervade his entire body. Crawling into his bed, he prayed he could get some reprieve from his mangled mind as he fell into a deep sleep.
-
He found himself scaling a mountain wall. Looking behind and beneath himself, he saw nothing but fog clouding the depths below. Above him was some hope of sunlight, away from the dark and solitary cave below. His arms were screaming, but he had to hang on. Slipping with his left foot, he managed to hang on with his hands as he corrected his footing. Pebbles began to rain down from above; yet, unaffected, he continued his ascent. His legs shook from the effort of holding on, clenching his muscles until they spasmed. As he, at long last, reached the top with one hand, he began to lift himself over the side, peering over the top. That’s when he heard screaming coming from beneath him. Hands began to crawl their way up the mountain, scattering like arachnids towards him. A bony hand curled around his leg, pulling him down, but he did not let go of the mountain wall.
“Let me go!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Looking down, he saw nothing past the fog, which seemed to rise, and the hands clawing at his flesh. Nails dug into the ligaments of his ankle and he cried out.
“Jayce,” he heard a familiar voice say above him.
Looking up, he saw the familiar kind eyes of his partner staring down at him. He appeared as some sort of deity before him, with a godly golden glow around him.
“Viktor!” he pleaded. “Help me.”
“Take my hand, Jayce,” Viktor spoke softly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Grunting, he reached out with all the force he could muster. Their fingers brushed one another’s.
Viktor’s pale, glowing hand hovered above his and he leaned in. Jayce felt the ripping of his flesh continue as he looked pleadingly up at Viktor.
“It’s time,” Viktor whispered, kneeling before him and nearing his face. “For you to die.”
Jayce lost his grip and fell, as he was pulled into the fog.
-
When Jayce awoke this time, he screamed both out of fear and frustration.
Holding his head, he felt as though he had had another night of no rest at all. Rubbing his neck and temples, he lay down for a moment, feeling tears prick at the corners of his eyes. Breathing deeply, he got up, forwent the shower, dressed, and made his way yet again to the lab.
Once there, he barged in, going up to the desk and eyeing his notes.
“Finally graced us with your presence, coun-?”, Viktor began but stopped himself as he took in Jayce.
Jayce walked up to him and took hold of his shoulders, staring deep into his eyes.
“What happened yesterday?” he demanded.
“Jayce, what’s wrong?” Viktor said apprehensively.
“Just tell me. Please,” he pleaded.
“Uh… okay, I worked until about midnight and then I locked up.”
“What about me? When did I arrive?” His grip tightened.
“Jayce…” Viktor bit his lip. “You weren’t here last night,” he finished, wincing somewhat.
Realizing what he was doing, he let go of him. “I-I’m sorry,” he muttered, turning around, rubbing his face in tired defeat.
“Jayce, should I fetch the doctor?” Viktor tried.
Resolutely, he walked over to the schematics, sat down, and began to work. After a moment, he passed the notes to Viktor, who had just stood there staring at him in awe and trepidation. Jayce must have looked absolutely insane, walking in disheveled, practically manhandling Viktor, and then solving their issue in a matter of minutes.
“Jayce, this is-this is good,” he tried, but he couldn’t get through to the manic man, who then began to work on the arm. He worked wordlessly for another twenty minutes, and then, as he was about to test it, Viktor protested.
“Wait! That could be dangerous. At least let me verify the calculations,” he pleaded, but Jayce was already turning it on. Again, it was a success, much to Viktor’s surprise.
“Janna…” he said breathlessly.
Jayce walked towards the door, leaving Viktor dumbfounded.
As he walked home, he waited with bated breath, staring at his watch, for events to unfold. And when they did, it was enough to turn Jayce’s stomach. The girl tripping, the man at the shop, and the carriage. It had unfolded exactly how it had previously. He felt nauseous and began to run home. Once inside, he stumbled to the bathroom and retched. This time, he didn’t make it to the bed and lost consciousness on the bathroom floor.
-
He felt himself floating in a stream, reflecting the starry night sky. He felt calm and at peace. Next to him, floating in the water, was Viktor. He turned his head and smiled at him, who smiled back. Reaching out with his hand in the water, he tried to grasp his hand, but Viktor’s smile faded as his features began to droop. He melted into the water and disappeared. “Viktor?” he tried, as he felt dread wash over him. Then he too began to see his own body melt into the water below as he sank beneath its depths.
-
Waking, this time, was less of an ordeal. There were no screams, and he felt his heartbeat calmer. Instead of dread, all he felt was moroseness. In place of his headache was a deep sadness. Begrudgingly, he got up, showered, dressed, and headed out. Instead of heading to the lab, he decided to take a walk. Nothing he did today would have any bearing on tomorrow anyway, he thought. Not that there would even be a tomorrow. Retracing his steps, he realized it had to have something to do with the hex core and the laser. When it hit him, it must have altered something. That meant that he was either experiencing the same day over and over again, or he was losing his mind. Deciding, for the benefit of his well-being, to go with the former option, he began taking notes in his notebook as he sat on a bench, noting down any and all impressions and ideas that came to mind. If he could somehow reverse the charge and get it to blast him again, would it solve anything? Or just kill him?
It was noon when he finally arrived at the lab, and Viktor was still rooted to the same spot as usual, nose-deep in their research.
“Finally decided t-”
“…grace us with your presence, Counselor. Yes, I’m here,” he droned monotonously.
Viktor turned and scowled at him. “Getting predictable, am I? Guess I have to step up my game,” Viktor spoke. Taking his usual seat, Jayce sighed deeply. Realizing he was stuck in this predicament, there was little to be done but to try and find a way out of it.
Drawing out his notebook, he began to calculate what he believed was the original erroneous charge that had resulted in the faulty arm and attempted to reverse the equation.
“What are you doing?” Viktor asked from behind him after what must have been hours. He hadn’t noticed him standing there. His first instinct was to snap the book shut, though there was no better mind in Piltover to discuss such a strange occurrence with.
“I’m reversing the charge of the arm,” he said, looking up at Viktor with some degree of vulnerability.
“I see that. Why?” Viktor looked nonplussed.
Sighing, he turned to face him. “What if I told you I’ve been living the same day over and over again?” he tried, feeling his cheeks redden at how incredibly stupid he sounded.
Viktor smiled. “One of your philosophical hypotheticals, I gather?”
“Yes,” Jayce smiled back, silently grateful for the out Viktor had just given him.
“Well, I suppose I’d try and undo it if possible,” Viktor leaned against the desk.
“And if you couldn’t?” Jayce tried.
“Hm…” Viktor mused. “I guess I would try all the things I had been too scared to do otherwise,” he laughed.
Jayce smiled weakly, rubbing his tired face. “Such as?”
“I’ve always wanted to try Heimerdinger's secret wine collection,” he smiled sheepishly.
“Wine? That’s it?”
“He’s got a rare bottle that’s older than he is, the only one left in the world. I’d steal that.”
Jayce chuckled before yawning widely.
“Agreed. It’s time, I’m amazed you have managed to outdo me tonight,” Viktor said as he headed to the door. Nodding, Jayce joined him on the walk back to his before heading home himself.
This evening was not wracked with headaches, but rather a calm determination swept through him as he was determined to find a way out of this loop.
-
Jayce floated amongst clouds, his form not corporeal and yet not spirit. He could see his hands, but they were see-through and had a red hue around them. He felt warm, safe, and at home. A figure stirred to the left of him, and he knew before turning it was his partner. Wordlessly he beckoned him, and they joined hands. Viktor smiled at him, and Jayce squeezed his hand in reassurance. With a tug of his wrist, they floated through the air, and Jayce felt almost elated. Viktor looked healthy somehow, as though the disease had never touched him, never ravaged his body, and stolen years of hearty experiences and appetites. His smile reached his eyes, whose sultry embers bore into his own. Slipping through his fingers, he felt them float away from each other, drawing away from his warmth into a cold darkness that enveloped him.
-
Opening his eyes, he simply stared at the ceiling. What is happening to me?, he wondered. Instead of dealing with the difficult thoughts rummaging through his mind, he decided to focus all his energy on the day ahead. That same repeating dastardly day.
Instead of heading into the lab, he once more took another route via Heimerdinger's office.
The door was ajar, and Jayce could hear voices inside. Knocking lightly on the door, he was greeted by the professor warmly.
“Jayce, my boy!” he chirped. “Come to present your new discovery?” He looked at him expectantly. Next to him was Councilor Salo, who nodded in his direction. “Talis,” he said softly.
“Any day now,” he promised. “In fact, that’s why I’m here. The last order had faulty wiring, so we need a reorder before we can present our findings,” he lied.
“Councilor Salo, let’s continue this talk in a moment. Wait for me in the conference room? I shall join you shortly!” he spoke melodically.
Salo acquiesced, to his own chagrin, and made his way out. “Lovely to see you, Talis.”
“Let’s look at the order slip…” the professor mumbled as he shuffled through his orders on the desk.
Jayce leaned in behind him, tipping a fountain ink jug across the desk.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” he pantomimed.
“Oh dear! No worries, let me fetch a wiper,” the professor said as he scurried off into the other room.
Reaching into the cabinet, Jayce pulled out the oldest-looking bottle and stuffed it into his vest with a gleeful smile.
As he entered the lab, he saw Viktor straining his back. Seemingly in pain, he tried to massage one side of his spine and huffed painfully. Nearing him, he placed one hand on his shoulder, causing Viktor to nearly jump out of his chair.
“You scared me,” his wide eyes reflected as much.
“Sorry,” Jayce spoke remorsefully.
Kneading the same spot with his gloved hand, Viktor tensed. “What are you doing?” he asked, almost suspiciously.
“I know you’re in pain, and I can probably reach a lot better,” he said matter-of-factly.
Instead of arguing, Viktor visibly relaxed, if only a little, especially when Jayce kneaded a particularly sore spot which made him hiss.
“Is that okay?” Jayce asked with some uncertainty.
Viktor merely hummed in response.
After a few minutes, Jayce noticed with some relish that Viktor had closed his eyes.
Stepping away, he patted his shoulder. “Better?”
Viktor looked a little breathless but just cleared his throat and gave out a meek, “Much. Thank you.”
They worked in silence for a couple of hours after that, with an uncharacteristic tension filling the room.
-
As the sun began to set, Viktor rose and stretched.
“I cannot believe you have managed to outlast me. See you tomorrow,” and with that, Viktor headed towards the exit.
“Wait,” Jayce said suddenly and joined him at the door. “Come on, I want to show you something,” to which a confused Viktor nodded.
Jayce locked the door and headed to the desk, where he fished a bottle out of his discarded vest.
Viktor’s eyes widened. He neared him at a speed unbeknownst to Jayce.
“Where did you get this?” Viktor asked in disbelief.
“It was a gift,” Jayce smiled, getting a couple of glasses out of the cupboard.
A distressed Viktor followed and watched in horror as Jayce popped open the bottle.
“What are you doing?!” he shouted. “That bottle has got to be over 300 years old. There’s only a handful left, if even that, what could you possibly be thinking?!” he fretted.
Jayce roared with laughter. “I was thinking,” he said as he neared him while pouring a glass, “that I’d like to share it with my partner.”
Viktor couldn’t help but smile. “You are impossible! Surely you should have saved it for a special occasion, you’ll never find another bottle like it,” he said, mesmerized, yet took the offered glass with a kind of reverence Jayce had never seen on the man.
“This is special enough,” he assured him, clinking glasses and taking a sip. Viktor followed, closing his eyes in enjoyment.
“Marvelous,” Viktor breathed, as Jayce coughed, having not prepared for how strong it was.
Sitting on the couch, they reminisced about the first night they met. Jayce’s uncertainty, Viktor’s brazen nature, and how far they had come.
After a couple of glasses, it was fair to say that they were both sufficiently inebriated. Viktor leaned his head back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
“I remember your expression when I told you you were dangerous, like this”, Viktor contorted his face in mock shock, to which Jayce guffawed.
“And you? So much attitude for a first meeting. I swear I wanted to punch you!” Jayce laughed as he leaned back too.
Viktor punched him playfully on the shoulder, to which Jayce responded by poking his midsection, making Viktor jump, nearly spilling his drink. “Careful!” he snickered before downing it, to Jayce’s dismay.
Jayce begrudgingly followed, downing the last of the wine, setting his empty cup beside his.
“Can I make a confession?” Jayce began.
“Go on.”
“It wasn’t a gift. I stole it from Heimerdinger,” he confessed.
Viktor began to belly laugh until he could hardly breathe. Jayce joined him.
“You have proven that you are the most reckless man I know,” Viktor’s laughter died down, and he gazed at Jayce through lidded eyes.
Feeling breathless, Jayce brought his hand up to Viktor’s cheek, who smirked and raised an eyebrow in response, no doubt thinking it a funny joke.
Jayce sat up, his hand caressing Viktor’s cheek. “What would you do, if you woke up every day to the same day?” he asked.
Viktor smiled. “Whatever I’d want.”
“What if I don’t know what I want?” Jayce asked nervously.
Viktor began to close his eyes, as though drifting off. “Try,” he whispered.
Leaning in, Jayce tentatively kissed him. Before he drifted off into sleep, he could have sworn he felt a hand in his hair and soft lips pressing against his.
-
Jayce lay in a field. The warmth of the sun warming his body, the scent of grass and flowers pervading his senses. Turning over, he saw his pale form, and without hesitation, he enveloped him. Viktor turned, smiling sleepily, one hand lifting to interlink with his.
“Partner,” he whispered. “Kiss me.”
Jayce felt himself warm at the thought as he leaned in.
-
Waking, he felt blissful for the first time. And he excitedly rose out of bed. Whistling as he showered, he had no qualms about what it had all meant. However long it took to get out of this loop, he had found something meaningful in the ordeal. It felt incredible to admit, his best friend, his partner, was such an integral part of him. It’s really no wonder that these feelings should flourish. His only doubt was whether or not they would be reciprocated. Waving away the uncertainty, he dressed impeccably and headed out.
As he entered the lab, he set down the pastry and coffee, smiling his best winning smile at Viktor, who merely looked away.
Sheepishly, he sat at his desk, feeling somewhat self-conscious. He had never knowingly flirted with Viktor, so making the transition was proving a little difficult, to say the least.
Standing, he made his way over, and without a word, began to work out his kinks, much to Viktor’s chagrin.
“What on earth are you doing?” he spat, but bit back his anger as Jayce hit the exact spot that was ailing him.
“Helping. God knows you need this,” he said low in Viktor’s ear, who visibly shivered.
“I-I can do that just fine on my own,” he stuttered, but Jayce was relentless.
Massaging a particularly delicate spot, Viktor moaned low, beside himself, and grunted in a feeble attempt to cover it up. A flush was beginning to spread down his neck.
“That’s more than enough, thank you,” Viktor said, completely out of breath, making to stand, but Jayce wouldn’t let up.
“I don’t mind,” he said innocently, beginning to rub his neck muscles.
Viktor sighed softly, seemingly relenting to Jayce’s assault.
“Hand me that oil,” Jayce whispered in Viktor’s ear, whose breath hitched.
Seemingly not trusting himself to speak, Viktor handed him the oil wordlessly. Popping it open, he spread some on his fingers and continued to massage his neck, going further below the collar with each palpitation. Fingers delved over his clavicles, kneading across his throat, feeling Viktor swallow beneath his hands. Reaching lower, one hand splayed across his bare chest, making Viktor gasp.
His other hand continued to rub along his spine, his shirt lifting with every stroke. Feeling bold, he delved his hand beneath more and more until he snaked his hand under his shirt entirely and began to rub his bare skin with his coarse hands. Viktor moaned low.
Jayce pressed closer to him from behind and felt Viktor press back. They were both breathing harder. Jayce, emboldened by Viktor’s noises, dropped to his knees, letting his head rest on Viktor’s now exposed shoulder. His hand travelled from his delicate spine to his hip, rubbing on the no doubt sore muscles there.
His thumb dipped beneath his underwear, and they both gasped.
“Jayce?” Viktor said uncertainly.
Instead of answering, Jayce brought his hand from his chest to wrap around his throat, turning his head and capturing his lips.
Viktor moaned deeply and responded in kind, his hand diving into Jayce’s hair as they deepened the kiss.
Jayce grasped his hair, and they kissed until they both came up gasping.
Turning the chair, with Viktor still in it, he delved back for more.
Behind them, the hexcore began to hum, though they appeared not to take note of it.
As they lay on the couch later that night, Jayce found that he, for once, did not mind if this day were to repeat itself. As Viktor lay snoring on his chest, he felt his heart swell, thinking of how many times he wouldn’t mind repeating firsts.
-
Viktor felt himself floating in a cosmic space, enveloped by a feeling of completeness. Arms enveloped him, and he turned to see Jayce’s broad smile. Warmth encircled them, washing away decades of pain, uncertainty, and doubt. He felt loved and accepted by the most intelligent and loving, albeit most infuriating, person he had ever met.
There is beauty in imperfections, he heard Jayce whisper. Turning, he felt them float upwards, encircled by magic, in a space beyond time and place and matter. Swirls of light began to dance around them, and with elation in his heart, they enveloped and met in a kiss.
-
Jayce opened his eyes. Something was different.
The comforting warmth of the sun radiated across his face. As he stirred, he heard a soft sigh.
In his arms was Viktor, on their couch, in their lab, living another day at last.
Jayce could not wait for another tomorrow.