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It had been about eight months and three weeks since Viktor had strolled into his life just when he was about to end it,made fun of his notes and changed his life forever.
Since then,the two had been practically inseparable. They have spent about every day together in the lab,or at the local cafe or Jayce’s apartment (once it got repaired).
Viktor and Jayce had discussed almost anything and everything. Hextech,mainly but also,Ximena,Sweetmilk,Heimerdinger etc..
But there was something Jayce hadn't brought up. His gender identity.
It wasn't that Jayce thought Viktor would necessarily be angry or hateful (though a part of his mind still told that might happen). It’s just that conversations about his gender would usually take an uncomfortable turn. Usually they would start to ask invasive questions about his genitalia,relationships or his old name. He had people become extremely aggressive and/or hurt when he refused to answer those questions. Jayce had even lost friendships over this.
Jayce didn't want to lose his friendship with Viktor. He hadn't been this close to someone in a long time (possibly ever).
He didn't want to ruin this.
_________
Jayce stared at his notebook as the fading orange light of the sun poured across the page. He stared at the jot notes for a report that he hadn’t written yet,his mind not fully retaining any of the information.The days of staying up late at the lab seemed to finally be catching up to him. So did all the days and nights of wearing his binder.
Jayce knew,reasonably,he shouldn’t have done that,that he needs to take breaks more often and for longer. He could feel his binder pushing in on him,not allowing him to take deep breaths without stabs of pain. He tried to ignore it,to focus on the report he needed to give to the council tomorrow, but he just…couldn't.
Jayce looked up from his notes. Maybe he should take a break and go get some for him and V to eat. They hadn't eaten since early that morning.
As he got up,he cleared his throat,trying to subtly get Viktor’s attention. But when he cleared his throat,he felt a sharp pain in his chest. As he tried to breathe deep through the pain more stabs of pain pierce his chest. The outside world became white noise as dizziness and pain took Jayce’s body to the ground.
He.
Couldn't.
Breathe.
The last thing he felt before he passed out was a hand on his shoulder and someone yelling his name.
_________
When Jayce awoke,his eyes slowly opened to the infirmary ceiling. How did he get here? When did he get here?
As his mind slowly recalled the events that led him there, he turned his head to the left.
Viktor was there. Sitting in the chair next to the bed Jayce was in. Slightly slumped over, leaning his hands and head on his cane,staring out the window.
“V?”
Viktor’s eyes snapped towards Jayce,a scowl spreading across his face. He stood up and quickly strided over to the bed.“What were you thinking?” he exclaimed angrily.
Jayce felt panic flood his body. Shit,he really thought Viktor would be supportive or at the very least at peace with it.
“You need to take breaks from binding! I cannot be the first one to tell you this.” Viktor continued.
Confusion struck Jayce in the face. “Wait, wait,wait you're not mad at me for not telling you?”
.
Viktor raised an eyebrow at him and squinted. “ I beg your pardon,Jayce?”
“ It’s just that,... A lot of people get upset if I don't tell them about-” he gestured to chest “this.”
Viktor still seemed confused. After a moment of quiet he finally spoke.
“Jayce, I was also born a woman. I thought you knew this.”
What.
“Wait,how would I have known that?” Jayce asked, still trying to piece it together in his mind.
Viktor scoffed “ I only started changing my outward appearance after I arrived at Piltover Academy. I did not know that Piltover’s attitude towards gender was much more… rigid than Zaun’s. It became the topic of rumours at The Academy. One I heard once while studying there, was that I transitioned because I killed my former lover in Zaun and didn't want to be caught.”
“I never heard those rumours.”
“I assumed you had heard them. I could hardly avoid them and I was quite the recluse.”
“So was I” Jayce stated grinning up at the Zaunite. Viktor grinned back.
“And here I thought you were a big party person.”
Jayce scoffed “god no.”
Viktor raised one of his eyebrows again. “I thought you liked the parties and galas.”
“It's nice for my ego,with all those people praising me,but all those bright lights and loud noises get to me eventually. I really only keep going for the funding.”
Viktor frowned. Jayce noticed “It would be better if you were with me. We could go together next time.” He said with a sudden bout of confidence. With the remaining part of his confidence bout, he reached and held Viktor’s hand. “As partners.”
Viktor looked down at their joined hands and smiled, his cheek reddening. “Yes,as partners.”
_______
“Do not bind for the next few weeks” Viktor stated matter of fact-ly,not looking up from his book.
Jayce had been released from the infirmary, with a few bruised ribs on both sides of his chest. The two men decided to go back to Jayce’s apartment,where they now sit in his living room,reading.
The other man looked up from his book.
“I am serious Jayce, do not. Your ribs need to heal. I will steal your chest bindings if I must.”
“Alright,alright” Jayce relented and then asked “Do you still bind?”
“No,I had a surgery done years ago in Zaun to remove my breasts. It was ,eh, quite the weight of my chest.” Viktor joked.Jayce snorted.
“Maybe I should go to your doctor for my surgery.” The taller man joked back.
Viktor straightened,suddenly serious “no,he was not a good doctor. We will find you a new one. Better one.”
Jayce’s heart might have skipped a few beats at the mention of a “we”. All he could stutter out was an “ok” before going back to his book,trying to ignore his rapidly blushing cheeks.
Viktor seemed to relax a bit after that and went back to his book as well.
Viktor might just be the death of him.