Chapter Text
Jayce wasn’t sure how he’d managed to make it all the way from the Council chamber and back to the lab without dropping any of the piles of paperwork he’d been carrying. The Council had their own proposals and edits to the previous Hexgate update, and somehow Jayce had left the meeting with twice as many papers as he’d arrived with.
He really wished Viktor would come to the meetings with him. He hadn’t understood why Viktor hated them so much, until very recently.
“I will go with you this time,” Viktor had said. “But I want you to pay attention to how the Council responds to me.”
Viktor had been ignored the entire time, as if he wasn’t even there. It made Jayce angry, furious even, that Viktor didn’t receive the recognition he deserved as co-founder of Hextech. None of what they’d accomplished would exist without Viktor, but no-one seemed to care, simply because of where he was born.
Jayce exited the elevator into the familiar corridor that led to their lab, where Viktor was waiting to hear how it all went. Getting to return and talk to Viktor made the Council meetings worth it, honestly.
It hadn’t taken long after first meeting Viktor for Jayce to fall utterly and completely for the other man, and getting to know him better only made Jayce’s affections grow. Viktor was perfect, and so, so brilliant, he didn’t understand why others couldn’t see that.
Viktor could reign Jayce’s crazy ideas in when they needed to be tamed, and he could encourage other ideas until they transform into something wonderful. Jayce wouldn’t have made it this far without him, and over the last year and half, he’d realised that he couldn’t imagine life without Viktor anymore.
Jayce found the lab door ajar, and just as he reached out to push the door open, he paused at the sound of voices.
“Viktor, um, do you have a moment?” Sky Young, their relatively newly-hired assistant, was talking. She was a sweet girl, lacking in confidence but full of potential, and Jayce had to admit her organisational skills had helped their progress a lot.
“What can I help you with, Miss Young?” Viktor responded. Jayce didn’t have to see him to know Viktor was probably only half-paying attention, his focus mostly on whatever he was working on. Viktor didn’t do it to be rude, it was just how he was.
“It’s kind of…a personal matter I was hoping to discuss,” Sky replied, and Jayce could hear the hesitation in her voice.
There was a sound of shuffling and tools being set down, and Jayce imagined Viktor had put his project down to listen.
“Is everything alright?” He asked.
“Yes, yes, everything is fine,” Sky said quickly with a slightly panicked laugh. “I just…I was wondering if you were, um, busy on Friday, after work?”
There was a silence as Viktor didn’t respond, and Jayce wished he knew what kind of expression his partner was pulling. Jayce’s heartbeat was increasing as he caught on to what Sky’s intentions seemed to be, and he needed to know—did Viktor look interested, was he blushing, or did he look irritated, or uninterested?
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, I was wondering if we could…I don’t know, get a drink or dinner or something?” Sky’s words were rushed, as if she was afraid if she didn’t get them out she’d lose her confidence.
“Oh,” Viktor replied. “I think Jayce and I are free, if you would like–”
“W-without Jayce,” Sky interrupted. Jayce heard her sigh. “Viktor, I…really admire you, everything about you. You’re so inspiring, and I’ve learned so much in just this last month.”
Jayce’s hand was trembling where it still hovered over the door handle, and he was shocked he hadn’t dropped the paperwork now balancing in one hand. He should leave, he should just walk away and stop eavesdropping on this personal conversation.
A small, dark voice in his mind told him he should push the door open and interrupt.
“I really like you, Viktor,” Sky continued. “And I…wanted to know if you’d like to go out. As…more than friends?”
Jayce pulled his hand back and quickly turned around, walking back up the long corridor to the elevator. He couldn’t stand there and listen to Viktor’s response, if Viktor was going to accept Sky’s affections, Jayce didn’t think he could bear to hear it.
—
“I really like you, Viktor,” Sky continued. “And I…wanted to know if you’d like to go out. As…more than friends?”
Viktor was startled, momentarily frozen in place where he sat on his stool by the workbench. Sky wasn’t looking at him, and was instead staring at the floor, holding her notebook tightly to her chest. Her cheeks were burning, embarrassment evident in the way she held herself.
And Viktor…he’d never found himself in this sort of situation before. He never thought he’d ever be there, listening to someone admit affection toward him. He didn’t know what to do, or how to even begin to respond.
It wasn’t until Sky managed a shy peek up at him that he realised he’d left the silence lingering far too long.
“Miss Young,” Viktor picked up his cane and stood, reaching out to rest a hand gently on her shoulder. “You are a very promising scientist with a lot of great potential, and I look forward to seeing your contributions to science in the future.”
He hoped his words didn’t sound as stilted as he felt, but discussions of emotions weren’t exactly his strong suit.
“You have also been a great asset to Hextech,” he continued. Sky was looking up at him, her eyes wide and—damn it, lined with tears. He was about to make her cry. “I do not think we could have possibly progressed as fast as we have without you to keep all of our files and schedules in order.”
Sky managed a small smile, reaching up to adjust her glasses.
“You are a wonderful young woman,” he said. “Please do not take it personally when I say I cannot return your affections.”
He felt Sky’s shoulders slump as she let out a breath, looking away from his face and nodding. “I…sort of expected as much,” she said.
“I mean it when I say to not take it personally,” Viktor said, moving his hand away from her shoulder. “I am, eh…not…attracted to…women.”
Sky blinked, once, twice, before looking up at Viktor. “Oh!” She actually managed a true smile and a small laugh. “Oh, okay, I understand.”
She was crying, and Viktor still felt cruel. “Please don’t cry, Miss Young,” he said. “I’m not worth the energy.”
“I’ll be okay,” she replied with a sniffle. “And for the thousandth time, please call me Sky.”
“Apologies,” Viktor chuckled. “Ah, if…it is okay, though, I still wouldn’t mind joining you for a drink on Friday.”
“Really?” Sky looked up at him with a smile.
“As friends?”
She nodded, smiling brightly. “As friends.”