Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Education at Piltover Academy was sought after by most, fueling the dreams of Zaunites and Piltovans alike. To get an education at the most esteemed university was an almost guaranteed career once graduated. Although the academy welcomed anyone to apply, the people of Zaun had a harder time getting in than uppercity folk. 

Jayce went to study at the academy to help people, to make the world a better place. Parts of him knew he was a naive to think he could do it, and enough people have told him so throughout his life. But he was young and smart, ready to take on the world and make a name for himself. Most of his days were spent scribbling random plans into his journal, doing the math to figure out how to make them work. His family were not as rich as some of the more notable houses of Piltover. House Talis only rose in rank after his family’s invention of the collapsible pocket wrench, and the name Talis was still unknown to most common folk. Following in his father’s footsteps was what was expected of him, and he never minded putting in hours at the forge. However, once his parents realized that Jayce had ideas outside just tool making, they supported him in his venture to the academy. 

The rooms provided by the academy were much bigger than he was expecting, considering they are rooms meant for only one student to occupy. At twenty-one years old, this was his first real taste of freedom, and he spent the entirety of his first day at the academy getting his things decently organized. There was a semblance of homeliness by the end, and he sat on his bed with a container of takeout in celebration. 

—

With a focus on engineering and related sciences, Jayce fell into rhythm with his classes fairly easily. His mind had always worked at a faster pace than most, and he was able to decipher information that would be difficult for others his age. Some of it was due to his younger years, as he was always up late reading whichever book he picked at the library with his mother earlier in the day. 

His favorite lecture was with Professor Heimerdinger, the dean of the academy and head of Piltover’s council. Three hundred plus years of experience made for interesting lessons, and Jayce never grew bored from the vast knowledge he shared. Other students in the class didn't seem to share his same opinion, most of them dozing off after just twenty minutes into an hour lesson. The only other person that seemed as interested as him was his assistant, Viktor. Jayce only knew his name because Heimerdinger appeared to have a smidgen of affection for him, and he often called him by name at the end of class to finish some discussion they must've had before it. 

Jayce had a weird fixation with Viktor, unable to take his eyes from the smaller man, too intrigued by everything about him. Viktor was deemed unapproachable—he heard some of the other students say so, whispering to each other in the hall about how rude he was. He didn’t believe it, not really. Sure, he could admit that Viktor appeared a bit standoffish, but there was something about him that drew Jayce in. He never waited around to eavesdrop, but Jayce could tell Viktor exhibited kindness towards the professor during their one-on-one conversations, and he even observed Viktor's lips curving slightly into a smile once. He had kept that image in his mind and played it every time he saw the man. 

Jayce had never talked to him. 

He wanted to, he really did, but every time he tried to do so, Viktor would be busy with something else. That didn’t stop Jayce from perking up every time he heard the click of Viktor’s cane as he entered the lecture room, silently wishing he were more brave. Talking to people had never been so difficult for him. Actually, it was quite easy when he was really trying. An introvert at heart, but an extrovert by force. He blamed it on all the dinners and shops he was dragged to as a kid, and now talking to people was like a second nature. People tended to gravitate towards him, he never minded. Being a bit bigger than most other people his age, it drew people’s attention, even if he wasn’t particularly fond of it. Wanting to be known for making the world a better place meant getting over it. 

The only person who seemed completely uninterested in him was the one person he wanted to actually talk to. It wasn’t anything weird, he wasn't obsessed, but Viktor was super fucking smart . Some of the things Viktor said in class blew his mind, and Jayce hung off every accented word that fell from his full lips. It was hypnotic, and he was unable to resist the pull towards him. It sounded weird in his own mind, but Jayce simply wanted to be Viktor’s friend. 

A month into the class is when he worked up the courage to approach. Heimerdinger had just finished his lecture, and Viktor was collecting his things quietly. The professor seemed engrossed in some papers on his desk, so Jayce took the chance. 

“Viktor, right?” Jayce asked, voice hesitant. Viktor stopped what he was doing, almost as if he was shocked. Two hazel eyes peered up at him, accessed him. 

“Eh, yes,” Viktor said, clearly confused on why Jayce had approached so randomly. Since babbling was Jayce’s unfortunate nervous habit, he was helpless to do anything other than let it happen. 

“I’m Jayce.” He put a hand to his chest. “I hadn’t introduced myself yet, and I am pretty sure we are studying the same thing.” 

“Yes.” Viktor grabbed his cane, using it to help push himself up out of the chair. His journal was in his other hand, and Jayce’s eyes fell to the bound book, curiosity burning through him. Viktor hugged it tightly to his chest, shielding it from Jayce’s prying eyes. “Now that we have made our introductions, I must go.”

“Oh, sure. Yeah, of course,” Jayce rambled, stepping back to give Viktor space. The smaller man barely acknowledged him as he walked past, and Jayce deflated. After working himself up over this, he thinks it’s safe to say that this entire conversation was a disaster. Viktor probably finds him annoying, and he will no doubt try to avoid Jayce every chance he gets for the foreseeable future. He’s pulled from his wallowing when Viktor stops and turns back to face him. 

“Goodbye, Jayce.” 

Jayce’s mood skyrocketed. 

—

The second time isn’t so bad, and he feels much more confident before he approaches. Viktor is sitting on a ledge just outside of the academy building, quietly eating the lunch he must’ve brought with him. Jayce watches him, feeling fond as Viktor struggles to unwrap the plastic around his sandwich. He takes small bites, almost like a bird, and Jayce bites back a grin before Viktor spots him. Something tells him the man wouldn’t take too kindly to feeling like Jayce was having a laugh at his expense, especially when he wouldn’t even know why. 

“Viktor,” he said, voice soft, perhaps even a little too familiar. 

The hand holding half his sandwich pauses, and Viktor slowly lifts his eyes to Jayce’s. They share a quiet moment, the two of them unmoving as they look at one another. Viktor’s the first to break the contact. 

“Jayce, hello,” Viktor replied, just as confused as the last time Jayce had approached him. “Is there something you need?”

“Don’t tell anyone, but I hate eating alone.” Jayce grins, holding up his lunch for Viktor to see. He makes a gesture to the spot beside him on the ledge, a question. Viktor hesitates, then nods. Jayce sits close enough for his arm to brush against Viktor’s. The smaller man flinches ever so slightly, and Jayce puts a little more room between them, looking over at him sheepishly. “Sorry, I have been told I am shit at personal space.” 

Viktor’s lips curved at the corners, and Jayce felt as if he has won some grand prize in a contest. That smile was worth working for, and he can’t believe it took something so simple to get it from him. “And I have been told I am…eh, shit at conversation,” Viktor joked. Jayce wanted to find every last one of the people who tried to say Viktor was some emotionless, rude asshole. He’d point out this moment to them, make them apologize, even if Viktor probably didn’t know or care. 

Viktor takes another small bite of food, and Jayce has to mentally restrain himself from glancing over. People didn’t like being watched while they ate, and this interaction was going so well, he couldn’t chance ruining it. He finishes his own sandwich in a few bites, only to feel a smidgen of embarrassment when he realizes Viktor isn’t halfway through his own sandwich. In fact, he seemed more interested in taking sips of whatever hot drink he had with him, his eyes lighting up with every taste. 

“What is that?” Jayce asked, motioning towards the cup. 

“Sweetmilk.” 

“You must like it a lot.” 

“Why do you say that?” 

“Well,” Jayce said, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck. “Your eyes brighten every time you take a sip of it.”

Viktor stared, lips parted. “Very perceptive,” he said, slowly. “It is…amusing, that you’ve approached me like this.” 

Jayce felt stunned, embarrassed even. There was no way he would tell Viktor that he has been thinking about approaching him again ever since that first day, not when Viktor was already staring at him an equation that was waiting to be solved. Jayce was friendly, that’s all. Being friendly was a good thing, and he enjoyed talking to Viktor, reveled in it.  It felt as if there was a thread that connected the two of them, one of mutual understanding that pulled them closer and closer, almost as if the two of them were cosmically bound together by fate. Or whatever. He wouldn't say that. 

“Would you rather I leave you alone?” Jayce asked, despite not being ready for the possibility of him saying yes. If Viktor truly wanted Jayce to let him be, then he would do it. Forcing himself in people’s presence wasn't something he was much interested in, even if he didn't think he would ever recover from the rejection. 

“Eh, I didn’t say that. You pilties are so sensitive,” Viktor teased. “Do not act ignorant, Jayce. Most people topside don’t bother introducing themselves to undercity folk.” 

“I’m not like most people,” Jayce countered. “Stuff like that doesn’t bother me, and why should it? People are people.”

Viktor shrugged. “Isn’t that a bit egotistical?” 

“I think you're the one who just insulted me three times in one minute.” Jayce should probably be put off by it, but it only made him more intrigued. Viktor was so refreshing, so interesting. Nobody ever spoke to Jayce like that, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Have you considered that I might be interested in being your friend?” 

Viktor wrapped the rest of his sandwich back inside the plastic and grabbed his cane. His journal was with him, the one he holds securely against his chest no matter where he goes. Jayce would do anything for a chance to see what goes on in his mind, but Viktor wouldn't show it if he asked, not now. 

“I must go.” 

“That didn’t sound like a no.” 

“Goodbye, Jayce,” Viktor said, in a playful tone. He watched as the smaller man walked away, entranced. 

Badump, Badump, went Jayce’s heart. 

___

“...with the magnesium pulse booster, the attenuation coils should be able to function normally without overheating. That’s it for today,” Heimerdinger said, dismissing them. Jayce hung back for a few moments, watching as Viktor grabbed his cane and approached the professor. They spoke casually in hushed voices. Heimerdinger caught Jayce looking, and he quickly shut his journal and turned to leave. The professor’s voice stopped him, “Jayce, my boy, come join us for a moment.” 

“Yes, professor.” 

Jayce stopped next to Viktor, smiling at him sheepishly. The professor climbed onto the stool next to the chalkboard, and both him and Viktor watched as he started writing equations across it. 

“Tell me what you think when you see this,” Heimerdinger implored after he finished. Jayce took a hesitant step forward, and he could feel Viktor’s gaze burning into his skin. He studied what was written, brain working to make sense of it. It was interesting, to say the least. 

“Huh, these equations…you are trying to calculate how to stabilize an atmospheric purification device,” Jayce said, awed. The Enforcers had something along these lines in the masks they wore when visiting the undercity, but this was on a much larger scale. One that could purify the air of an entire city. Heimerdinger looked over to Viktor, amused, almost as if to say ‘see? told you so’. 

“If I may.” Jayce gestured to the chalk and the professor nodded. “The equations are right, but it doesn't calculate the density of the air in Zaun.” 

Jayce wondered briefly if he messed up by saying that since Zaun wasn’t mentioned previously, and he chanced taking a look back at Viktor, who was looking at him differently than he had that day outside. He appeared intrigued, though, curious to see how Jayce’s mind functioned. It was both thrilling and nerve wracking, but this was what he was good at. 

“Yes, you are right,” Viktor spoke. He grabbed an extra piece of chalk and started adding the mass of air per unit volume to the equations on the board. Jayce watched him, hypnotized, as the smaller man muttered under his breath the answers before he wrote them. “We’ve figured out the purification, but it’s no use without a proper way to stabilize the device.” 

“With a device so massive, it would take trial and error to determine that,” Jayce replied. The two of them were standing much closer than they were originally, bodies just a pinch away from touching. He stood on the opposite side of where Viktor was resting his body weight on his cane, and the two of them shared a look. 

Someone cleared their throat behind them, and Jayce was reminded of Heimerdinger’s presence in the room. Viktor looked away first. 

“It seems the two of you have much work to do together,” the professor encouraged, delighted. “I would like to see your progress on this in, lets say, a month.” 

“Professor…” Jayce trailed off, speechless. He and Viktor made eye contact, and he let out a breath before smiling. “I think we could do this. Together.” 

“Then it’s settled. Now, I have a council meeting to attend, the two of you can use my personal lab for your project.” Heimerdinger reached into his pocket to grab a key, and Jayce bent down to grab it. “Best of luck, you two.” 

He and Viktor were left alone in the room, and Jayce approached with a pep in his step. “Viktor, this could change lives” 

“Children in the undercity get sicker and sicker each year, this could save lives,” Viktor said. “Perhaps I wrote you off too quickly.” 

“Here I thought we got along well,” Jayce teased, ignoring the pang in his chest at knowing Viktor didn’t think much of him before. Viktor was right, Piltovans treated Zaunites like garbage, most of them tried to forget they existed, as if their existence tainted their lives. He doesn’t blame Viktor for being apprehensive of him, especially since Jayce will never know what that’s like. “Partners?” 

Viktor looked at him. “Partners.” 

Chapter Text

Jayce forgot what his room looked like. 

Many nights were spent in the lab, both he and Viktor were there until the early beams of the sun began shining in through the window. Despite his exhaustion, it was his favorite part of the night. The light would cast a glow full of warmth upon Viktor’s face, illuminating those hazel eyes like gemstones, and Jayce was captivated by it every single time. He never met a man so beautiful, so perfectly imperfect in every way, and Jayce was lucky enough to be his partner. 

“You are staring, Jayce,” Viktor grumbled. Something he became privy to after two weeks in the lab, is that Viktor was grumpy without sleep. The kind of grumpy that made Jayce want to wrap a blanket around him and keep him warm. 

“I think my eyes might fall out if I look at one more equation,” he responded, holding a hand over his mouth as he yawned. He knew he looked a mess—hair sticking up from running his fingers through it, clothes rumpled from pulling at his collar when the fabric got too stuffy in the warm lab. Viktor was lucky enough to never look bad, even when the underneath of his eyes were heavy from his lack of sleep, or his messy hair that made him look more adorable than unkempt. “We should call it a night.” 

“I believe it is day,” Viktor joked, though he barely put the same effort into it that he usually did when teasing Jayce. It really was a long night. His partner grabbed his cane that leaned against the table and used it to help himself up with a hiss. Jayce rushed over, setting a hand on his shoulder. 

“You alright?” He asked, concerned. 

“It’s nothing,” Viktor assured. “My leg is angry with me about the lack of rest.” He tried to make light of it, but Jayce couldn’t shake his worry. The hand on Viktor’s shoulder stayed, and he walked with him like that into the hall. The building was quiet, just as it was every time they left, and the click of Viktor’s cane echoed off the walls. 

That is the longest he had ever touched Viktor, but the small man didn’t seem uncomfortable by it, nor was he pushing Jayce away. 

“Jayce, your room is in the opposite direction,” Viktor reminded him, still making no move to remove Jayce’s hand. 

“I don't mind walking you to yours first.” 

Jayce couldn’t see it, but he knew Viktor rolled his eyes. “I have managed to get myself to my room every day since moving topside,” he reminded Jayce, but he still didn’t make Jayce go. 

“You said that your leg was bothering you. It would ease my mind if I knew you got to your room safe, that’s all. Let me do it for my sake.” That seemed to be enough for Viktor to drop it. They walked side by side until they reached Viktor’s door, only then did he remove his hand. 

“Goodnight, Jayce,” Viktor murmured, their eyes meeting once more in the dimly lit hall before the door separated them. 

His palm still tingled after, the warmth of Viktor’s body lingered, and he held it to his chest as he walked back to his room. 

Badump, badump, went Jayce’s heart. 

—

Things would be much simpler if they could simply build the device in the lab. The overall scaling of the device was hard to pinpoint, but it was clear they would need something bigger than just the laboratory. What they were planning to create would lessen the density of the atmosphere in the undercity, working like a lush forest would topside. With the toxins floating around in the air, making the people sick, it was important for it to purify on a larger scale, which meant a larger device. 

They decided to start smaller, the two of them working day and night to create the same device in a much smaller academy lab friendly kind of way. With the math they figured out together, they had the purification part of the device almost perfect. The issue was the stability, and the device would need to be stable in order to run around the clock each day for the foreseeable future. 

“Perhaps we have been looking at it wrong,” Viktor offered, lounged in a chair with his notebook open on the table. Jayce felt thrilled that Viktor trusted him enough to no longer hide it, and he glanced down at the pages every chance he got. Most of it was scrawled, not very easy to read without taking the time to fully examine it. “In order to stabilize it, we need to break it down into molecules, and the molecules are packed too tightly together due to the density.” 

Jayce nodded. “What if instead of trying to stabilize the molecules, we tried to stabilize the compounds in the atmosphere that make the air less dense on topside.” 

“You mean to create an atmosphere for the undercity separate from the one topside?” Viktor’s eyes widened, but he didn’t try to write Jayce off. “If the device feeds the required pressure into the air, then the compounds would be able to stabilize and nature would take its course.” 

“I know it sounds crazy…” Jayce trailed off. 

“Eh, it is not the craziest thing I've ever heard,” Viktor teased. “But it is much more than what we originally planned to create.” 

“You’re the smartest person I know, and I would bet I am the smartest person you know.” 

Viktor made a face. “I am not surprised to hear that from the man who signs his notes.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with signing them,” Jayce said, pouting. “You know I am right.” 

“Jayce, the council will shut off our project as soon as they catch word of it. What you are suggesting…it would make Zaun more independent, and the council rejects Zaun’s request for independence each time they make a plea for it,” Viktor explained, slowly. 

“I didn’t think you cared what the council thought about anything.” 

Viktor huffed, amused. “I am more worried for your sake, piltie golden boy.” After a moment, he made a face, clearly giving Jayce’s idea some more thought. The council would be against this, all of them except Heimerdinger, but even that wasn't a sure thing. He supported Viktor when he first brought up the purification device, however, this was astronomically different. 

“Would it kill you to throw out a compliment every once in a while?” Jayce joked. He learned not to be offended by anything Viktor said, especially because every time he teased Jayce it was with an expression akin to fondness rather than to mockery. It felt like a friendly duel between them, the two of them dancing around each other, waiting for the other to wave the white flag. Neither of them ever did. 

“Compliments are earned, Jayce.” 

Jayce’s heart sped up, thumping wildly in his chest. It was more teasing, but Jayce felt almost electrified by hearing it. It was ridiculous, and he worried his heart was beating loud enough to reach Viktor’s ears. The smaller man seemed entirely unaware, focused on his journal, and writing down some equations onto a new page. 

“Sit,” Viktor said as he gestured to the chair next to him. Jayce obeyed with haste, taking a seat and moving in close to better read Viktor’s notes. The notes were not where his eyes landed, though, and he spent the better part of a minute examining the mole just under the collar of Viktor’s shirt. “Focus.” 

Jayce looked up, and their eyes met. Viktor’s hazel irises were deeper in color up close, with swirls of golden hues, reminding him of honey. His partner had a mole just under his eye and another above his full lips, which made Jayce’s mind start to wander as he thought about if Viktor had moles all over, even more than the one beneath his collar. Jayce looked away first, unsure of the weird feeling coursing through him. It felt as if someone had ignited an arrow with the blazing sun, only to fire it directly at his chest If Viktor felt weird about it, his face and body language gave nothing away, so Jayce picked up the pencil and got to work. 

Hours crawled by as the math began to blur. They were closer than they were before, arms brushed together as Viktor wrote another line on the page. Despite Viktor’s earlier skepticism of Jayce’s proposal, he put his all into trying to make it work on paper. Jayce helped, giving input whenever his mind picked up on something new. Viktor would nod each time, hum softly to himself as he considered what Jayce had said, and then offer his own response to it. They worked well together, and Jayce felt his chest swell as he thought about losing this one day. If they went on to do different things after this was all over, he didn’t know how he would manage to recover from something like that. Although the two of them didn't know each other for very long, Viktor had become one of the most important people in his life, and he felt unsettled by that feeling. 

Eyes bleary, he began watching Viktor instead of focusing on the paper, feeling breathless each time Viktor tapped his pencil against his lips while deep in thought. Everything his partner did was hypnotizing, and he was a weak man at Viktor’s feet. He felt a swell of pride at being able to see Viktor like this, still in awe of being his friend. 

“I believe it is day once more,” Viktor said, startling Jayce from his stupor. He glanced to the window, watching as dawn broke and sent a warm glow through the glass. 

Jayce sat back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head and giving Viktor a sleepy grin. He was surprised to see Viktor looking down, and Jayce followed his gaze to where the hem of his shirt had lifted from his stretches. It didn’t take long for Viktor to realize he had been caught. Neither of them said anything, and Jayce ignored his heart thumping wildly in his chest. 

Realization dawned on him. “Is your leg hurting? You mentioned that it gets bad after late nights like this,” Jayce asked, concerned. 

Viktor looked surprised that Jayce had remembered. “Only a little, nothing I can’t handle,” he assured. 

“Is there anything that helps?” 

“Something warm.” Viktor frowned. “Do not worry, Jayce.”

Something warm.  

Jayce will try to remember that. 

—

Sweetmilk was almost impossible to find early morning while frantically roaming around Piltover. Jayce had wanted to surprise Viktor with some today, only to realize he didn’t know the recipe and nowhere seemed to serve it either. It felt hopeless, and Jayce’s shoulders slumped in resignation as the sun rose higher in the sky. Feeling defeated, he dragged his feet across the pavement as he started walking towards the academy, sweetmilkless. 

About to turn the corner, he spotted a stand with a sweet old woman working from behind, and she seemed to be serving warm drinks. She probably wouldn't have it, but he would think about it all day if he didn’t try. 

“Hello, young man,” the woman greeted, thin lips stretching into a smile. Jayce smiled back as his eyes searched whatever she was selling. 

“Do you by chance know how to make sweetmilk?” 

The woman hummed, considering his question. “I do. Let me take a look.” She turned back to her stock, rummaging around as she muttered quietly to herself. “Oh, look here. I knew I had something for it somewhere. Just one, sweetheart?” 

Jayce considered. “Two, actually.” 

The drinks warmed his hands, and Jayce held off sipping on his own until he could give Viktor his. It smelled almost like licorice, making Jayce’s stomach grumble each time he caught a whiff of its aroma. Hands full from the drinks, he opened the lab’s door awkwardly, almost falling face first inside. 

Viktor looked up from whatever he was working on, his hair sticking up in all directions, and a pair of goggles askew atop his head. He lifted a single brow, eyes full of mirth, as Jayce quickly righted himself. A grin tugged at his lips before he could help himself, too excited for Viktor to see what he brought them. 

“Here,” Jayce said before setting one of the drinks down on the table in front of Viktor. “Since you like sweetmilk.” 

Viktor reached out to grab it, movement slowed as if in shock, and he breathed in the drink with a sigh. “This is very kind, Jayce.” His eyes caught on the other drink in Jayce’s hand. 

“Also sweetmilk,” he said before Viktor could ask, lifting the warm drink to his lips and taking a small sip. It was quite sweet, much sweeter than he was expecting and nothing like how he usually preferred his early morning drinks. “Wow, so good.” 

“You’re cringing,” Viktor said with a chuckle. “You hate it.” He took a sip of his own, humming softly in content. Jayce knew he made the right decision going to the stand, and the feeling in his chest began to grow heavy. 

“I have some new ideas about the device, let me show you,” Jayce said in a rush, trying to change the subject. It felt too warm in the lab, and he swore he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He began opening his journal, but Viktor stopped him, setting one of his hands atop Jayce’s. 

“Thank you, Jayce.” 

Viktor’s hand on Jayce’s skin was warm, burning through him like fire, making it hard for him to think about anything other than the point of contact. Touch was always something he quite liked, enjoying the comfort of it more than anything, and it was how he showed people he cared. Viktor was usually not one for touch, and it took several weeks for him to not tense whenever Jayce did touch him. That was the first time Viktor touched him first. 

“Of course, that’s what partners are for.” 

—

After weeks of endless hours at the lab, Jayce was surprised to not be too bothered by it. This had always been his passion, and his drive for making the world a better place made it bearable. That wasn’t the only thing that made it bearable either, Viktor was also a large part of it. His partner was smart and funny, even if his jokes tended to lean more into dry than anything. Viktor could talk for hours about this and that, the two of them piggybacking off of one another’s ideas for hours at a time, their intellectualism matched on every level. Hell, he would say they were on the same wavelength. Spending night after night in the lab with someone like Viktor was more of an honor than a hardship. 

Sometimes, Viktor would get so focused on his work that he completely checked out of everything around him, and Jayce would get to watch as his partner would ramble under his breath about whatever was on his mind. There were moments when something would stump him momentarily, and his nose would scrunch as his brows furrowed while he tried to make sense of it in his mind. Jayce knew he would get the same way as well when he really got into it, losing himself in the logistics of their device, rummaging through his mind as he tried to fit pieces into place. 

They were two sides of the same coin, and Jayce began to wonder how he made it this far without Viktor by his side. 

That thought plagued him, made him think about things he never thought about before. Jayce wasn’t an idiot, he knew that he had grown maybe a bit too attached to Viktor. He wouldn’t say an unhealthy attachment, it’s not as if he couldn’t be without Viktor for hours at a time, but it was still abnormal for him. Jayce had meaningful relationships in his life—he even had girlfriends in his past—but none of those relationships came close to what Viktor meant to him. It was impossible to know how Viktor felt about him, and it wasn’t because he thought of Viktor as some stoic man without feeling. It was because Viktor was much better at hiding his emotions from the world—from Jayce. Whereas Jayce felt confused, Viktor seemed unaffected by everything, despite Jayce knowing that wasn’t true. Viktor cared about him, he knew that. It was obvious in the way he said Jayce’s name—accent thick yet soft, full of honey, just like his eyes. 

“Viktor,” Jayce called, grabbing his partner’s attention from the coils he was rewiring. Viktor hummed in acknowledgement, setting down the pair of pliers in his hand and turning in his chair to face him. 

“Yes?” 

“I have something I am sort of curious about.” He played with his hands nervously in his lap, unsure of what he even meant to ask. A few questions floated to his mind, and none of them sounded like questions he should be asking. He didn’t want to make Viktor uncomfortable, but friends were supposed to talk about these things. “Have you…are you… I mean, do you…”

“Jayce, you look faint,” Viktor said, sounding both worried and amused. 

Jayce waved a hand. “Sorry, it’s the long hours. I meant to ask if being cooped up in the lab was keeping you from any more meaningful relationships you might have.” 

“Meaningful relationships?” Viktor looked confused. “I spend more time with you than my own thoughts most days.” 

“I know, I just didn’t want to keep you from anyone else who might want your attention.” Jayce did. He definitely did. 

Viktor huffed in amusement. “I hate to disappoint, but I don’t frequently engage in those, eh, relationships. If that’s what you are assuming.” A moment passed, then, “Do you feel as if I am keeping you from doing that?” 

Jayce straightened in his seat, eyes widening. “No, of course not. I was only curious if there was some girl you were neglecting or something.” He felt stupid for even bringing this up, especially when Viktor looked at him funny. 

“I do not,” Viktor assured, speaking slowly. “Besides, I am not particularly interested in women, so I can assure you there are none I am neglecting.” 

“Oh,” Jayce said before he could stop himself. The desire to smack himself in the face burned through him, but he felt too dumbfounded by what Viktor said to do anything about it. 

“Did I surprise you?” The corners of Viktor’s lips were curved into a teasing smile, his eyes playful. 

Jayce shook his head. “It’s not surprising, but it’s not, not surprising either.” 

He was still in a daze by the time they both left the lab for the evening, and he barely registered he was at his room until he needed to switch on the lights. Their conversation earlier left Jayce more confused than he was before he asked Viktor about the other relationships in his life. Viktor liking men wasn’t a big deal, nor was it taboo in either Zaun or Piltover. Jayce didn’t care about that kind of stuff. However, when he imagined some unnamed man touching Viktor the way he touches him—or even kissing him, fucking him—an ugly feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Both exhaustion and frustration weighed heavy on him, and he shuffled to his bed while kicking off his clothes. He preferred to sleep naked most nights, but he managed to strip down to briefs before collapsing onto his bed with a groan. The quiet hum of the radiator was the only sound in the room, and he tried focusing on it to help lull him to sleep. 

Then an hour passed by. 

He couldn’t stop thinking about what Viktor had said, how he had teased him when Jayce acted like an idiot when he found out. The two of them had actually made substantial progress today, and they were ready to start working on an actual prototype. But Jayce could only think about Viktor. 

He groaned, turning over on the bed and pressing one of his pillows to his face, smothering himself. He tried to think about something—anything—else, but to no avail. It took twenty more minutes for him to come to the horrible realization that he cannot fucking sleep. 

He needed something quick to help him relax, to take the edge off and make him too exhausted that even his mind would be able to keep him awake. Jayce’s hand drifted down his body, fingers painting lines down his bare chest to the top of his briefs. His breathing grew heavy as his cock began to stir, growing hard beneath the fabric. He pressed his palm into it, giving himself friction as his hips jerked desperately against it. Fuck, it had been too long since he last did this, usually too tired when he got home to do anything but go to sleep. A wet spot formed on his briefs from his cock weeping pre, and Jayce tugs them down to hook beneath his balls, freeing his cock. He teased himself a moment, allowing the air of the room to make his sensitive length twitch as he grew desperate for his own touch. It was never something he was able to explain, but Jayce loved having to wait for it—it made it so much better when he finally gave in to his own desires. Panting, he finally wrapped himself in a fist, stroking his cock with quick bursts. 

The room grew hot, the comfortable warmth from the radiator long gone. A sheen of sweat glistened on his skin, and Jayce lost himself in the pleasure. He imagined his rough hand replaced with a smooth one. The smooth, bony hand would allow Jayce to fuck up into it, talk him through it. Fuck, Viktor would tell him he was doing good after making him work for it, and Jayce would. He would do anything Viktor asked, and Viktor would keep him on the edge until he was desperate enough for his release. 

Jayce crashed over the edge, riding his orgasm as jolts of pleasure zapped through his body. He was covered in his own spend, and his chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. The high from his orgasm soon faded, leaving him more relaxed than he had been in weeks, and Jayce drifted off before he could make sense of what happened. 

Chapter Text

Jayce has always been a fairly open-minded individual, so he always assumed if he was attracted to men, he would’ve already known it by now. Sure, he was able to admire a man’s beauty when credit was due, but he never saw a man and thought about what it would be like to kiss them—to fuck them.

Until Viktor. 

It made sense, since Viktor was objectively a good-looking man. Actually, he was more than just good-looking. Viktor was one of the most beautiful people Jayce had ever seen in his twenty-one years of living. The way his hair curled around his ears in messy waves, or his crooked incisor each time he smiled. Everything about him was beautiful—perfect. Viktor being in his fantasies wasn’t as surprising as he thought it would be, and he couldn’t decipher whether that troubled him or not. 

When he woke the following morning, stomach covered in his dried release, he could only stare up at the ceiling and think. If anything, Jayce felt almost perverted for using Viktor to get off, and he wondered if the man would be upset if he ever found out that Jayce came thinking about him. Not that he ever planned on telling Viktor anything of the sort. He still wasn’t entirely sure this wasn’t influenced by their closeness the last few weeks, and how Jayce barely remembered some of the names of the people he knew, since it had been so long since he had contact with them. 

Jayce groaned as he sat up in bed, scrubbing a hand over his face as he mentally readied himself for the day. He and Viktor would meet today just as they always did, and Jayce would act normal and not like an idiot, he swore it to himself. Viktor was innocent in all of this, and they were too close to their goal for something like this to get in the way and complicate things. 

The hot shower burned against his skin, melting away the tension he had been carrying with him since he blinked open his eyes that morning. He wishes for clarity, but it’s best that he tucks it away for now. Viktor doesn't deserve his uncertainty, and he refuses to mess with what they have built thus far. He shut off the shower and sighed, and his troubling thoughts nagged at him the rest of the morning. 

Jayce’s eyes did not get the memo for being normal, as they traitorously glanced over at Viktor while he notched the gears for their prototype. He’s completely ruined three of them now due to his negligence. After screwing up another, Viktor finally turned and leveled him with a look. 

“Jayce, that is your fourth gear,” Viktor commented, more concerned than anything. 

“You’re right,” Jayce sighed, tossing the gear onto the table before letting out a laugh. He felt like he was going insane. Too many thoughts in his head at once, and he can barely concentrate on much else. It doesn't help that Jayce remembered what he did each time he looked at Viktor. He burned with shame, and he felt guilty for using him like that. “Sorry, Vik. I’m a little all over the place.”

Viktor hums. “Would you like to…eh, talk it out?” 

Jayce cracked a smile. “You sound pained just asking that.” He understood Viktor’s hesitance. While the two of them had grown much closer these past weeks, they never really had any heart to hearts about anything. Besides, Jayce was definitely not going to tell him what had him so worked up. An intense feeling burned through him, and he couldn’t help but yearn for a deeper bond where they could tell each other anything and everything. Jayce wanted to know everything about Viktor, even the darker parts that everyone had and tried to hide away. 

“I am not pained,” he said, then, “I have known from a young age that I am not very good at these things.” 

“What things?” 

Viktor gestured between them. “It is true that most pilties would rather pretend I do not exist, but even when I was in the undercity, I always was not very good at…relationships. Of any nature.” 

“Relationships?” Jayce asked, mouth dry. 

Viktor tilted his head, confusion shone in his hazel gaze. “Friendship?” 

“Of course, yeah. Vik, you’re the closest friend I got. I haven’t even seen my own mother in a month.” Jayce couldn’t explain it, but hearing Viktor call them friends…he hated it. It made no sense to him, since that was all he wanted from the first moment he saw him, to be his friend. Now, Viktor has finally acknowledged it, and all he could feel was displeasure. “I don’t want to bother with my stuff, especially when we are so close to making this device a reality.” 

“It is not a bother, Jayce.” 

Jayce wanted to talk about it, but it could ruin everything. His mind was all over the place, and his feelings were a swirl of overwhelming chaos inside him, so he needed to put a lock on it. Keep it inside until he could make sense of it, and now really wasn’t the time for it. 

“Thank you, Viktor. I’ll do better with these gears, and then we can weld them inside.”

—

Heimerdinger’s voice was distant in his ears as he mindlessly dragged his pencil across the page of his journal. His mind was elsewhere, as it always was these days when he wasn’t with Viktor in the lab. 

“We should discuss your progress, boys. Come this way,” the professor said, pulling Jayce from his stupor. He hadn’t realized that class had ended, and it was just him and Viktor left in the room with the professor. Jayce shut his journal and approached, stopping beside Viktor and smiling at him softly in greeting. 

“We have finished the prototype for the device,” Viktor said first. 

“Wonderful. Tell me, have you tested it yet? Could it accurately purify the air on a large enough scale were I to bring it to the council to secure the funding?” 

Jayce scratched at his neck nervously. “Well, it will purify the air, but not only that. While we were working on it, I proposed the possibility of adding atmospheric compounds and controlling the density. Therefore, it would create an entirely separate atmosphere for the undercity, one that should regulate just as our natural atmosphere does topside.” 

Heimerdinger went quiet, looking between the two of them as he scratched at his chin, clearly trying to process everything Jayce just told him. This is different from what Heimerdinger approved initially, but both of them decided that it was best to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. 

“I see,” He trailed off. “I won’t lie to you boys, this will be much more difficult to convince the others on the council to support. For now, test your prototype to make sure it works, and I will see what I can do to secure the funding.”

As soon as the professor was gone, Jayce turned to Viktor with a huge grin. “That went much better than you were expecting.” 

Viktor rolled his eyes. “I recall you telling me how nervous you were two days ago.” With his spirits so high, Jayce feels like things are working out the way they are supposed to. The two of them will really change the world for the better, and make life easier for the people of the undercity. “Jayce, I know I have already expressed my gratitude, but thank you.” 

Viktor’s voice was warm, soft. Jayce melted. “You’re the true genius of all this.” 

Viktor shook his head. “I couldn’t have done this without you.” 

The moment was heavy, the atmosphere in the room grew tense. A spark of true understanding ignited between them, and Jayce had never felt more seen by someone in his whole life. Viktor understood him on levels he didn’t know were possible, and he understood Viktor the same. They may not know everything about each other yet, but Jayce knew there was not a single person in this entire world who would ever be what Viktor is to him. It was undeniable. 

“You’re incredible, Viktor. I had too many ideas, but no way to apply them practically to the world around us. I know now that you were the piece missing, and I can’t do any of this without you,” Jayce confessed, his throat tight. “We will do everything we can to get the council to approve this, and then we will do what we sought out to do.”

Viktor stared at him, expression indecipherable. “What comes after?” 

“We aim for the stars, and then some.” 

—

“Are the coils properly wired inside the device?”

“Yes,” Jayce replied. Today was the day they finally powered on their prototype. Both of their nerves were all over the place, and they were checking everything thrice before switching it on. Viktor is leaning against the table, going over their checklist as he absentmindedly tapped his cane against the floor. Click, click, click. The sound soothed him more than it should, perhaps because his brain is wired to spot Viktor in any room every time he hears the sound.

“Flip on the switch,” Viktor ordered. Jayce obeyed diligently, flipping on the switch and watching as the machine lit up. “Good, thank you.” 

Pleasure shivered down his spine, warming his body with that single word, and he tried to swallow down the emotion thickening his throat. He didn’t have time to think too hard about it, not when the machine whirled to life and vibrated against the table. Slowly, things in the room began to float—pliers and papers rising towards the ceiling as the density of the air lessened. Jayce’s body felt lighter than it had since he was a child, and he laughed in joy as his feet were no longer planted on the lab’s tiled floor. Viktor rose faster, his weight much lighter than Jayce’s, and Viktor looked delighted as he flew about in the air. Jayce felt wonderstruck, unable to keep his eyes off of him. How could he look away when he felt this lucky to view Viktor so full of happiness, so delighted in the culmination of their work. 

“The atmospheric density has decreased, and the room has created an atmosphere of its own,” Jayce exclaimed, a bright smile stretching across his face. 

“It is not difficult to breath, meaning the compounds in the air have regulated, just as they do in the world’s natural atmosphere,” Viktor replied. “We did it, Jayce.” 

Jayce flailed slightly, losing his balance in the air as he tried to move closer to Viktor. He grabbed onto him, pulling Viktor in for a hug as they floated in the air. Jayce’s hand rested in Viktor’s hair, gently petting the strands as they held each other. Viktor smiled up at him when he pulled away, his eyes shone with content, and Jayce felt overwhelmed by all of it. This was everything they wanted, everything they were working for, and it worked. The two of them could do anything they put their minds to, and there was no one without the other. 

The timer on the device shut off—the one they implemented as a failsafe just in case this didn’t go the way they wanted it to—and the density of the air slowly returned to normal. Everything in the room fell gently back to the ground, the slow decrease making sure nothing crashed to the floor. As soon as Jayce’s feet touched the ground, he grabbed Viktor gently, giving him a quick spin in his arms. 

“Jayce!” Viktor exclaimed, his cane clacking against the floor as it fell. Jayce held onto him, this time much longer than the embrace they shared in the air. Words were not needed, the language of their bodies spoke for them, and Jayce understood everything that was being said. Viktor didn’t push him away, nor did he when what felt like minutes began to pass. Viktor’s hand slowly moved into Jayce’s hair, fingers splaying through the strands, lightly stroking back and forth in a comforting gesture. His head fell softly onto Viktor’s shoulder, eyes closed, as he took as much as Viktor was willing to give. Part of him wanted to squeeze tighter, but he worried about crushing Viktor’s back brace uncomfortably against him, and he never wanted to bring Viktor any pain. 

A desperate, pulsating feeling gnawed at every nerve in his body, and he felt suffocated by it. Slowly, he lifted his head, meeting Viktor’s gaze, which reflected the same feelings he knew Viktor could see in his own. Something between them felt charged, and Jayce finally understood what that feeling had been each time he looked at Viktor and felt it burn through him. 

Yearning.

He yearned for Viktor in ways he didn’t understand, and he knew now that what happened the night he took himself in hand and pictured his partner talking him through it was no fluke. He remembered that he was still holding Viktor in his arms, and he leaned down to pick up Viktor’s cane before setting his partner back onto the floor. It felt as if he was in a trance, going through the motions of things without actively being present in doing them, too absorbed inside his head about the implication of what this could all mean. Viktor was still watching him quietly, those hazel eyes piercing him down to his very soul, and he felt exposed as Viktor looked at him knowingly. 

Jayce took a deep breath and turned away. “Sorry, that was incredible.” His voice was raw with emotion, and he knew he was being way too obvious. His mother told him he had expressive eyes, so he did his best to avoid Viktor’s. “We should celebrate.” 

Viktor hummed in agreement. “What do you suggest?”

Jayce hadn’t given it much thought, he threw it out there in hopes of changing the subject away from whatever was going on with him. However, a change of scenery from the lab could be a good thing, and it may help him clear his head. “I’m thinking the bottle of wine I have been saving in my room.” It was a pricier wine, one that he would’ve never bought on his own, but it was a gift from his mother for attending the academy. She told him to open it when he does something to change the world. There’s no one else he would rather share it with. “Your room, since it is closer. I will go grab it and meet you there.” 

His nerves were in chaos when he worked up the courage to knock on Viktor’s door, bottle in hand. He heard the familiar click of Viktor’s cane as he approached the door from the other side, and he smiled as the door swung open. The first thing that caught his eye is that Viktor must’ve taken a quick shower while Jayce went to grab the wine. His wet hair stuck to his skin, drops of water trickling down his neck and shoulders, and Jayce’s gaze followed one until it disappeared beneath the collar of Viktor’s now loose shirt, no waistcoat in sight. It makes sense, since the two of them were in Viktor’s room for the evening, but his mouth dried and made it difficult to speak. 

“You showered,” he said, wincing inwardly at himself for such a ridiculous statement. Jayce making a fool of himself was way too common these days, and he wondered why Viktor kept him around. “I grabbed the wine.” He held the bottle up for Viktor to see, and the smaller man plucked it from his hands before turning to walk back into the room. 

“Very nice,” Viktor praised. “This is the first time I will drink fancy piltie wine.” 

“Ha. Ha.” Jayce couldn’t deny that he enjoyed when Viktor teased him like this, especially because he knew Viktor never had any ill intent behind his words. Sometimes, his teasing would get Jayce all flustered, and he had an inkling that was exactly why Viktor did it. He liked getting reactions out of Jayce, even the small ones. “I have never had anything this fancy either.” 

“Cups?” Jayce asked, and Viktor pointed him toward a small cupboard with a few utensils, foods, and cups inside. He pulled out two and joined Viktor on the couch tucked against the wall opposite of Viktor’s bed. The room was organized yet messy, there was order to the chaos, and Jayce felt fond because of it. All of it was so very Viktor, and he couldn’t help but let his eyes wander about and take everything in.

“Are you judging my room, Jayce?” Viktor asked, a faux look of offense on his face. 

“Of course not. I was thinking about how this is exactly what I imagined your room would look like.” 

“Messy?” 

“No, there’s personality to it.” And there was. The stack of books in the corner, papers in piles on his desk, and bed was no doubt made in a haste. Jayce loved it, and it wasn’t like his room was much better, especially with the amount of hours they have spent at the lab. He popped the cork out of the bottle and poured them both a generous cup of it, and their eyes met as they both took their first sip. 

Bitter, tangy, but also surprisingly sweet. It felt heavy on his tongue, definitely much drier than he was used to, but he didn’t hate it. Viktor closed his eyes, and Jayce watched him as he savored the wine. Jayce’s gaze fell to Viktor’s mouth when his tongue peeked out to lick away the wine still on his lips. They glistened, looking wet and inviting, and Jayce had to take a hefty drink from his cup to wash away the want that rushed through him. The room grew hot, making him stuffy beneath all of his clothes. He wishes that he changed into something more comfortable before coming here, or maybe even have taken a cold shower to help center himself. It’s too late for that now, and he is paying the price. 

When he looks back over at Viktor, his partner is already staring at him over the rim of his cup. Jayce can’t look away, too captivated by him, and too weak to keep fighting whatever this is. He moved closer, almost as if in a trance. They sit there like that, their faces close, breathing in each other’s air. That invisible line between them suddenly not so invisible anymore, and they stare at each other as they dare one another to be the first to cross it.

They do it together, cross the line as their lips met in a fervent kiss. It’s full of longing and desperation, and Jayce can’t control himself, too eager to taste everything that Viktor is offering him. He licked at the seam of Viktor’s lips, and Viktor welcomed him inside with his own. Their tongues twirling together, and Jayce can taste the wine on Viktor’s tongue. Viktor’s hand moved into his hair just as it did earlier in the lab, gently running his fingers through before tugging harshly at the strands, eliciting a moan from Jayce into his mouth. 

“Viktor–” Jayce tried to say, panting slightly as they pulled away to breathe. Viktor’s hand stayed in his hair, fist tightening in the strands, which only made Jayce eager for more. Forgetting what he wanted to say, Jayce leaned in for another kiss, this one more sloppy than the last. Their teeth clacked together in their hunger for one another, and he devoured Viktor’s mouth like a man starved. Gently, he pulled Viktor onto his lap, and he set a hand on Viktor’s thigh, massaging softly. Viktor must’ve removed his leg brace for the evening already, so he made sure not to be too rough. “This okay?” 

“I will not break, Jayce,” Viktor assured him, his accent thick from their kisses. The sound of it made his cock stir in his pants, already thickening down his leg. 

He reached for the hem of Viktor’s loose shirt, rucking it up and placing his hand on Viktor’s waist, doing his best to be careful of Viktor’s back brace. His mouth moved from Viktor’s lips to his cheek, then down his neck. He licked and nibbled at the flesh, being gentle even as he left his marks on Viktor’s skin, and then he soothed it after with his tongue. Viktor’s skin was salty yet sweet. Jayce was addicted to him, he had no idea how he could’ve ever thought that he didn’t want this. That this wasn’t exactly how the two of them were meant to be. 

His now hard cock was pressed up against Viktor, and he rutted against him desperately as he sought out that beautiful, relieving friction.

“Viktor, I need…” he trailed off, voice hoarse. “Let me take you to bed.” 

Jayce pulled back, and their eyes met. Viktor’s pupils were blown from his arousal, and his lips were swollen from Jayce’s kisses. A deep feeling of rightness washed over him like rain, and he wanted to see Viktor like this every single day. 

“Eh, I am not much for casual intimacies,” Viktor said, voice hesitant. He looked away, eye jumping around the room, looking everywhere but at Jayce. He could tell Viktor was nervous, despite doing his best to sound casual. Jayce cupped his cheek, turning his face toward him and kissing his lips softly. 

“I don’t either. This isn’t casual, not for me.” 

“Are you sure?”

Jayce smiled softly against Viktor’s lips. “I’m sure. Let me make you feel good.” 

His hands tightened around Viktor’s waist as he picked him up to carry him over to the bed. The bed bounced slightly as they fell onto it, creaking in the otherwise silent room. Gently, he removed Viktor’s pants, and he kissed each new patch of skin as he tugged them down Viktor’s legs. He hovered over him, hungrily taking in every last inch of Viktor’s body. Perfection couldn’t even encapsulate how beautiful Viktor was, and Jayce wanted to take his time kissing every part of him. Not tonight. Tonight, he couldn’t wait.  

“Are you going to stare, or are you going to use this,” Viktor placed a hand on Jayce’s bulge. Despite Viktor’s words, Jayce could tell that Viktor was still hesitating because of his nerves. Jayce was nervous too, more than nervous. He groaned at the touch, and his cock began weeping pre inside his briefs. Unable to hold back any longer, he quickly removed Viktor’s briefs, the last of the clothing keeping him modest. The patch of hair beneath Viktor’s navel led into a bush of hair covering his cunt, and Jayce’s mouth watered as he looked at him. 

Slowly, he bent his head, eyes glancing up at Viktor as he took his first lick. He moaned at the taste of Viktor on his tongue. His tongue delved between the lips, licking at his clit, until Viktor’s hand found its way into his hair once more. Jayce felt starved as he ate Viktor’s cunt with a desperate enthusiasm. This was something meant to be savored, not rushed. It wasn’t about getting Viktor to the edge as fast as he could, it was about pleasuring Viktor the way he deserved. Jayce’s hands were on Viktor’s thighs, holding him still as he flicked his tongue just right. Viktor’s hand would tighten in his hair each time Jayce did something he particularly liked, and Jayce used it as encouragement. 

His chin was slick from Viktor’s wetness, and he rutted against the bed as he feasted on him. He licked until he could barely breathe, and Viktor’s breathy moans above him were his reward. The desire to be inside him was strong, and Jayce’s cock ached with its need. However, when Viktor’s body began to tense, Jayce knew he was too close to his release to stop now. Viktor’s thighs trembled as Jayce took him to the edge, and he gripped Jayce’s hair tightly in his fist. 

“Jayce,” Viktor said, unsteady. It was to warn him of his impending orgasm, but Jayce wanted his mouth on him when Viktor came. His own hips sped up as he rocked against the sheets, the mattress giving fiction to his aching cock, and he felt close to his own release. He focused on sucking on Viktor’s clit, giving him the pleasure he needed, and Viktor moaned as he came. Viktor’s body trembled as he rode his high, his cunt gushing into Jayce’s eager mouth. 

Jayce came inside his briefs as he fucked into the bed one last time, moaning against Viktor’s slit as his eyes rolled back from the pleasure. Gently, he lowered Viktor’s legs onto the bed, and he climbed up his body to give him a kiss. Both of them were still mushy from their sated highs, but Jayce always felt affectionate after sex.

His chin was dripping with Viktor’s slick, but Viktor didn’t seem to mind when he pulled Jayce in for another heated kiss. Jayce dropped onto the mattress next to him once they pulled away, and he grinned up at the ceiling when what they just did finally hit him. 

“Vik, that was the best thing to ever happen to me,” he admitted. His body felt more relaxed than it had in months after that orgasm, and it didn’t even bother him that his seed was drying uncomfortably in his briefs. Jayce reached for Viktor’s hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss the knuckles. 

“We just created a successful prototype for our work,” Viktor reminded him, sounding breathless. 

“Even better than that.” 

Viktor chucked softly only to break off into a yawn. Jayce smiled over at him fondly, moving closer to rest his head on Viktor’s chest. This time, Viktor was gentle as he carded his fingers through Jayce’s hair, playing with the strands as they quietly enjoyed each other’s company. 

“I really thought what I felt was friendly, but now I know that it was ridiculous to think that. You mean so much more to me than just a friend,” Jayce confessed, voice muffled against Viktor’s flesh. “There’s nothing about you that I don’t admire or cherish.”

Viktor’s hand stopped, and Jayce felt him take a shaky breath. When he glanced up at him, he was met with an expression of excitement mixed with fear. Jayce was scared too, but he placed a gentle kiss against Viktor’s chest to help calm him. 

“Your feelings are reciprocated,” Viktor said, then cringed. “Eh, I am not very good at this.” 

“You’re perfect.” 

“I do not know what to say when you say such things.” 

“As long as you know that it’s true,” Jayce said, then yawned. “We should probably clean up.” 

Viktor groaned. “After I already made the effort to shower before you came over.” 

Viktor’s thighs were still wet from his slick, and Jayce didn’t feel right leaving him there without cleaning him up properly. He needed to clean up his own mess as well, so he kicked off his briefs, leaving him bare. Viktor looked down at him, eyes widening slightly, then he moved his gaze back to the ceiling. 

Jayce chuckled. “See something you like?” Viktor pulled at his hair. “Ow, okay, sorry. I won’t tease you anymore.” He couldn’t stop smiling, and his heart felt full from his happiness. Jayce still clung to him, but Viktor didn’t seem to mind. 

Jayce lazily traced Viktor’s sternum with a finger, humming while pressing soft kisses to his flesh. His cock began to stir again, and he circled Viktor’s nipple with his tongue. The arousal became too intense to bear, and he rolled over Viktor until he was hovering him on the bed, hands planted on either side of his head. His cock jutted out, tip swollen a reddish-purple, pre already beading at the slit.

He leaned down for a kiss, capturing Viktor’s lips eagerly. “Can we?” Jayce slid two fingers gently between Viktor’s folds, pressing the digits against his entrance. 

Viktor nodded. “Go slow.” 

He inserted the first digit, groaning as Viktor’s tightness wrapped around it. The thought of that tightness around his cock made him dizzy, and his hips fucked the air as they searched for friction. Slowly, he started fucking his finger inside before adding a second, then he scissored his fingers to help with preparing Viktor for his cock. Viktor’s cunt oozed slick, and Jayce went mad, knowing how fucking ready for it Viktor was. Despite his dizzying desperation, he went slow just as Viktor asked, doing his best to please him. 

“Very good, Jayce,” Viktor praised. Jayce fucking whimpered . “You may fuck me now.” 

Jayce fumbled with his cock, squeezing at the base before lining himself up against Viktor’s hole. Slowly, Viktor’s tight heat engulfed him, and Jayce sunk inside until his hips were pressed to the back of Viktor’s thighs. 

“You feel incredible,” Jayce rasped. “Vik, can I move?” 

“Not yet,” Viktor told him breathily as his hands traced down Jayce’s back. Jayce dropped his head, groaning softy as he fought the urge to fuck into Viktor. His partner made him wait for it, keeping them still like that for what felt like minutes before, finally, “You can move.” 

Quickly, Jayce pulled his hips back and fucked inside, burying himself once more in Viktor’s heat. He set a vigorous pace as he held onto Viktor gently, worshiping him with kisses everywhere he could get his mouth. Viktor encouraged him, hands squeezing at his skin every time Jayce fucked into him to right, and he made sure to drag his cock against the spot that felt good each time he thrust back in. 

The bed creaked as the sounds of their bodies smacking together echoed off the walls. Viktor was flushed beneath him, and Jayce felt delirious as he looked at him. His lips were parted as he took shallow breaths, and his chest heaved as Jayce fucked into him harder. 

“Tell me to stop if it’s too much,” Jayce told him. “Please, tell me to stop.” 

“Don’t stop,” Viktor said, and Jayce didn’t. He sped up as his orgasm crept closer, but he refused to cum before Viktor did. He reached between them, his fingers finding Viktor’s clit as he rolled his finger into it, giving him pleasure. “Jayce, I’m close.” 

Jayce nodded, and he didn’t stop until Viktor’s cried out as he came, his body shaking from the intensity of his orgasm. The sound pushed Jayce over the edge, and he pulled out at the last second and came across Viktor’s stomach and chest. 

They both panted as they tried to catch their breaths, and Jayce rolled over to the side to avoid crashing onto Viktor’s chest. 

“Okay, that was the best thing to ever happen to me,” he said, amending his earlier statement. “We definitely have to shower now.” 

Viktor let out an amused huff. “I need just a minute.” 

Their gazes met, and they shared a smile. 

—-

Naturally, Jayce had an even harder time keeping his hands to himself now that he was allowed to touch Viktor in more intimate ways than previously could. It made things exceptionally more difficult to get done, but Jayce didn’t mind it one bit. 

When Jayce tried to kiss Viktor in the middle of their discussion about altitudes, Viktor lightly whacked at Jayce’s feet with his cane. 

“Focus, Jayce,” Viktor warned, giving him a look. Jayce wanted to pout, but he gave a slight nod and did his best to listen. However, listening was difficult when all he could focus on was the way Viktor’s lips looked when they formed syllables. It was helpless. 

“I can’t focus. All I can think about it how much I want to touch you,” Jayce groaned, throwing up his hands. He far surpassed being embarrassed now, not when the desire he felt for Viktor was this strong. Part of him couldn’t believe it was only forty-eight hours ago that he thought all of these feelings were normal for one’s best friend. 

Viktor sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers. “After we finish the report, then you can touch me. Only after.” 

Jayce perked up like a puppy, and he nodded with a grin. “Okay, so, you can put down on the report that the compound levels were all stable…” 

Jayce was on him as soon as the report was finished, wasting no time before devouring Viktor’s lips in a desperate kiss. Viktor was seated on one of the stools next to the lab table, and Jayce stood over him, hands planted on the desk on either side of him. Their tongues lazily swirled together as they tasted each other–Viktor tasted of the sweetmilk Jayce had bought him that morning, mixed with the mintiness from cleaning his teeth. It was intoxicating, and Jayce couldn’t get enough of him. The kiss quickly grew sloppy, their lips smacking together echoed off the walls. Jayce was just about to drop to his knees and savor Viktor’s cunt again when a throat cleared from behind them. 

They broke apart, and their eyes widened. 

“Sorry to interrupt you boys, but I had an update on my talk with the council,” Heimerdinger said, awkwardly shifting back and forth onto each foot, looking away from both of them. Viktor’s lips were swollen from Jayce’s kisses, and Jayce’s clothes were rumpled from where Viktor had been gripping at them. They looked a mess. 

Jayce straightened. “Ah, yes. We also wrote up that report on our prototype’s successful test run,” he rasped. This was so fucking embarrassing, but Viktor was hiding a grin behind his hand as Jayce tried his hardest to act normal. Traitor , Jayce thought. 

“They’ll want a demonstration to see for themselves, but the majority voted to see this through. Let us plan for some time in a few days.” 

“Yes, of course. Thank you, professor.” 

Heimerdinger hummed, gave them both one last embarrassed glanced, and then left. Jayce turned to Viktor, pointing an accusing finger at him. “That was not funny.” 

Viktor lifted his brows, holding up both hands in defense. “It was a little funny.” 

Jayce kissed him again. 

—-

Jayce was way too nervous before their meeting with the council. He bounced on his feet while shaking his hands, trying to ease some of the tension. This was the one obstacle in their way of greatness. If they got over this hurdle, then everything else should be smooth sailing after. They had worked too hard for it all to be squashed here, and Jayce couldn’t allow Viktor to be disappointed by this. He would do everything he could to secure the funding that they needed. 

Viktor was with him. He tried to convince Jayce that the meeting might go better if Jayce were to go alone, that way they didn’t think this project was simply a Zaunite looking to speed run independence for the undercity, but Jayce insisted he be there. There was no way he could do this without him, and Viktor’s presence eased him in ways the smaller man would never understand. 

Jayce grabbed Viktor’s hand, kissing his knuckles. “This is going to work, Vik.” 

“You are the one trembling, Jayce,” Viktor reminded him, smiling up at him softly. Viktor brought a hand to Jayce’s arm, stroking him gently. It helped, and Jayce turned to mush beneath his touch, just as he always did. “Use some of that charisma that you have too much of.”

The door to the council room opened, creaking menacingly, while every single eye inside turned toward them. 

They walked in together. 

They secured the funding for their device. 

The council members who undoubtedly voted against this to begin with were not pleased, but Jayce ignored them in favor of looking at Viktor each time he felt nervous. Viktor would give him a slight nod of encouragement, and he even offered his insights every once in a while during their presentation.

Jayce smiled as wonder filled the eyes of the council when the device switched on, making everything in the room float, just as it had when they did this in the lab. Murmured words broke out amongst the council members once everything returned to normal, and the majority voted in favor of funding their project. 

They were all smiles as they left the building. 

“Did you see their faces? This is surreal, Viktor. Everything we worked for is right at the tips of our fingers. The people of Zaun deserve this, they deserve to breathe as easily as everyone topside,” Jayce spoke with enthusiasm. 

“I didn’t expect someone topside to care so much about this,” Viktor admitted with a hesitancy in his voice. Jayce could tell is still surprised him that he cared about this, but he would spend every day showing him that he did. “What this means to me is immeasurable, Jayce.” 

“I will never understand what the people of the undercity go through, but I want to do better by them. I want to use my brain to make the world a better place. With you.” Jayce hesitated. “I love you, Viktor.” 

Viktor stopped and turned to face him, his eyes wide. Surprised swirled in his hazel irises, and his lips tugged at the corners. Slowly, he smiled. “I love you too, Jayce.” 

In their pursuit of greatness, they found love.