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Chapter Text

Jayce felt sick. His head was spinning, arcing out of control as his body twisted and contorted with The Arcane coursing through him wildly. It was like ice… or fire? Like being plunged into a frozen lake, blood freezing and limbs numbing. But then it was fire, tender, gentle flame licked across his skin, heat pooling in his eyes, his throat, his core- it was everywhere. If cold was not its name, nor searing, it was electric. Energetic. Pure energy flowed into Jayce, around him, inside and out. The light was blinding. 

Jayce opened his eyes and gasped out loud. “Yes, Mister Talis?” Professor Sedjweck’s voice was filled with annoyance. Which made sense, considering he’d just interrupted her lecture mid-sentence. Jayce’s face flushed in embarrassment, muttering apologies as his teacher continued the lecture on piezoelectric ionization theory.  Had he just… fallen asleep? Had a dream? No, that couldn’t be, he realized, squinting down at his notes and trying to piece together where he left off. 

“...  the chemical is then trapped in these crystalline forms and at a certain resonance, it is theorized to generate-”

Jayce’s vision swam and he felt a sharp stabbing pain behind his eyes start to throb. Maybe he hadn’t had enough coffee. He put his face in his hands groaning as the pain grew more and more intense. It grew steadily until it suddenly exploded, fire and ice swirling into his brain, with enough force to wrench his stomach in half. He cried out in pain only to clap his hand over his mouth as bile started creeping up his throat. His vision went white as he stumbled to the rubbish bin. 

Jayce cried out and heard another echo in front of him. Viktor! H is eyes flew open, frozen hands shot outwards, grasping his partner’s. We finish this together. He reminded himself, chest rattling as icy air rattled in his lungs. Fire had spread from Viktor’s hands into him and surely his hands should have been burning, falling away into ash from the searing arcane flames. He shut his eyes and tried not to think about it. The pain was worth it if it was what he had to do to fix the chaos he’d set upon Piltover. Upon Piltover and Zaun.

Jayce’s hands hit the cold metal trash can, retching, making it just in time for the contents of his stomach to splatter on the plastic bag.

“V-Viktor-” was all he managed to get out before he retched again, vision swimming so violently that he fell to his knees, clinging to the bin for support as images flashed in his mind.

“Mister Talis!” 

He could hear the concern in Professor Sedjweck's voice as she rushed to him. He retched again, only bile coming up this time,  as she reached him. His stomach convulsed in time with the pain of the headache, protesting as it tried to empty itself. Jayce remembered reading somewhere that the stomach was the body’s way of identifying and expelling toxins. His body had identified something toxic in his system and it was very adamant to be rid of it. But clearly the two cups of coffee, his medication, and the protein bar he’d convinced himself counted as ‘filling his stomach’ as required on the pill bottle, were not the causes.

“Oh goodness… let's arrange a ride home for you, dear.” Jayce felt a hand on his shoulder as he clutched the bin tighter, nodding and straightening himself up, only to cry out and scrunch back down, gagging again. The bile got stuck in his throat and he coughed into his hand before staring in horror at it.

It was covered in blood. 

He gagged again and more blood spilled past his lips. He could hear Professor Sedjweck calling out the door for an ambulance. What in the stars was happening to him?? Was he dying?

This must be what dying is. Jayce looked up and his eyes locked onto Viktor’s. They were gold again. Jayce liked them this way, the cold steely silver didn't suit someone like Viktor. Neither did the anger. 

It was Jayce’s fault. He put that anger there. 

Viktor’s eyes were wild with terror, staring at the light coming from their hands and then locking eyes with Jayce. His eyes changed then, softening momentarily and then hardening into a rebellious glare, one Jayce had been on the wrong side of many a time. Jayce couldn’t let him go. He wouldn’t let Viktor take the fall on his own again. Not this time. As if he’d read his mind, Viktor wrenched his hand out from underneath Jayce’s and clamped his other hand on top of the rune, wincing and crying out through the pain.

No. We Finish This Together. 

Jayce lunged forward and grabbed Viktor’s shoulder. Viktor’s eyes were back to wide and scared and Jayce realized that he was scared too. It all terrified him. The feeling of knowing that this was the very last moment in his life, that he likely wouldn't make it out of the ethereal mindscape he was in, knowing that it was his last chance ever to tell Viktor about his feelings. No time at all, really . His heart jumped into his throat. He had to make things right. He had to tell him. He didn’t have time to talk though how could he-? He pulled Viktor closer to him with purpose. Viktor gasped and locked eyes with him again, confusion mixing with the fear now. 

Jayce’s hand slid upwards cupping the back of Viktor’s neck and his fiery fingers touched his forearm, seeming to have a similar idea. Their eyes fluttered closed simultaneously and smooth lips ablaze pressed into frostbitten chapped ones. The Fire flooded into Jayce. There was a brilliant burst of light, the feeling of pain all at once released, energy evaporating into bliss. 

And then there was Nothing.

Jayce’s head hit the marble floor with a crack.

Jayce's mother ushered him into the apartment hurriedly, her hand dropping from his forehead.

“Go lay down, m'ijo . Still hot as a stove- Mi pobrecito”

Jayce waved her hand away, collapsing onto his couch, sweaty forehead in equally clammy hands. “I’m fine , Mamá.” he lied. His head was throbbing even after the painkillers the doctor had given him. 

Ximena pursed her lips, hands on her hips. Uh oh. Jayce knew that look. “You vomited blood and cracked your head open, Jayce. Forgive me for worrying about my only son.” She had a smile on her face, despite the mock irritation as she stalked off into the kitchen. Jayce hid his face in his hands, trying in vain to block out the light. His head was still swimming with images, but at least the pain had subsided. 

The doctor had attributed the blood to a stress-induced ulcer in his stomach. The vomiting had irritated it and caused it to bleed. So at least he wasn't actually dying. But he did feel like he was going crazy. Memories he knew he didn't have were intertwining themselves neatly within his own. Memories of a happy family torn apart when illness took his father, as if Robert Talis hadn't been absent since Jayce was eight, the first time seeing him since being when they lowered his coffin into the ground. Memories of Cait, barely above four feet tall, teaching a teenaged Jayce how to shoot, something she never would do now. Not after The Incident. Memories of Viktor. 

Ones that left Jayce feeling like he'd walked in on a private moment he wasn't supposed to see.  He'd never even met someone named Viktor, let alone the thin, quiet man with the golden eyes and soft half smile that made Jayce's chest tighten and flutter each time the image flashed into his mind.

It was strange, really. Knowing all these intimate details about someone he'd never met. Knowing that he took his coffee black and with half a fucking pound of sugar. Knowing that on cold days, he'd wince everytime he had to move his leg or put weight on it, that he'd chew on the back of his pencil, studying notes and massaging life back into his knee. Knowing that he'd stay up for days before falling asleep in the lab, Jayce would have to wake him up and convince him to go back to their apartment to get just a few more hours of sleep before the sun rose.

And then there was Hextech. He had memories of making these crystals . Combining certain compounds and ionizing them into solid form, using them as a power source, but he'd only just learned the theory on piezoelectric ionization that day. Just before his body tried to revolt against him. Jayce snatched his notes off the table and started scribbling furiously onto the paper.  It all made no sense, in these Memories, he'd created the Gemstones, Viktor had found the flaws in his equations and fixed them, stabilizing the power source and together they'd implemented Hextech into dozens of inventions. And then it had all gone wrong. Something had happened that changed Viktor completely. 

Jayce squeezed his eyes shut, hand still moving on the paper as he tried to bring up the image of what exactly had happened. Flashes of neon pink and blue scrolled across his mind, the dull throb aching as he pushed himself deeper into the Memories. 

Jayce let the energetic stone drop into the resonator. It pulsed as it hit the copper conductor, the metal buzzed, and the gem pulled itself into the socket, surges and arcs surrounding the unstable material. Jayce remembered when he first tried to stabilize the crystal. The electromagnetic pulses that had come off it had ripped the runestone off of his wrist, the blue materials sticking together. He'd caused his first explosion after wrenching the two apart. His eyebrows had never quite been the same. 

He'd seen firsthand what would happen if this gemstone exploded. No doubt it'd take a good chunk out of Professor Heimerdinger's lab and probably out of him and Viktor too. He stared at the gemstone, a little terrified of what he'd made. 

“Time to crank it,” Viktor said enthusiastically. Jayce looked over at him. Viktor looked about as nervous as he felt. A seed of doubt planted itself in Jayce's stomach. He barely even knew this guy, sure he was Assistant to the Dean, but did he really know anything about piezoelectric ionization and electromagnetic resonance stabilization?

“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” 

The face Viktor made in response was not comforting. 

Jayce suspended the gemstone anyway, the small blue crystal hovering just above the socket, tiny arcs of light dancing between it and the resonance arms. Viktor reached over and pressed the button. The arms started to spin around the Gemstone, the electromagnetic field bursting with the energy of the tiny blue globe. Immediately, Jayce wished he hadn't let Viktor start the oscillation. The frame of the resonator was vibrating hard and Jayce had to wonder if his haphazard welding would keep the damn thing together. As if reading his mind, the gemstone lurched, bobbing in the magnetic field as energy threw itself off of the glass blue surface, slamming into the copper arms and making the whole device shake loudly. 

“I don't think it will hold.” Jayce cried out. “Look at the build-up!” The gem was fighting the magnetic field even more, the energy from it blowing both his and Viktor's hair wildly around their faces. 

“The resonance will stabilize it.” Viktor replied. “Trust me.”

Jayce questioned why it should, but then again, did he really have a choice? By tomorrow his life's work would be gone and he only had right now to figure this out.  

The arms of the resonator spun faster, indicating that the resonance was reaching higher frequencies. If the machine was rattling before, it was Nothing compared to what it was doing now. Jayce kept his hand on the dial, ready to shut it off if it looked like it was going to topple. The gemstone fought the magnetic force more, shaking like a leaf in fall until- it stopped. Jayce felt his eyes widen as joy bubbled up out of his throat. 

“It worked!” He cried out happily. He couldn't believe it. The gemstone was balancing still, and calm with the energy around it oscillating evenly. 

“I told you it would work,” Viktor said. “All yours.”  All his? No, that wasn't right. Stars, without Viktor he likely would have continued trying to dampen the wild energy coming off of the stone with lower frequencies forever. Well, actually, without Viktor, he would be splattered on the pavement below his apartment. He pushed the thought away. 

“Wow. It's never done that before…” He said in awe, watching the gem spin gracefully with the resonance arms. “Here we go.”

He turned the power up, beginning the ionization process and grinned as the rune panels began to spin. Immediately, the gem burst upwards, the energy returning and whipping past Jayce's face. The runes carved into the panels flickered, dimming and before they could flicker out, he cranked the power up again. The gem responded with more power, arcs beginning to crackle between the frame of the machine. Jayce turned it up to full power. 

The energy that pulsed from the gem was so powerful, it felt like a punch to the gut. Jayce struggled to catch his breath in the blinding light, hands coming up to shield his face. The arcs of energy were crackling off of the machine now. This was getting dangerous. 

“Disengage!” He heard Viktor yell next to him. His hand reached for the kill switch and he heard the sound of shattering glass. He looked up to see that the energy had shot through the window in Heimerdinger's Lab. And worse- the energy was coming back. Shards of glass whipped past them and Jayce felt a sting underneath his eye. He slammed his hand into the kill switch and the machine stopped, dropped the gemstone back into the socket and the room went dark, silent except for the clattering of broken glass dropping to the floor. 

“Incredible!”

Jayce agreed. 

“Jayce Matias Emiliano Talis!” His mother's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he cringed away from the use of his full name. He wasn't sure what he'd done, but he was in deep shit. Jayce looked up sheepishly at his mother. She had a plate with three quesadillas on it and a glass of water in her hands. “You better not be working right now, the doctor said you have to rest!”

Jayce looked down at his notebook. He had started to take notes but at some point, the notes had turned into scribbles forming a strange spiky sphere. It looked deliberate, but he'd never seen something like that in his life. He wanted desperately to continue studying it, but he set down his notebook instead. “Sorry, Mama. You're right, I'll take a break. I had to…write something down before I forgot.” 

His mother was clearly worried about him. He didn't want to make it worse for her. He'd put her through enough stress as is. He took the offered quesadillas and scorched over so she could sit down. The smell of the chicken and cheese had his mouth watering and he all of a sudden realized he was ravenous. He'd eaten two of them before he even knew it. 

“¿Que te pasa, m'ijo?” his mother asked gently. “Something is on your mind, I can tell. Something else happened today. Was it another panic attack?” It sometimes scared him how easily his mother was able to read him. After that night so long ago that he'd come to her panicking when he'd cut too deep, they'd become closer than ever. Whenever he had a panic attack, he’d think of her voice in his head, telling him to breathe. She was the only person he could really be honest with without getting that look. The one filled with pity that he hated so much. This was something he could tell her. This was something he could share. 

“Not… not really, no. It's something else. Hard to explain.” He smiled a bit, kicking his shoes off to sit with his feet underneath him. “I know you don't really understand the research I do.” He teased. 

She rolled her eyes. “Skip the science then. I understand the feelings, not… the … calculus and- and- the pie-sew-elasticity.” 

“Piezoelectricity,”

“That's what I said!”

Jayce grinned for a moment, chewing on his third quesadilla as he thought of how to explain it. “I'm not sure what happened but I think it has something to do with someone in the Undercity.” He said after a moment. Ximena furrowed her eyebrows. 

“You've been going to the Undercity ?” Her voice wasn't judgemental, just genuinely confused. Jayce had always shown interest in the Undercity and the people who lived there. They were the type of people his Hextech would benefit the most, but with the rising discontent between the Council and the Chembarons… well. It wasn't always safe to travel there. 

“No, but I think I'll have to. To get to the bottom of this.” He hesitated before continuing. “I keep seeing this man, in my head.” He said. “I know him, somehow but I don't- it's confusing. I started seeing these things , Mama, things that haven't happened yet, things that never did… I probably sound crazy…” He huffed out a laugh. His mother set her hand on his trembling arm, the gold fingers he’d made her during secondary school glinting as beams of the sunset peeked through his window. She squeezed softly and Jayce forced himself to sip some of the water she’d brought him. Breathe, He reminded himself.

“Se que es ….its real, Mama. Se que Hextech y Viktor tienen algo que ser con todo esto. Tengo que encontrarlo . Something inside of me is telling me debo buscarlo. And he's from the Undercity. Somehow I know that. Y tambien se que ... Stars, this is fucking crazy-” 

Jayce’s mother let out a large sigh. “So this Viktor is pretty important to you, then.” She mused. Jayce nodded without hesitation. “Does this have anything to do with that day in the mountains?”

“I think so.”
Ximena hummed in thought. “In that case, there must be a reason why you are seeing these things, m’ijo.” She brushed a strand of hair from his eyes, and held his face in her hands, gently turning it so he was looking her in the eye. “I’ve known since the moment you opened your eyes that you were meant for great things, Jayce. That big brain of yours will change the world. God knows that I still can’t explain what happened that day. That man-” She shook her head. “It was magic. I believe that. And perhaps [the magic] is what is telling you to find him. Maybe this magic connects you two.”

Jayce felt a sense of relaxation shoot through him and he let go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding. The headache that had been pounding at his skull for hours disappeared  instantly. It felt like a part of him somewhere in his core had settled. “Will you clobber me if I go tonight?” He asked his mother with a soft smile. She huffed.

“If I say yes, you’ll just go after I leave, obstinadito. ” She stood up and set Jayce’s plate and cup into his sink. “But you’ll attract too much attention in your uniform- especially with it covered in blood. Go change, and I’ll stay and work those stains out.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. Jayce stood and captured his mother into a hug. He didn’t deserve such an amazing mother.  “Thank you, Mama.” he whispered. 

Ximena patted her hulking son’s back comfortingly. “It's what I’m here for, mi cielo .” She crooned, wiping wetness from Jayce’s eyes as he straightened back up. “Now go, get dressed before it gets too dark.” she mussed Jayce’s hair mischievously. “And watch your mouth, you’re a gentleman.” She added.

Jayce was forced to grin, swatting her hands away with a laugh as turned away to find a pair of his forge clothes to wear, “Love you, Mama.” he chuckled.  

Jayce pulled the hood of his hoodie further down over his head as he crossed the bridge into the Undercity. It was plain and dark and he had ripped the sleeves off, exposing his shoulders. He’d chosen the pair or worn out jeans he always wore to the Talis forge to complete the look, and in his opinion, he nailed the look pretty well.

You really don’t.

Jayce jumped, nearly tripping over his own feet as he strode towards the Descenders. He looked around wildly, trying to identify who had spoken. A couple of bystanders and Enforcers walked around him, a few swearing as they walked around where he had stopped in the middle of the walkway. Jayce took a breath. It hadn’t been his imagination, he was certain of that , but he could have sworn that it had sounded like-

You? Yeah. I've been trying to figure it out too.

Jayce’s eyes widened. He stepped into a Descender, passing the operator a ten gear note and found a spot in the corner. He pulled his hood down further and whispered under his breath. “How am I hearing my own voice in my head?” He apparently hadn’t whispered quietly enough, because a passenger gave him a dirty look and scooted away from him. Jayce felt his cheeks warm up. 

Maybe don’t talk to yourself out loud. I can hear when you think.

You should have started with that. 

It's common sense. Like holding onto something when a Descender starts to move.

The Descender lurched and started to slowly move deeper into the Undercity. Jayce grabbed onto a handhold, barely catching himself before he fell over from the sudden jostle. He looked around anxiously, but no one was paying attention to him anymore. 

I’m going to assume you have something to do with the visions I keep seeing.

They aren’t visions. They’re my memories. 

You’re me, though. And none of that has ever happened. 

Not yet, maybe. I think I got sent into the past. Or maybe a different universe. I don’t know… but it's different this time.

This time?! How many times have you gone to a different universe?!

Once. It was not fun. 

What happened?

Jayce’s breath was taken from him as his mind flashed with pieces of memories that weren't his own. 

Jayce tried to focus his gaze on the ground as he trudged through Piltover. His shoulder was aching from the heavy steel hammer resting on it, and he could feel that the stitches in his back had torn again. It felt like a punishment. This was his fault, he had no right to complain, not when he could see figures dotting the city cowering in terror as tragedy overtook them. Tragedy that Hextech caused. That he had caused. Jayce took another step forward, focusing his eyes to the ground so he didn’t have to see the petrified forms of mothers holding their children, soothing them even though they knew it was futile. He took another step forward and ignored the pain, because what was a reopened wound when he could see the hopelessness in the young Enforcer in the alley, tears frozen in time as he squeezed his eyes, lips wrapped around the barrel of his pistol. Jayce didn’t complain, because it was his fault.

Jayce squeezed his eyes shut, willing the image to go away. He felt sick again, but this time from the horrific nature of the vision, the guilt that filled him so completely. As quickly as he was ripped from the vision, he was sucked back into another.

Jayce gasped, stumbling back from the festering automaton that had moved towards him. It reached towards him and he cried out, turning to lift the hammer back onto his shoulder, running in the opposite direction. Others were starting to move now, he could hear the rusty screeching of the machinery. He turned as he ran, hoping they hadn’t caught up to him. The ground crumbled beneath him and he flailed, arms instinctively going out to catch him, dropping the hammer. He felt his forehead hit the ground, his momentum forcing his legs back over his head. His fingers scrabbled at the ground for purchase and he fell down an embankment, only to slide down, wind knocked out of him as he hit the ground just in time for the hammer to slam down on the side of his calf. He screamed at the sudden pain and his tibia snapped in half, bone slicing through muscle and skin as he slid closer and closer to the cliff. He panicked, fingernails breaking as he dug them uselessly into the rock. There was a moment of stomach lurching weightlessness, before his head hit the rock with a sickening crack. 

Jayce’s hand shot to his thigh, gripping it tightly as the last of the pain from his vision faded away. When he regained control of his breathing, he surreptitiously glanced around him to make sure no one had noticed. There were a couple of people looking at him strangely, but had decided not to care. He took a deep breath and let it go slowly

How do I avoid that?

Find Viktor.

The descender slowed to a halt and the operator called out  loudly that they’d reached the Entresol. Brain-Jayce’s memories told him that he needed to continue to the Sump level, but something in his stomach lurched, like a string being pulled just behind his navel. The string throbbed, the feeling familiar yet strange. He didn’t know how he knew it but Viktor was in the Entresol. Without hesitation, he strode forward, stepping off the descender and pulling his hood closer around his head. The Entresol was bustling, laughter and talking buzzing his ears, making him want to clap his hands over his ears. He stood still for a moment, hoping that the pull towards Viktor strengthened so he could pinpoint it. He sighed when it didn’t and looked towards one of the stalls where people crowded, eating, drinking, and having fun. The Entresol was known for being the most populated level of the Undercity, and Jayce groaned. He’d better start asking around, or he would be here for a long, long, time.

Chapter Text

“F-fuck!”

Viktor’s teeth scraped Huck’s neck, long fingers pulling tight on red auburn locks, his other hand digging into his client’s waist, pulling his hips in at a bruising pace as Huck cried out loudly. He tried not to play favorites, but if he had to choose which client he liked best, it was Huck. He was sweet, and attractive enough. He was a bit on the thin side (though Viktor had no room to say so, he was just as thin as the red-haired drug dealer) and spoke with a nervous stutter. 

They were friends outside of work, and even though they’d slept together long before he’d joined the brothel, he never judged Viktor for his work, never treated him as less-than for it, never tried to negotiate when he had to pay and when he didn’t, and to be honest, he was a really good lay. 

Huck pulled at the soft fiber rope binding his wrists to the headboard, his body growing heavier, limbs turning to jelly. He was nearing his limit, Viktor could tell. He slammed his cock into him hard before slowing the pace to give Huck (and Viktor’s leg) a small reprieve. He dipped his head down, pressing kisses into his neck, one hand still in his hair, the other at his stomach, pulling him closer so Huck’s back touched Viktor’s chest. He kissed his neck to his jaw, pulling his face back, stopping just before their lips touched. Huck whined, making Viktor grin before giving in and letting Huck kiss him. Needy thing. 

When they parted, Viktor reached for his boiler pipe, a vial of Voxium already screwed into the receiver and offered the mouthpiece to Huck. The older man immediately took a long drag off of it, shuddering. Viktor took a hit afterwards and momentarily let himself get lost in the flash of neon green in his vision before returning to his previous quick pace without warning. Huck’s fingers scrambled for purchase on the wooden headboard as he yelped in surprise. Viktor set down the pipe and reached down to squeeze Huck’s heavily leaking cock, and sunk his teeth into the crook of his neck, biting down hard to renew the fading bruise he’d left just a week before. “Close, aren’t you?” he asked under his breath. Huck whined again and Viktor tutted in mock disappointment. “Words, kočičko,” he reminded him. Huck shuddered.

“I-I’m so- I'm close-” He sobbed. “P-please can- can I- oh fuck!! ”  He was cut off by a rather hard thrust. Viktor winced as a sharp pain started to creep its way down his thigh. He might have to cut Huck off at round three from now on, his hip was starting to bother him more and more these days. Good thing he knew the shortcut to getting Huck to cum almost instantly. 

Viktor relocated his hand from Huck’s cock to his throat, fingers curled around it loosely in one hand, teasing the mere idea of Huck’s favorite part of their nights together. He shuddered, body going pliant, in submission and Viktor pressed his fingers into the sides of Huck’s neck, leaning forward to suck a dark bruise onto the skin between his neck and shoulder and caught the lobe of his ear between his teeth. “Cum,” he commanded, fingers pressing into the sides of Huck’s marked throat, drawing a strangled cry from the red-head’s lips.

Huck did. 

Viktor's breath caught in his throat as Huck clenched down around him, crying out his name so loudly, that he was sure that they’d heard him in the rooms on either side of them, even over the loud music they played in the brothel.  He was shaking, and he grew more and more limp in Viktor’s arms as overstimulation took over him. He gave a particularly tight squeeze as Viktor's cock rubbed against his prostate and that was all Viktor needed. He grit his teeth, burying himself deep inside as he came, panting and moaning into Huck's neck, biting down hard.

Rolling off of his friend, he only took a moment to recover before turning to untie him. He slid his hand underneath Huck and pulled on the long end his quick release knot, whispering soothing words in Solerian. His hands fell from the head board and he caught himself on the bed before flopping back downward and laughing into the mattress. Viktor curled Huck’s trembling body into his chest and kissed his cheek. “Good?” He confirmed.

“Perfect.  As always.” Huck purred.  Viktor ignored the praise and busied himself by rubbing the red rings around Huck’s wrist. Huck leaned back into him and he hissed as it put stress on his hip and back. Huck pulled away immediately, turning to give him a worried look. 

“Do not even start,” Viktor groaned. Huck settled back against him without arguing, albeit doing so a bit gentler. Viktor played with the red strands stuck to his sweat-dampened forehead and hummed. “Just my hip. Fucking you senseless does have its downsides, it seems.” He kept his tone light, even though he hated admitting it. “Just means we might have to stop after round three from now on.

Huck chuckled sheepishly. “That's fine. Just really needed it today.” He grabbed the boiler from the side table and hit it deeply before passing it to Viktor. “I'll pay you extra.” He exhaled contentedly.

Viktor made a face as he hit the boiler. He exhaled and leaned forward to capture Huck's lips once more. “You and your habit of overpaying me, Huck.” He teased the breathless man with a smirk. “Just leave me some Vox. I still have two hours tonight and Silco wants a meeting after.

Huck hummed as he curled into Viktor's chest, tracing the scar on his cheeks that he'd gotten after fighting some dumbass who thought he could pick on the cripple.

“I don't think Vox will save you from Finn's idiocy.” He said with a sigh.

“No, I don't think so,” Viktor smirked. “But I'll wear the Claw. It makes him nervous.”

Silence filled the room for a moment before Huck sighed and sat up, ”You should let me rub your back”. Viktor's eyebrows knitted together.

“You don't have to.” Viktor said, shifting so that his back was straighter. It twinged. “It doesn't really hurt that badly.”

Huck gave him a look. “I've known you long enough to know when you're lying, V.”

Viktor ignored him and rolled onto his stomach and tried not to wince as Huck’s slim hands pressed into his sore muscles, loosening them. The room was quiet for a moment, only Viktor’s satisfied sighs interrupting the silence. “Did I miss anything important today?” Viktor asked after a few minutes. 

Huck made a dismissive noise. “No explosions. The ventilation prototype at the factory is holding. Rem pissed on an Enforcer's shoes and got sent to Stillwater for a week.” Huck paused and leaned over Viktor so he could look him in the face. He was smirking. “A Topsider’s looking for you.”

Viktor sucked his tongue against his teeth. “A Topsider? Who, Allira?” He asked. “His appointment isn't for another week, I already told him I won't see him sooner, that bastard -.”

Huck laughed, and rolled so that he was laying next to Viktor again. “Someone else. Never seen ‘im. He clearly thinks he passes as a sumprat. But he’s too clean. Sunkissed, broad shoulders, perfect teeth. Probably straightens his hair.” He made a face. “He is pretty, though.  You could probably get away with charging him double.”

Viktor ignored the pulse of alarm that went through him unbiddenly and smirked. “Don’t think I have Piltie energy tonight.” He mused. “His poor perfect teeth will have to find someone else’s neck to bruise.” He leaned over to playfully sink his teeth into Huck’s shoulder. He blushed and swatted him away before rolling onto his stomach to grab his pants from the floor.

“I’ve gotta meet some suppliers at The Drop in a few hours,” He sighed, his voice telling Viktor that there wasn’t anything he’d rather do less. He leaned over to place a chaste kiss on Viktor’s lips before stepping into his pants and standing to pull them up. “I’ll see you then?” There was hope in his voice. Viktor knew how much he hated meeting new suppliers.

Viktor sat up, stretching and sighing in relief as his muscles decided to actually do what they were supposed to. “Tell me more about this Piltie.” He told Huck. 

Huck tied his hair back, exposing the dark purple marks Viktor had left there. Viktor felt a swell of pride. Huck was his only regular who'd let him leave marks. In the dim light, Viktor could still see faded bites from the last time he'd come in. “He seems desperate. He was at the Drop, asking for you by name.” He pulled his shirt over his head before rifling through his bag.

Viktor's head throbbed. “What did Silco and Vander say?” He asked.

“They threw him out.” 

Viktor grinned. His fathers had taken the revelation of his work rather well. He had hidden it from them for ages until Sevika had let it slip in passing one night at The Last Drop. Viktor remembered pushing his stool away from the bar so sharply that it had fallen over, escaping to his and the boys’ room so hastily that he'd forgotten his cane and twisted his ankle on the loose step. Silco and Vander had arrived shortly after and had guided him through the panic attack, reassuring him that no matter what work he did, he would always be their son. Viktor had cried for over an hour. If there was one thing he could count on, it was his fathers’ support. 

Viktor was broken from his thoughts when Huck pressed a bag of coins into his hand.  It was heavier than usual and Viktor shot him an accusing glare. Huck held up his hands in a placating manner. “For your leg. There's Vox in there too.” He told him. Viktor opened the bag to see three small glowing green vials and took one out, loading it into the boiler pipe.  He sent a rare smile Huck's way at the generous tip. 

“Fine, but you get an hour free next time.” He huffed.  “Same time on Saturday?” Viktor prompted. 

“Always,” His assistant leaned down for one last lingering kiss and turned to leave.

“Huck,”  The redhead turned back to look at him. “If you see the Piltie again, pickpocket him. I need steel for a new cane.”

Huck laughed and gave a silly little salute before stepping out, closing the door behind him. Viktor flopped back onto the bed with a sigh, his back popping as he did. He winced. Huck was right about his back, as he often was when it came to Viktor. They'd been friends since Viktor had split open some douchebag's eyebrow with his cane after they'd broken Huck's glasses. Vander had to run the kids off because Viktor had swung too hard and lost his balance. Huck had been his first everything.  First friend, first kiss, first time, and even his first client.

Viktor groaned as he stretched, wincing when his knee popped, and yawned before reaching for his cane. It was at least two inches shorter than optimal and he had to slouch to use it. He was starting to get annoyed at the growth spurt he'd started last year. He'd gone from barely five feet, to nearly five feet, eight inches. Silco said it had been the same for him - the fissure had always made people grow slowly. That even Vander had been shorter and weedy when they'd met. Vander had commented that Silco had still been shorter, and Felicia had cited being taller than them both. Viktor’s head pounded again.

He is near.

Viktor shook his head as if it would make the voice go away. He relieved himself before turning the shower on as hot as it would go. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, the neon green starting to fade from his eyes, returning them to their usual golden brown. “It isn’t him,” He told his reflection.

Don’t deny what you know is true. We are smarter than that.

Viktor ignored the voice of his universal counterpart and brushed the tangles from his waist-length hair. He should cut it, he decided. He was starting to sit on it, and it was deeply uncomfortable to have his neck yanked back every time he did. He resolved to cut it to the middle of his back and use the hair to make a couple of dolls for the girls who lived in the alley beside the Drop. He tied his hair up in a large messy bun, high on his head, so his hair wouldn't get too wet.

Viktor stepped into the water, sighing as the heat relaxed his sore muscles.  He couldn't take long, he knew he just needed to clean the sweat and come from his body so he could go on to the next client. He scrubbed himself with a small piece of soap quickly, so he could spare time to lean against the wall and let the water hit his bad hip, hoping to soothe the ache that he knew was going to accompany him on his walk home tonight. 

He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of the Voxium still coursing through him, the energy and relaxation it brought. He'd originally made the drug as an anesthetic hoping to improve the conditions of the single rundown clinic in town, but after he'd knocked some over into his forge and inhaled the vapors accidentally, he'd realized that it was multi-purposeful. Now, two years later, Silco had helped him set up a small trade, sending his men out to distribute his son's creation. 

Voxium was useful in many ways. Voxiospora zauna , the fungus it was made from, usually produced a gentle hallucinogenic reaction when eaten and for many, it was still an easy-to-acquire, quick way to make a night more interesting. But when Viktor began studying it, searching for ways to make it less addictive so it could be used medically, he found that the hallucinogenic reaction could be reduced when liquefied. It forces muscles to relax, while also making blood pump faster, creating a lovely buzzing sensation in one’s face, and an energetic, happy mind. And it also made sex feel incredibl e, which was, while admittedly, not the original function planned, quite a pleasant side effect. It became popular quickly, and Viktor himself even began to use it on bad pain days. Only then had Viktor realized how incredibly addictive it still was. 

Which didn't matter really, he hadn't observed any adverse side effects of long-term usage and it pissed V off. That was Viktor's favorite side effect, really. It was the only time that the bastard in his mind barely bothered him. V hated that their mind was foggy when Viktor smoked, so he made sure to be high as often as possible. And with any luck, he’d be able to refine it so it could be used to cure the disease that killed his mother and threatened to kill him. The memory of finding out he was ill left a sour taste in Viktor’s mouth.

Six years ago, he’d collapsed in the Last Drop with a migraine, and had started vomiting and coughing up blood. Vander had rushed him to the clinic where he'd laid for hours watching visions of himself with a Topsider making magic . Watching himself slowly fall in love with him. Slowly be left behind by him. And eventually, being betrayed by him. He still had nightmares of monster V had let himself become. It hadn’t taken long for Viktor to grow to despise the quiet, gentle voice in his head. 

I take it back. You are stupid if you think I would let you make the same mistakes I did.

Viktor scowled and pushed himself away from the wall, shutting the shower off. He hated thinking about that night. Not only was it the night he found out that somewhere, somehow, he had turned himself into a frightening thing that had killed so many, but it was also the same night they discovered the sump lung.

There wasn't a cure for it…yet. It had only been a coincidence that the Vox had begun to shrink the lesions, but finding a cure in Voxium had been Viktor’s passion project for years. Besides, it was easy to indulge his habit when it helped him breathe. 

Viktor dried himself and fixed his mask over his eyes before sipping his pipe and striding naked down the hall to his ‘office,’ clients whooping and hollering, slotting gear prints into his free hand as he passed them. He made his way to his small corner of the dressing area and stashed the cash he'd received on the way into his coin purse, along with Huck's payment and the Voxium. 

The dressing room was communal, but everyone knew not to steal here. There was a mirror and a small dresser that held his work clothes and a few prettier, more expensive things. Most of them he'd made himself, but a client had bought him a few Piltie silk outfits to wear. He only wore those with Topsiders, though. Most Zaunites preferred him in more realistic clothing. He sifted through the outfits, choosing what to wear for his shift in the group room.

“Vitya,”

Viktor looked up at the voice, calling him by the name he used here. It was Tom, one of the bouncers. He was dressed femininely, as usual. Viktor liked Tom. He had a kind smile and always spoke adoringly of his wife who was heavily pregnant. He was the type of person whom you couldn’t help but like, especially when he lifted grown men with ease to toss them out of the brothel. His stunningly made up face had peeked into the area from behind a wall. “You got someone in room four, Rem's covering your group shift.” Viktor felt mildly annoyed. He always earned the most tips during his group sessions. 

“Who are they?” He asked the crossdresser, selecting a dark green dress shirt. It’s low cut and just the slightest bit too small, clinging to his waist and making his hips look wider. The pair of elastic trousers that made his minimal ass look nice helped too.

It’s Jayce. I feel him.

Tom shrugged, his short red curls bouncing from behind the blue bandana holding them back. “Academy greenie, I'd guess. Tried to go incognito but his shoes could feed my family for a week.”

“I'll pass.”

Must you be so stubborn?

“He asked for you specifically.”

“Tough shit for him. Not in the mood for it tonight.”

Yes, you are.

“Honey, he paid for three hours and looks like he could bust just from looking at you.” Tom laughed. “I give him ten minutes, tops, and then you can use the rest to get some sleep for once.” Viktor considered it. He had no plan to use the free hours to sleep, but he had been dying to get into the lab all day and could use the excuse of having a client to get out of Silco's meeting. 

“Ugh... Maybe I am in the mood for it tonight.” He decided, pulling his clothes on. Besides, if it was Jayce, he could just pretend not to recognize him, right?” 

I hate you. 

Feeling’s mutual, piltscum.

Viktor winced through the sharp pain in his forehead that he always felt when V was angry with him. He turned back to Tom, determined not to let it affect his night. “How's your furnace? Still banging?” 

Tom grinned. “Nope! You're like magic I'm telling you. Rhea's raving to her friends. I expect you'll get more requests soon.” 

Viktor smiled. “Glad I could help. That baby will need warmth with winter on its way.” Tom thanked him again and fixed his lipstick in a mirror before leaving Viktor to dress himself. He did so slowly. He looked into the cracked mirror and dabbed some charcoal liner around his eyes and a soft rouge across his lips. He sighed and resigned himself to at best, a night of unsatisfying sex from an Academy virgin, and at worst, a reunification that even he couldn’t deny he had been anticipating for years.

Room four was further down the hallway, but it was a more luxurious room. Babette only let Pilties rent the nice rooms, so considering only two of his regulars were from Piltover, he didn't get to use them often. He opened the door, closing it behind him and smirking as he saw the Piltie sitting on the bed tense out of the corner of his eye. He was about to say something smart assed when his head split with a flash of blinding light. He fell to his knees as a vision took hold of him. 

Viktor scanned the equations on the chalkboard. The math seemed incorrect in some places, and Viktor automatically began to fix it in his mind. He saw the issue. A simple, elementary mistake. He had forgotten to carry the two. He snorted under his breath. This ‘Jayce’ was in his final year at the academy and he had forgotten to carry a digit in an important equation. No wonder his apartment was in shambles, one wall blown away completely.
“Hey, hey!” He heard the man yell. “Be careful with that, please!” Viktor rolled his eyes.
“I believe someone should have said that earlier.” He scoffed. He turned on heel to face the student, looking around at the items catered across the floor. He recognized a few. Chemtech. It was something he hadn’t seen in years. This Piltie had actually gone to the Undercity to fuel his research? Interesting. “What happened here?” He asked, gesturing to-well. Everything.
Jayce pinched the bridge of his nose. “Science, I guess?” Viktor didn’t laugh, even though he wanted to. After all, this was strictly against the Academy’s guidelines. Heimerdinger would have never approved. He tried not to look at the stunningly handsome idiot. 

Sheriff Grayson gave Jayce a look. “Last time I checked, science didn’t require illegal equipment.”
“Nor was this approved by the Academy.” Viktor mused. “Who authorized your research?”
Jayce hesitated, eyes coming up to Viktor’s, a look of sheepish panic on his face. Oh, cute. This boy was in trouble. “It was… an independent study. Who are you anyw-”

Viktor ripped himself from the vision to look up at the same sheepish face he’d just been looking at in the vision. He groaned.

Kiss him.

Shut it.

Jayce's eyes widened. “Oh, shit.” He swore, kneeling from the bed to offer him a hand. Viktor swatted it away and leaned on his cane, using it to stand again. “Sorry, I uh-...” He looked him up and down, his ears turning pink.
Viktor shot him a hardened glare. “What are you doing here, Jayce?” he snapped. Jayce ducked his head down. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt with a hood, the arms cut off neatly, and a pair of jeans with a hole in one of the knees. Viktor glanced at his shoes and as Tom had said, they looked expensive. 

Please don’t send him away.

Jayce blinked. “I wanted to talk to you.” He said softly, picking at a hole in his jeans. “And I felt like… This sounds stupid… I felt like you were here. At first I only knew that you were down here, in the Undercity, but then I started to feel a… like some sort of pull, like a magnet or something. I followed it and ended up here.  At this uh…place.” His cheeks flared red. Viktor rolled his eyes. Stupid Pilties with their aversion to speaking about sex.

“Brothel?” He supplied. “Yes, I work here.” He grumbled, leaning on his cane. He didn’t want to leave, he was better than that. But he also didn’t want Jayce to stay, so. Maybe if he got uncomfortable enough, he’d go. “And this isn’t a place for talking. It’s a place for fucking.” He smirked when Jayce gaped at him like a fish.

Yes, fuck him. Kiss him, touch him, fuck him-

Shut up.

Is that what it would take?

Viktor set his jaw, ignoring the voice in his head and taking a deep drag of Voxium. The green smoke did little to calm his already quickly beating heart and Viktor had to focus to keep the tremble out of his hands. V was desperate to go to the younger man and was giving him a headache. 

Jayce's eyes widened as he caught sight of the pipe. “Your lungs-”

“Are none of your concern, Topside. ” He snapped. Jayce flinched and for some reason, it made him feel guilty. “I'm not who you think you know,” he told him coldly. “So don't assume that I am.”

I think you’ll find that you are.

Go fuck yourself.

Isn’t that your job?

Jayce looked sheepish. “Right. Sorry, I just. Um. I just wanted to talk. About uh…” he seemed distracted by the porcelain skin with the tiny strip of black peeking out above his pants. Viktor rolled his eyes. 

“About the visions?” He guessed, irrationally angry that Jayce had sought him out. He was perfectly fine living his life without Jayce’s presence, he was more than happy to continue without it. All he had to do was get through this session, and then he could tell Babette to never assign Jayce to him again. Simple. 

“Yeah, I-”

“No.” 

Jayce looked surprised. He opened his mouth to continue but Viktor interrupted, losing his patience quickly. He’d spent six years trying to ignore that universe, despite having a fairly talkative reminder in his head, always pestering him about one thing or another. “You did not pay to talk to me, Jayce. I’m a whore , not a therapist, ” Jayce seemed particularly hurt by that and Viktor felt another pang of guilt, reminding himself to be professional. He didn’t want to have to deal with having complaints on his record anyways. He let his cane fall to the floor and pushed Jayce back onto the bed straddling him. He turned beet red. “Why don't we do something more ah, venereal with your money, hmm?” He asked, leaning forward to whisper the honeysuckle words into Jayce's ear. 

“I didn't- we don't have to have to uh… you know. You can just keep it, I-” He was determinedly keeping his eyes on Viktor's face and his hands at his sides but Viktor could feel him hardening beneath him.

Touch him!! Fuck him!

“I don't need your charity. You know where we are,” He rolled his hips into Jayce’s and smirked when he gasped, his hands flying to Viktor’s hips, holding them still. Viktor gave him an exasperated look. “You paid for a fuck, Jayce. Perhaps several, with the time you purchased. Why come to a brothel if you aren’t interested in getting laid?” He huffed. 

“I- uh. Hold- hold on a sec- yeah, okay uh… I'm not sure what I expected-” Jayce conceded. “I just… can't we just talk? I mean- wouldn't it be nice to, I dunno… have a break?” Jayce was rambling, his words getting faster and faster, jumbling together. “I mean I don't even know you- this is all so crazy-” the poor boy prattled on, listing reasons why it would be inappropriate to have sex with a prostitute. Each one was more pathetic than its predecessor. Viktor rolled his eyes, sighed and waited for him to shut up. 

Viktor found that he couldn't stop looking at the Academy student's eyes. They were greener than V had shown him and he had the barest hint of light freckles down his nose. He couldn't deny that he was gorgeous and just sitting and talking was tempting but at the same time, it felt like losing. He'd spent years trying to differentiate himself from V, only to still be unable to say no to Jayce. The younger man apparently finished speaking and looked back up to catch his gaze. His protests trailed off and he stared pointedly at Viktor's lips, blushing. 

Kiss him!

He doesn’t want me to!

Viktor was surprised at the lump he had to swallow from his throat. “If you don’t want to do what I am here for, then I’ll give you your money back,” He said, waspishly leaning to pick his cane from the floor and using it as leverage to pull himself out of Jayce’s lap. He tried to ignore the large hand in the small of his back, steadying him. “Just don’t try to come back unless you want a giant crossdressing bouncer to throw you out on your ass.” He started towards the door. 

“Wait!” Jayce called out, grabbing Viktor’s wrist to stop him from leaving. “I do- uhm… want to but…” He shuffled his feet awkwardly. “I just want to figure this whole thing out. So…can we just…talk first?” 

Jayce looked down at the floor before glancing up at him through his eyelashes. Viktor's breath caught in his throat. Bastard. Still can’t say no… He groaned and settled next to him on the bed, propping his cane up on the nightstand. He gave Jayce an expectant look.
Seeming to sense his victory, Jayce tried and failed to subtly adjust his erection, before turning to face him, tucking his feet underneath him and sitting back on his thighs. His rather large thighs. Viktor wondered how tightly he could make them wrap around his waist- Viktor tore his eyes away from Jayce's legs and glared up at him, putting his lips back to the Vox boiler, hoping to take the edge off of the headache that V had given him.

“You shouldn't be smoking.” Jayce said, voice filled with a worry that made Viktor’s heart thump- no that was just the Vox. Just the Vox. Jayce’s eyes locked onto the glowing green fluid as the older man inhaled more.”Viktor, your lungs-” Jayce protested. Viktor rolled his eyes, sitting up and leaning forward like he was going to kiss him. Jayce froze and his long lashed eyes fluttered, looking back down at Viktor's tinted lips. Viktor smirked and pointedly blew smoke into Jayce's face. “Viktor-!”

“Vitya.” Viktor corrected. “I don’t use my real name here.”

“Why not?”

“Do you really think that someone wouldn't use my identity against me the second they knew it? There is not a single person here that uses their real name and face. I only let my regulars use my name, lest someone try to abuse it.” He laid down with his head in Jayce's lap. Jayce blushed. 

“I wouldn't.” Jayce seemed sincere, and once again, V screamed for him, shooting pain through his head. It made Viktor dizzy. He closed his eyes and hummed as Jayce's fingers grazed his cheek. 

“I don't know that. I don't know you.” Viktor replied, turning his head, leaning into the touch. 

Keep lying to yourself, I'm sure that will help you.

Viktor grit his teeth. “Shut up.” He snarled. Jayce looked confused.

" I… didn't say anything?” It was almost a question. 

“I wasn't talking to you. ” He groaned and sat up, pressing his hands into his eyes, willing the headache to go away.  “He won't shut up, now that you're here.heHe turned back to give Jayce a glare, like it was his fault.

Jayce gestured towards his head questioningly. Viktor nodded. “Yeah. Me too.” He admitted. “He keeps saying- uhm… he wants me to kiss you and…stuff.”  he turned maroon again, and fleetingly, Viktor wondered what kind of thoughts were going through his head. He took a moment to look him over. Physically, he didn't look bad. He was gangly, like he hadn't quite grown into himself yet. But attractive as hell. And by the size of the tent in his pants… It could end up being a fun night after all. Jayce caught him staring and immediately looked away. 

Kiss him. Touch him. Fuck him-

I will. 

That seemed to satisfy his unwelcome guest a bit. Viktor couldn't help but smirk at Jayce's embarrassment, lifting an eyebrow in amusement. “Stuff?” He teased. “For an Academy student you're not very articulate.”

Jayce fiddled with a hole in the leg of his jeans. “He's apparently had some… ideas. Fantasies. Whatever you want to call it.”

Viktor felt lightheaded as V swelled with desire, sending shivers down him.“And you? Have you had fantasies?” 

Jayce shook his head so quickly that it made Viktor dizzy just looking at it. “No!” He exclaimed. “I mean- in general, sure but… the visions only started this morning and- well he thinks that this uh…version of you is… well… he likes it, I guess. ”

“And you don't agree with your Jayce?” The panic on Jayce's face at the insinuation almost made Viktor laugh. Oh, it was too easy. 

“No I didn't mean- y-you're gorgeous I just- uhm.” He looked sheepish. “I don't really know what I'm doing here.” the words left his mouth in a huff of laughter. He hesitated. “He's telling me all these things he wants and…I've never even kissed someone before… I've y'know… seen magazines and stuff but…” Even in the dim light, Viktor could tell that Jayce was scarlet. 

Viktor's eyebrows had raised in amusement, a smirk landing on Viktor's face. Janna, Piltie's really were sheltered. “It's just sex Jayce,” He snorted. “You don't need to overthink it. You haven't stopped ogling me since the moment I walked in and you're hard as a rock, I can tell just by looking.” He smirked and brought his voice down low, leaning forward, to graze a hand up Jayce's thigh. “It's my job to know when I am desired, Jayce.” He crooned. “Tell me I'm wrong and I'll drop it.” 

Jayce exhaled and swore in a language he didn't understand, hiding his face in his hand. “You aren't” he admitted. He chewed on his lip some more. “Can- can we- uhm...maybe we should talk after ?” He asked timidly looking up at Viktor with the biggest, most innocent eyes he had ever seen. “Might uh… Might be easier to talk if we have a clear mind.”

If you say ‘no’ I will give you a week-long migraine.

Touche.

“Of course,” Viktor obliged. “But… I have a suggestion.” Jayce's face turned questioning, and before he could ask, Viktor continued. “I think you should smoke with me.” He held out his boiler to him, the mouthpiece facing Jayce. 

Expectedly, Jayce's face fell, his teeth worrying at his lip as he stared at the  green liquid in the vial.  Viktor never would have offered it to any other client, but the poor man really did look terrified. “I don't smoke.” He said in a small voice.  
Viktor sighed. “You should try it. It’s non-toxic and it will help you relax. I can tell you’re far more nervous than you need to be.” Viktor clarified. The fear on Jayce's face was so palpable. V sent a thought through him and all at once, Viktor understood his hesitation.   

“It’s not like Shimmer, I promise. I made it to reduce pain. And it’s natural. It’s made from a lichen that causes a psychedelic effect when eaten. The effects are actually quite enjoyable, when consumed correctly. Smoking it has a much more mild effect. I wouldn’t offer you anything that could harm you, Jayce.” Viktor rubbed against reassuring hand up Jayce's arm 

“Does… is it uncomfortable? For you to inhale, I mean. Because of your…uhm…” His fingers ghosted over Viktor's side.
“Because of the sump-lung?” Viktor guessed. Jayce nodded. “No. It has actually helped me breathe quite a bit. Though if you inhale too quickly, it may cause you to cough. I will not force you to smoke it, though I do think it will calm your nerves. Make the experience less, ah- daunting.” He smirked. Jayce had what he and the other escorts at the Touch called ‘Piltie Panic’. The closeted and private nature of most Piltovans clashed with the open and blunt nature of Zaunites.

Jayce hesitated for just a moment more before taking the pipe and inhaling through the stem. Immediately, Viktor could tell that he wasn’t he wasn’t doing it right. He lifted the pipe so that it was no longer tilted in Jayce’s hands. “Slower. A slow, deep breath.” He instructed. Jayce did as he was told and Viktor watched as those gold-green eyes brightened into neon, the glow casting shadows through his long eyelashes. His eyes fluttered closed and he made a little noise in the back of his throat as Viktor saw all the tension leave his muscles. “Only hold it for a moment, it doesn’t take long to work.” Jayce did so and exhaled before going back for another hit. When he went for a third, Viktor stopped him. “Not too much. It’s very potent, very addictive.” Viktor didn’t know why he cared, after all, an addiction just made him more money and it wasn’t like it was harmful. Perhaps he just didn’t want to think of Jayce using it on his own. Or with someone else.

Jayce let Viktor take the pipe back and watched through heavy lidded eyes as he hit it. As soon as it was set down, Viktor felt Jayce’s hands at his waist, thumb brushing over the bits of tattoo that was exposed. The touch felt different than anything he’d ever felt before. Cold, but warm and electric. Familiar. It sent goosebumps all over his body. “Can I see it?” he asked, looking back up at the thinner man. Viktor pulled the shirt off and let Jayce run his hands over it. “The Nation of Zaun.” He said softly. 

Viktor nodded, pressing his lips together. He had no plans to speak to Jayce, or any Piltovan about his fathers’ failing efforts to gain sovereignty for the Undercity. He shivered as Jayce's fingers roamed upwards, grazing where the twist in his spine caused his ribcage to jut outwards. Viktor tensed, expecting the usual nasty comments about it, but they never came. Instead, Jayce's hands skirted over the soft swell of his chest, a gentle squeeze making Viktor gasp under his breath.

“Are you…?” Jayce started his eyes shot downwards, towards the bulge in his groin, confusion clear in the Topsider's eyes. He shook his head, “Nevermind. Doesn't matter.” Viktor almost laughed out loud.

“I'm not trans.” He told him. “They just grew. The other Viktor had surgery to remove them, but I do not mind them.” He put his hands over Jayce's, guiding him to squeeze harder. “You can be less gentle. I won't break.” 

Jayce's laugh came out in a huff. “I know. I'm just…not sure where to start.” 

Viktor smirked and guided Jayce's hands back to his waist. “Do you want me to take the lead?” He asked. “I'll make sure you're well satisfied.” Jayce looked as if he couldn't think of a better idea. His sheepish grin made Viktor's stomach drop out his ass. 

“That would probably be a good idea.” Jayce chuckled. “You know how to make yourself feel better than I would.” The insinuation that he cared only about Viktor's pleasure made his chest tighten. Surely it was just a line, right? Viktor tried to ignore how much it had affected him.

That's just how Jayce is.

You’ve been quiet.

I’ve been enjoying myself.

Viktor snorted and leaned forward, pushing Jayce backwards so that he was laying on the bed. Jayce looked like he was going to start talking again, so Viktor kissed him hotly full on the mouth. The younger man tensed, his hands held up like he didn’t know where to put them. Viktor straddled him, and pulled away, smirk playing at his lips. “Doesn’t feel like you want me to take it slowly.” He teased, rolling his hips a little. The look on Jayce’s made him chuckle. “I didn’t think it was possible to be that red in the face and still maintain an erection.” Jayce surprisingly turned redder, though his jaw set a little.  “Can you blame me?” Jayce challenged. “I’ve got the most attractive, intelligent, perfect person in Piltover in my lap right now.” Viktor’s heart nearly stopped.

He had to force himself to keep his face from changing. Jayce didn’t sound like he was making up some cheesy line to impress him. He sounded so genuine. Viktor believed him. Janna, why would he believe him? He hated this… connection they shared, but something about it was more intoxicating than he’d ever felt. He pulled Jayce’s face to his by his hair, and this time, when their lips met, Jayce was kissing him like a completely different man. 

His hands were on him, the tingly cold energy that bloomed everywhere their skin touched making Viktor shudder. Jayce’s hands felt like no one else’s he’d ever felt before. Viktor growled into Jayce's mouth, feeling his shiver before biting down on his lip. He moaned in surprise and his fingers dug into Viktor's side. The sensation made Viktor see stars. Selfishly, he guided Jayce's hands up to squeeze his chest. As expected, the Charge shot through his chest and he trembled from the feeling, biting his lip to stop himself from moaning out loud. 

“Do you feel that too?” Jayce asked breathlessly. “When I touch you it's-” He broke off, unable to describe it. His hands grazed down Viktor's side. “Like fire. It burns- it doesn't hurt- but, God , it's good.” Viktor shushed him. He didn't want to admit that yes he did feel it, and that yes it was good. Good enough that the meager amount of rolling his hips into Jayce's was causing him to create a wet spot in his pants already. He leaned forward to kiss Jayce's neck, nipping gently at spots that seemed more sensitive, and just to test it, biting down harder into the flesh where his neck and shoulder met. Jayce moaned and Viktor could feel his cock jump underneath him. He smirked at the discovery, coming down to bite him once more, working the skin in his teeth, leaving a large purple mark behind. Jayce keened, hips jumping upwards, and breath hitching in his throat. 

Viktor smirked into his neck, before moving his lips downwards, teeth scraping against Jayce’s collarbone, digging into the soft flesh of his chest, neon green eyes locked onto that perfect pathetic face as its lips parted, letting out the most lovely noises. He was going to enjoy breaking him. Viktor kept moving downwards, letting his tongue trace the muscles in Jayce’s abdomen down to his groin before he began shimmying Jayce’s pants and underwear off. Jayce eagerly lifted his hips in assistance, kicking his boots off with them. Viktor caught sight of the thick, leaking cock Jayce had been hiding underneath. 

“Janna, I’m gonna feel this tomorrow,” He laughed, before wrapping his hand around Jayce’s length, pumping it a few times. Jayce moaned. “Y’know, when I started getting visions of some stuck up Piltie pretty boy with his silly little hammer, I couldn’t figure out why the Other One liked you so much.” he said, leaning down to kiss the pretty pink tip of his cock, licking the precum off of him and causing him to shiver. “I understand now. I’d be hard pressed to want to say no to this,” He licked the shaft from base to tip, causing Jayce to tense up and gasp out loud.  “All these pretty noises you make- I wonder how long it would take to get you to scream my name.” Jayce looked like he wanted to find out too, so with that, Viktor sucked Jayce's cock into his mouth.

Jayce's back arched and his hips flew upwards, making Viktor gag. He gave him an irritated look and pointedly shoved him back downwards by the pelvis. Jayce looked apologetic enough though, face and eyes filled with lust. Viktor continued his movements, bobbing his head and reveling in the taste of sweat and precum. He could feel Jayce’s rapid heartbeat on his tongue and he hummed around him, making him jerk in his mouth. He let out a moan, higher pitched than Viktor would have expected, and his legs shook. Viktor prided himself in the skills he had, but he had to admit that working with a dick this large was, in fact, difficult. He could fit it all in, if he tried, it wasn't the length that was the issue, it was the thickness that was giving him trouble. He was determined to make it work though, regardless of how sore he knew that his jaw was going to be later. He pulled off of Jayce, letting the saliva that had collected in his mouth drip back down onto his cock. He spared a glance upwards. Jayce had bunched his free hand into his discarded shirt, eyes shut tightly as he held it to his mouth in effort to be quieter. 

“You do know I won’t kick you out for moaning, yes?” Viktor asked in amusement. Jayce looked down at Viktor sheepishly and shrugged a little before tossing the shirt away. Viktor shook his head mockingly before dipping his head back down, grazing his lips down the shaft teasingly. Jayce shuddered. Viktor hummed in amusement before licking his cock back into his mouth and immediately going down as far as he could on it, tongue flat against the veined underside. Jayce gasped and the fingers in his hair tightened. Viktor moaned from the feeling and was echoed loudly by Jayce. He had sat up, holding his weight on his elbow to watch him and as Viktor looked upwards for Jayce’s reaction, their eyes met. 

Normally, eye contact made him uneasy, especially in bed, but he couldn’t force his eyes away. He felt… a charge. Something in their minds clicked together, and as Viktor swallowed Jayce deep into his throat, his vision exploded with colors, and he had to pull off quickly to avoid choking as pleasure ripped moans from his throat. His eyes squeezed tightly, trying to erase whatever connection had formed between them, but it only made more colors explode behind his eyelids. Dancing lights fluttering like butterflies, making his head feel lighter than Vox ever made it. He heard, distantly, Jayce crying out, and felt hot wetness dampen his cheek at the same time that it filled his pants. 

Jayce was the first to speak as they both sat panting, catching their breaths. “That was- wow.” He gasped articulately. He sat up completely, his eyes catching on cum that had pushed its way through the thin stretchy material of Viktor’s pants. He laughed. “Good for us both, then?” He teased. Viktor gave him a look before wiping the cum from his face, careful not to get it into his eyes. 

“Warn me, next time,” he snapped, blushing furiously, embarrassed at his prematurity. What was he, some virginal teen, cumming untouched, simply from giving someone a blowjob? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt that kind of pleasure. He doubted that he’d ever had, honestly, and that scared him. 

Viktor had gotten by, knowing this day would come, and thinking that he’d be able to just push him away and forget, and it had just occurred to Viktor that he did not have that kind of control. The thought made his skin scrawl and he grit his teeth, fingers clenched at his sides, fingernails digging into his hand. 

Fuck this.

Viktor’s hands shot forwards, catching Jayce’s wrists and pinning them above his head, pushing him back into the bed and kissing him hungrily. Jayce let out a noise of surprise but immediately melted into it. He shuddered as Viktor held his wrist in place with one hand while his other jerked life back into his cock. Viktor relished the sound of it. He bit down on Jayce’s lip, beginning to lean back. He released Jayce’s wrists briefly before sternly pushing them back down into the bed after he went to lift them away. Jayce whined. He actually fucking whined. When he let them go again, Jayce kept them there this time and it made Viktor grin despite himself.  “Stay.” he commanded before standing to remove his stained trousers and pull a rubber and slicking oil from the draw in the rickety nightstand. 

Jayce’s eyes widened and Viktor nearly snorted at how his dick twitched upwards in anticipation. Oh, he was going to enjoy this. “What, did you think we were done?” He asked sarcastically, returning to the bed and straddling Jayce once more. Jayce's eyes followed him the entire time, heavily lidded and cloudy with Voxium. His eyes  flicked up to Viktor’s and stayed there. Viktor smirked at the lust written all over Jayce’s face. It was something he so often felt, the pleasure of simply knowing that someone wanted him so desperately. 

Jayce’s eyes flitted away and Viktor tutted. The brilliant green orbs immediately flicked back to Viktor’s and this time, he did laugh. “So eager to please, aren’t you, Jayce? What a good boy…” He watched as Jayce’s face flushed brilliantly at the words and he snickered again, dipping down to kiss him, hands slipping the condom down Jayce’s cock and squeezing it to make him shiver. The result was as expected, Jayce arching his back up, moaning into Viktor’s mouth. 

“Please-” Jayce gasped, almost whining. 

“Please, what?” Viktor responded waspishly, feigning ignorance, though his fingers were already inside himself, working himself open, almost as desperate as Jayce was. Almost.

“Just- God, fuck me, please-” 

Against his better judgement, Viktor wasted no time, pulling his fingers from himself and sinking down onto Jayce. It stung, but the ecstatic icy shocks of pleasure wherever his and Jayce’s skin touched drowned it out. He only paused for a moment to watch as Jayce's head fell back, mouth open in a silent moan, before rolling his hips forward and snapping him back down. “Look at me,” he demanded. 

Jayce immediately obeyed and fuck if he wasn't the most perfect thing Viktor had ever laid eyes on in his life. Viktor rode him at a pace he knew he'd regret later, hands roaming over his chest, pinching Jayce's  nipples softly and grinning when he squirmed underneath him. 

Jayce was swearing in that language again, moans spilling from his open mouth, fingers scrabbling at the sheets above his head as the backboard hit the wall repeatedly from the force of Viktor's efforts. He was trembling, sweat plastering his dark hair to his forehead and leaving a sheen on his tan skin. Viktor slowed his pace to bring their faces together, unable to stop himself from moaning into Jayce’s mouth as their tongues slid against each other. Viktor was getting close, and by the sounds he was making, he knew Jayce was too. He dipped his head down, sucking a violet mark into his neck, and growling into his ear.

“Touch me,”

Jayce’s hands were on him in a flash, one at his waist, guiding him, the other tight around his leaking cock and the icy spikes of pleasure shot through him blinding him as he came harder than he ever had before, crying out, swearing so loudly that the sound rang in the small room. Their movements stuttered to a quick halt, as Jayce’s fingernails dug into Viktor’s waist. They sat there, gasping and moaning, shaking in each others’ grasps as they came down from intense orgasm. 

When Viktor’s vision returned and he could formulate half an intelligent thought, he rolled off of Jayce bonelessly, staring at the ceiling, waiting for words to come to him. Jayce, surprisingly, found the ability to speak before he did. 

“That was-”

“Wow,” Viktor finished for him, laughing as he turned into his chest.

Chapter Text

So. How do I say this? I haven't given up on the fic, I promise. I have done TOO MUCH world building and planning. The problem is, im disabled and haven't been able to work for 4 years, and government assistance has denied because for the third time due to lack of documentation.
I was at risk of eviction last month and managed to fix it with some public assistance, and now, just days after getting something that will help me work, ive reciebed another eviction notice. I am not doing well, and as much as I'd love to spend as much time as possible writing so I can get y'all a chapter every two weeks, it is simply not going to happen.
I feel terrible about it, but I'm going to try and at least get y'all a couple of chapters within the next couple months. I'll try to keep some updates flowing on my Twitter. (@silcosimprebel) Sorry again!
Rebel.

Chapter Text

Shortly after I begun this fic, I was bombarded with death threats, animosity and even had people dming me my own address. Why? Because I had the audacity to say I didnt like Mel. It had nothing to do with her skin color, in fact I would have hated her just as equally if she were white.
I wont be getting into it now, because frankly I dont have to, but I will not be continuing this fic, because I have completely left the Fandom and do not feel comfortable participating in it or interacting with those participating in it.

Please remember that creators of any form have feelings too.

As of today this Fic will officially be orphaned.

Thank you to those who supported me.