Chapter Text
There were only two places that Jayce Talis actually genuinely enjoyed being: his forge, and his home office.
In his forge he wasn’t interrupted by anyone. He could work, using more than just his mind and pushing his body to its limits. Physical work like that, making things he could hold, had always been his favourite.
At his home office he might be interrupted, but it wouldn’t be in person. Emails, phone calls, texts, chat messages, all things that he could ignore and respond to in his own time.
Unfortunately, he rarely found time to be in either of those places lately.
Jayce knew he was lucky, and obscenely so. When his father had passed away, he’d left a sizable amount of money behind, and Jayce was able to follow his dreams and found his own corporation. Hextech was dedicated to improving lives, from transportation solutions to medications, but they were always striving for more.
He was at the main Hextech headquarters more often than not. His office there was larger than the one at his home, plenty of room to host CEOs from other companies, potential investors, and all of those dull, boring responsibilities that came with owning your own company. The office was on the thirtieth floor-–the very top-–allowing for a clear view of Piltover sprawling into the distance.
Jayce knew he really had no place to complain. Hextech was flourishing, the name was known all across Runeterra, and he had more money than he knew what to do with. Most of it went to charity, which he hadn’t wanted to advertise but the Board insisted he did, at least a little. He was often met with surprise when he said he lived in a one-floor, one bedroom house on the outskirts of the city, instead of some gaudy mansion or a penthouse suite, but he didn’t need more than that. He lived on his own, he didn’t want multiple levels to a house, as his left leg often twinged and ached from an old injury.
He did occasionally treat himself—nice clothes, top of the line supplies for personal projects; but, really, he was more interested in buying fancy and extravagant gifts for his mother.
He still rode public transportation to work. Even though he could afford a fancy car, he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of driving it through Piltover traffic. Hextech trams and underground train lines were efficient, on time, clean, and affordable (though, really, Jayce didn’t have to pay fare.)
But, despite all of it, Jayce noticed a growing sense of emptiness, slowly rotting away in his chest and spreading further every day.
He was lonely, he knew that. He’d had some short-term relationships throughout his years at the Academy, he’d had a couple of one-night flings, but nothing for almost five years now. At official events he often had people flaunting themselves, getting too touchy with him, parents trying to offer up their own daughters as potential suitors, but it was all so fake it made his skin crawl.
They weren’t interested in Jayce. They were interested in the name Talis and the wealth that came with Hextech. No-one seemed to really know who Jayce even was anymore-–including himself.
Jayce stepped onto the tram once it came rumbling to a stop at the station, right on time, just like clockwork. He found himself a corner to sit in, opening up his emails on his phone.
The tram ride took fifteen minutes to get to the Hextech stop. It was often busy during the morning commute, but by the time Jayce usually left the office, he was typically one of three people making their way back home.
No-one ever bothered him. He wasn’t sure anyone really recognised him, most of the promotional material for Hextech showed him six years younger, before he’d grown out his beard; recently, Jayce had pushed to not be on any of the promos anymore. It was for the best, though, since it meant he could have his peace for a little while.
At least, usually.
“You entitled brat! You know you don’t need that seat, get off your lazy ass and give it to someone who actually deserves it!”
“I do not know how to make it any clearer to you that I do need to sit down.”
Jayce glanced up from his phone. The tram was crowded, but the two people arguing were just in front of him. The one yelling was an older man, standing up and holding on to one of the railing handles. He was glaring down at another person who was sitting in one of the disabled seating.
They were younger, probably only a handful of years younger than Jayce himself. Messy brown hair was pulled back into a half-ponytail, the ends bleached blond, away from their face and revealing multiple piercings on the ear Jayce could see. They had thick-framed glasses, tattoos crawling up and down their arms, the black polish on their nails chipped.
They also, very obviously, had a leg brace strapped to their right leg, and were clutching a cane.
“We all know you’re faking it, you’re just a lazy little punk who thinks he’s better than the rest of us,” the old man spat.
“I cannot stand up for the entirety of my commute,” the beautiful person replied.
Jayce blinked. Beautiful? Where had that thought come from?
At that moment, the man grabbed at the person’s arm and went to yank them up out of the seat.
“You can have my seat,” Jayce stood up quickly, grabbing both of their attention.
“Hmph, at least some people still have manners,” the old man grumbled, taking Jayce’s seat the second he’d moved out of the way.
Jayce stood in front of the seated person, where the old man had been before, and reached up to hold onto the railing handle. He glanced down, now that he could see this person from the front.
One of the first things Jayce noticed was the sheer amount of pins that weighed down a lanyard around this person’s neck; scanning it, Jayce noticed a handful of them were Pride flags, mostly ones he recognised as non-binary and transgender, interspersed with pronoun pins clearly stating He/They.
“Are you alright?” Jayce asked, noticing them rubbing at their arm.
He glanced up at Jayce, almost suspiciously, and Jayce was momentarily drawn in by the golden colour of their eyes, highlighted by their dark eyeliner. “Yes, I am,” they responded, Jayce now fully registering the accent the person had. “Thank you.”
Jayce glanced around quickly. “Hm, maybe there should be more accessible seating on these things.”
“There are plenty, it is just a matter of people who don’t need them refusing to give them up,” he replied. “It is always so busy on a morning. Usually I would use my wheelchair, but there is no room for that right now.”
“I’m Jayce,” he introduced himself, looking back at the person in front of him.
“Viktor,” he replied. “You look familiar.”
“Oh, uh,” Jayce floundered for a moment. “I’ve been doing this commute for several years now. I’m sure we’ve passed each other before.”
“I think I would remember someone like you,” Viktor tilted his head, the smallest indication a smirk on his lips, their eyes glittering playfully as they raked over his body.
Jayce felt something like a dying fish in that moment, opening and closing his mouth as he tried to reply. Viktor didn’t seem put off in the slightest, his teasing smirk only widening.
“Do you go to the Academy?” Jayce blurted out eventually.
“Pfft,” Viktor scoffed. “Do I look like I could afford to attend Piltover Academy?”
Jayce just shrugged, hoping the flush across his cheeks wasn’t as obvious as it felt.
“I am saving up,” they said, their smile less teasing, taking pity on Jayce. “I hope to attend, one day.”
“You just looked around that age so, uh, guess I assumed.”
The tram rolled to a stop, Jayce glancing up to check where they were. “Oh, this is me.”
“What a coincidence, it is also me,” Viktor leaned heavily on their cane as they stood themself up. Jayce was momentarily overcome with the urge to help him, to rest a hand on his elbow or offer an arm for support.
He managed to keep his hands to himself, though.
Jayce helped Viktor get through the crowd, but he didn’t really think Viktor needed his help. They were graceful in their movements, slinking between people easily and finding a spot to wait for the driver to unload their wheelchair.
“Do you, uh,” Jayce paused, unsure of what he was even trying to ask.
“I will be fine,” Viktor replied. “Thank you, again, for before. It was a pleasure speaking with you.”
“Yeah, uh, you too,” he grinned. “And you’re welcome.”
“Will you be commuting home later?”
“Probably not until late,” Jayce sighed.
“Well, I will hope to see you tomorrow morning, then.”
It wasn’t until Jayce had made his way out of the station and was about to swipe his security card to enter Hextech that he realised Viktor had definitely been flirting.
Chapter Text
Jayce had forgotten to bring lunch, and his stash in the office fridge was depleted. He still had several hours to go and he was starving.
“Sky, what does my schedule look like for the rest of the day?”
“Not your secretary, Mr. Talis,” the young woman responded. She’d come in to go over some proposals with him, and was one of the few people who still treated Jayce like a human being. “But, I do know your next meeting isn’t until three.”
“Perfect,” he stood up from where he’d been crouched by the fridge, looking sadly at the empty shelves. “I’m going out for a bit.”
“Please don’t be late for another meeting,” Sky scolded lightly. “There’s only so much stalling we can do for you.”
Jayce grabbed his suit jacket and shrugged it on. “I’ll be back in plenty of time.”
Stepping out of the building, Jayce realised he didn’t really know where he was even going to get food. There used to be a deli on the corner of the street, but they’d moved somewhere else, and he hadn’t figured out where yet. Picking a direction, Jayce just started walking, hoping something would catch his interest.
About five minutes later, he came to pause outside a little café that hadn’t been there last week.
There was a very large Pride flag hanging in the window, and a small menu hanging by the door. After a quick scan, Jayce decided he’d head inside.
A bell over the door jingled lightly.
“Welcome!” someone at the counter greeted him. “For here or to go?”
“Uh,” Jayce paused for a moment. “Here.”
“Great, pick a table and we’ll be right with you!”
Jayce found a small table by the window and sat down, taking a look around. There were various pride flags all around the interior, and the walls were covered in artwork, most of them a sort of graffiti-esque style. A large, glass cabinet by the ordering counter was filled with pastries, cakes, and sandwiches. There were a few other people around, but overall it was peaceful, music playing quietly from overhead speakers.
He turned his attention to the employee who was coming over in a wheelchair, sliding a menu onto the table.
“Two times in one day? Are you following me?” Viktor teased.
“Oh,” Jayce felt his heart pick up. Viktor was wearing an apron, his name tag pinned haphazardly to one of the straps, almost lost amongst the various other pins and badges. He looked adorable in the apron, Jayce thought. “I had no idea you worked here. I didn’t even know here existed until like three minutes ago.”
“I’m teasing, Jayce,” Viktor chuckled. “We just opened up over the weekend.”
“A-ah,” Jayce managed a smile. He wasn’t sure why Viktor left him feeling so breathless and awkward. He glanced down at the menu, just for an excuse to look away before he ended up staring.
“Anything to drink to start off?”
“Um, coffee, please. Black.”
“Coming right up,” Viktor smiled before he wheeled back over to the counter.
Jayce watched as Viktor said something to the girl who had greeted him; she seemed younger than Viktor, her apron pulled on over a cropped t-shirt and tight fitting jeans. Her hair was blue and pulled into two braids, and while Jayce couldn’t see further because of the counter, he had the feeling her hair was almost as long as she was tall.
He turned his attention to the menu; he couldn’t just sit there and ogle Viktor, who was still a stranger that he only just met that morning.
Viktor came back over with the coffee, this time walking with his cane again. “Thoughts on food?”
Jayce put his order in—just a simple sandwich with some crisps—and found himself watching Viktor’s hands as he wrote the order down. They were wearing rings, which Jayce hadn’t noticed before.
“Craving anything sweet?”
“Huh?” Jayce looked up at Viktor’s face.
He smiled, looking a bit bemused. “Are you always this spacey, or did I catch you on a bad day?”
“Sorry, sorry,” Jayce leaned back in his set, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s been a long month.”
“Hm, difficult job? What do you do?”
“I, uh,” so Viktor definitely didn’t know who he was.
Good.
“I work for Hextech,” he answered, truthfully. “Research and Development.”
Jayce could’ve sworn Viktor’s eyes lit up. “Hextech? Really? What’s it like working there?”
“Um…stressful, at times, but rewarding,” it wasn’t a lie. “Pay is good, lots of benefits.”
Jayce had ensured it was that way. He was not about to build a corporation based on the idea of improving lives and then exploit his own employees.
“I’ve heard that,” Viktor nodded. “All my research shows that it’s a good company to work for. Ah, we have the Hextech pride poster from the festival last year.”
Jayce followed where Viktor was pointing, seeing the aforementioned poster affixed to the wall.
“Shame the CEO doesn’t do public appearances,” they commented, off-handedly. Jayce’s eyes snapped back to Viktor, who was still looking at the poster. “It’s like he totally dropped off the face of the world. I hope he’s okay.”
Viktor looked back to Jayce, their eyes wide. “Oh-–I should put your food order in,” they laughed awkwardly, picking their cane up from where it was leaning against the table. “It’ll be out shortly.”
Jayce couldn’t help when his eyes slid down, watching the sway of Viktor’s hips and ass as they walked away.
He then immediately caught the eye of the blue-haired girl at the counter, who just gave him a knowing, but slightly sinister, smile.
—
Going to the Anomaly Café became part of Jayce’s daily routine. Monday to Friday, he would go for lunch, and by the end of the month he had tried everything on their set menu.
A few times he went, Viktor wasn’t anywhere to be seen. They didn’t always share the morning commute; when they did, they sat together, (or Viktor sat and Jayce stood), chatting away about nothing much. The first time he’d walked in and seen that Viktor wasn’t there, the blue haired girl-–Jinx, he’d learned—had said they were home sick.
Jayce still had his lunch there, though. The food was probably the best he’d ever had, and the rest of the small staff were friendly.
Jinx owned the café, and her boyfriend Ekko was there most of the time. Both of them were responsible for the majority of the artwork over the walls, and had long conversations with Jayce about art once they’d spied some of his own sketches. There was a young girl called Isha who was often there, who mostly ran the food and drinks to the table. She’d lit up when Jayce had thanked her one day using the limited amount of sign-language he knew, and he’d been slowly learning more with her help. She lived with Ekko and Jinx, and while she wasn’t related to either of them, she was basically a kid sister to them.
Jinx had an older sister named Vi, who, quite frankly, scared Jayce the first time he’d spoken to her. Her resting face was a frown, and while shorter than him, Jayce knew she would easily beat him in a fight. She was only there two times a week, and Viktor said her main job was as an instructor at a local kick-boxing place.
Viktor had known Jinx since their school days, the two of them close friends and constantly teasing each other. Viktor had once said something that sounded poetic and a little ominous, which led Jinx to call them a ‘fortune cookie,’ and Viktor had shot something back and called her ‘Powder.’
Jayce had learned from Vi that ‘Powder’ was Jinx’s name, but she preferred to go by ‘Jinx.’ Vi sometimes still called her Pow, and Viktor was the only other person who got away with using the name.
Lunch was becoming his favourite time of day, and more than once he’d considered coming in on the weekends. Though, he’d found out, Viktor didn’t work weekends. But even when Viktor wasn’t there, the others treated him with familiarity, and it was something Jayce hadn’t realised he was missing.
Jayce would also have to be completely blind to ignore his developing feelings for Viktor. He perked up whenever he saw the other, he looked forward to talking to them, and more frequently recently had found himself daydreaming and fantasizing about them.
Viktor was pretty, he was all elegance and long legs and gorgeous hair and absolutely stunning eyes. He was smart and witty and his blunt, dry sense of humour was so endearing. The food was good, but he’d eat anywhere if it meant getting to spend time with Viktor.
“I personally suggest the lemon pastry,” Viktor said, responding to Jayce’s inquiry. Asking for their recommendation was a win-win: Jayce would eat something delicious, and he was learning more about Viktor. They had a serious sweet tooth, and rarely ever recommended anything savoury. “It’s my favourite of the specials we have at the moment.”
“Perfect, I’ll take one of those,” Jayce grinned.
It was a slow day, and Viktor had taken the seat opposite Jayce at his table, after bringing over two of the lemon pastries.
“So, what exactly is your shift?” Viktor asked through a mouthful of pastry.
“Hm, should I be worried you’ll show up at my office?” Jayce grinned.
They swallowed their pastry. “I just notice patterns in things, and the only pattern of yours I can discern is coming here at one-thirty for lunch. Sometimes you’re on the tram with me at eight, sometimes you are not, and I never see you in the evenings.”
“Eh, I have sort of a…flexible schedule,” he shrugged.
“Mmh, lucky,” Viktor commented. “I heard the hiring process is pretty thorough.”
“We want to make sure we’re hiring the right kinds of people,” Jayce took a sip of his coffee. “Uh—I mean, the hiring team does. The CEO gets final say on candidates.”
“I would love to work there,” they sighed. “But they won’t even consider my application without any sort of real credentials. I’ll try again after I get through the Academy.”
Jayce frowned; he wasn’t involved in every step of the hiring process, but he thought he’d made it clear that experience and credentials doesn’t automatically deny or approve an applicant.
“What would you be interested in doing there?” He asked.
Viktor pulled a well-loved journal out of their bag that was slung over the back of the chair. Flipping through to a specific page, he turned it around to show Jayce.
“So, I have scoliosis, and currently I have metal rods physically bolted into my spine,” he started. “It’s a pain, it’s uncomfortable, and it hasn’t worked very well. Some of the materials that Hextech has developed would be perfect for mobility aids, ones that provide strength and support while being comfortable. This leg brace I made is a prototype, but it would be so much better with Hextech technology.”
Jayce took the journal and looked through a few pages, sketches upon sketches and scribbled notes of ideas and improvements that could be made to existing Hextech creations.
“This…is incredible, Viktor,” he continued to flip through the pages. “You’re…brilliant.”
Viktor blushed, impossible to hide against his pale skin. “W-well, not brilliant enough to get my application considered. But, I’m saving up for the Academy. Once I’ve got that to add to my resume, hopefully it’ll be a different story.”
“The Academy is…expensive,” Jayce said.
“I work two jobs.”
“You do? I didn’t know that.”
“Server is my day job,” Viktor smiled, almost playfully.
“What’s your, uh…” Jayce cleared his throat. “Night job?”
Viktor didn’t reply. They just hummed, wrapping their lips around their straw, giving Jayce a playful smirk and a wink.
“Viki, stop flirting, I need you back on the clock.”
“Coming, Jinx.”
Chapter Text
One morning, Jayce was helping to unload Viktor’s wheelchair after they’d disembarked the tram, and Viktor suddenly seemed nervous.
“Um, Jayce,” Viktor started, as the other man turned around with the now unfolded chair. “I–I don’t know when your shift starts, but would you like to come by the café with me?”
“Right now?”
“You don’t have to,” Viktor stumbled over their words slightly. “I just thought-–maybe I could make you some coffee for the morning? On me, I’m not trying to just make you spend more money or anything—”
“That sounds wonderful,” Jayce smiled, Viktor immediately visibly relaxing. The smile he received in return was the most beautiful smile Jayce had ever seen.
From then on, whenever they shared their morning commute, Jayce would go to the café with Viktor, get a coffee and chat until the café officially opened, and then make his way to his office. Of course, he still went for lunch on those days.
“Wait, how have you been coming here for so long and you don’t have our loyalty card?” Ekko had butted into one of their morning conversations.
“Ah, shit,” Viktor laughed. “I’m terrible at offering those to customers.”
“What’s the loyalty card?” Jayce asked.
“After ten drinks, you get one free,” Jinx answered. “And after five food orders, you get one half-off.”
“Ah, that’s fine,” Jayce shrugged. “I’d rather pay you full-price. You already underprice your stuff.”
“Jeez, what do they pay at Hextech?” Ekko laughed.
Jayce just laughed as well, hoping he didn’t sound as awkward as he felt.
For the first time in a long time, that horrible, rotting, empty feeling in his chest seemed to have stopped spreading. The café had quickly been added to his list of favourite places to be, but more specifically, being with Viktor was moving to the top of that list.
Meanwhile, Hextech was preparing for an unveiling of their new fleet of ferries, ranging from commuting purposes to pleasure cruises. Development had been a long process with a lot of setbacks, and Jayce hadn’t really realised the sheer depths of stress and tension he’d been going through until it was finally ebbing away.
Some of the Department Directors wanted to celebrate, just the management teams, before the unveiling at the end of the month. Jayce knew he would be slammed with public appearances and interviews once it was all launched, and there was an anxiety simmering deep in his chest.
Viktor followed Hextech news and developments. They were asking questions about the new Hex-boats just last week, and if they were planning to watch-–or even attend—the opening ceremony, there went Jayce’s anonymity security blanket.
He wasn’t sure how Viktor would react. On the one hand, Viktor clearly had a deep respect for the Founder of Hextech, but on the other hand, they’d find out that Jayce had been lying to him for months now.
The Directors were talking about going to some club on the other side of the bridge, in the section of Piltover the locals called Zaun. Previously, Zaun had been something to be avoided, considered dangerous and lawless, but significant strides had been made over the last decade to unite the two peoples.
Jayce wasn’t one for clubs. He’d been dragged to all sorts before, from a simple speakeasy to a completely overwhelming strip club, with music so loud Jayce had experienced his very first panic attack.
“It’s a classy joint, we promise,” one of the Directors—Hoskel-–had said. “Good booze, pretty serving staff, and a gorgeous performer over the weekends.”
Jayce had looked this place up, and the website certainly made it look “classy,” but the reviews made it clear that there were other services offered behind closed doors.
In a brief moment of madness, Jayce thought maybe it would be worth going down there just to blow off some steam, if he could find one of these pretty serving staff members that looked enough like Viktor.
He’d shaken his head immediately, willing those thoughts away.
In the end, he’d agreed to go. A few drinks wouldn’t hurt. His team immediately got started on booking out the whole damn place that coming Saturday evening.
Jayce was broken from his thoughts when his phone buzzed against the polished surface of his desk.
[Viktor, 4:50pm] We are SLAMMED
[Viktor, 4:51pm] We ran out of coffee!! What kind of cafe runs out of coffee!!!
[Viktor, 4:51pm] I managed to sneak out to the walk-in just to catch my damn breath. We had to pull out extra tables so I can’t fit my wheelchair around anymore.
[Jayce, 4:55pm] Is there something going on?
[Viktor, 4:56pm] Gossip is that your boss apparently showed up here at some point
[Viktor, 4:57pm] It went viral. All these fanatics showed up just to see why the ~*CEO of Hextech*~ would want to eat here.
Jayce almost stopped breathing. So, someone had recognised him at the cafe.
[Viktor, 5:00pm] Mr. CEO wasn’t kind enough to tell us who he was though
[Viktor, 5:01pm] Everyone’s asking what his favourite is and I had no idea cos I don’t even remember seeing him
[Viktor, 5:02pm] Though maybe he was in disguise
[Jayce, 5:03pm] I suppose it’s good for business though?
[Viktor, 5:04pm] Good for business, terrible for my leg
[Jayce, 5:05pm] Try to take care of yourself
He didn’t get a response, but he figured Viktor was probably dragged back into the fray.
—
[Jayce, 9:30pm] How’d the shift go?
[Viktor, 9:32pm] are you busy? I need a drink
[Viktor, 9:33pm] I only just locked the doors, people just would not leave but we’ve run out of pretty much everything and delivery isn’t until the morning
[Jayce, 9:35pm] I was just about to leave the office, actually. I can come by and pick you up.
[Viktor, 9:36pm] I know this great bar, it’s small and usually not busy
[Jayce, 9:37pm] Perfect. See you soon.
The bar was called The Last Drop, and was just on the other side of the bridge on the Zaun side. Hextech trams ran all night, so they took one to the stop only a five minute walk away. It seemed the bartender there was familiar with Viktor, greeting them warmly when they’d both arrived.
Viktor had looked pretty run ragged when Jayce knocked on the glass door of the café. Their hair had come loose from their usual style, there was a smudge of pen ink on their nose, and powdered sugar all over their apron.
Once removing the apron and opening the door, Viktor had said he’d be ready in a moment, he just couldn’t find his glasses. Jayce had chuckled and reached out, gently moving said glasses down from where they rested on top of his head, placing them back on his nose. They’d flushed and mumbled something in embarrassment.
The Last Drop was quiet, and the two of them settled into a corner table that offered a nice feeling of privacy. Jayce had expected Viktor to go for some sort of fruity mixed drink, since they liked sweet foods so much, but he’d returned to the table with a glass of dark, amber coloured alcohol that smelled quite bitter.
“Becherovka,” Viktor answered his unasked question. “It’s a traditional Zaun drink. Heavier than what I’d usually go for but it was a rough day.”
Jayce held up his own glass-–a classic old fashioned for him. “Well, cheers on a job well done, V.”
“Na zdravie,” Viktor smiled, raising his own glass to clink against Jayce’s. “Seriously, though, Talis has some…dedicated fans.”
Jayce sipped his drink to avoid making any kind of visible response.
“They all wanted to know what he liked,” they continued, sipping their own drink. “I’m like, I have absolutely no idea, I didn’t even know he’d been there. Jinx told us all to just push the special.”
“Well, the special is delicious,” Jayce smiled.
“So many people were taking pictures, probably posting them all over the internet,” Viktor leaned back against the plush seat, running a finger around the rim of their glass. “We’re going to be busy for a while, I’m sure. We’ve already got like ten reservations for tomorrow alone.”
“I thought you didn’t take reservations?”
“We’ve never had to,” Viktor laughed, taking another sip. “We might be able to actually afford more staff, though. That would be a huge help. But-–I could ramble about my day for hours, how was your day?”
“I could listen to you talk forever,” Jayce had said before he even thought about it. A gorgeous flush appeared over Viktor’s cheeks as they quickly looked down at their drink. “But, um, it was fine. Busy, lots of preparation for the unveiling next week.”
“Will you be at the event?”
“Probably.”
“I wish I could go,” Viktor sighed. “I always watch the livestreams, not that there’s been one for years. It’s just way too busy for me, I’d get trampled.”
Jayce swirled his drink, watching the ice move around the amber liquid. An image suddenly flashed across his mind, of him up at the podium to announce Hextech’s newest contribution, with Viktor there next to him. Business partners, both of them leading Hextech into bigger and better things, together.
“Do employees get special access?” Viktor asked, shaking him out of his thoughts.
“The ones directly responsible for whatever is being announced do,” Jayce said. “There’s too many of us for us all to have special access, though, you know?”
“Ah, I suppose that makes sense.”
“There’s always a viewing party in the office, though,” he continued. “Food, drink, a good time for those who couldn’t attend or don’t want to.”
“Urgh, Hextech sounds like such a great place to work,” Viktor finished their drink. “I’m so jealous.”
“Hey, your ideas are great, V,” Jayce smiled. “Hextech would be lucky to have you.”
“I’m just-–you know what I’m gonna do?” Viktor signalled the bartender for a second drink. “I’m gonna print out my resume and march myself up to the CEO’s office and staple it to his damn forehead.”
Jayce couldn’t help it when he laughed, almost choking on his drink. “I’ll drink to that,” he grinned, raising his glass.
Viktor raised his newly refilled glass, smiling brightly. “Cheers.”
“Na zdravie?” Jayce tried his best. The smile he received in return was stunning.
“Na zdravie.”
—
Viktor’s apartment was closest to the bar, so when the two of them finally left, laughing and giggling about things that definitely weren’t funny, Jayce accepted Viktor’s invitation.
They were walking hand-in-hand, which had just felt so right that Jayce didn’t even think to pull away when Viktor first laced their hands together. The night was cool, turning Viktor’s nose, cheeks, and the tips of his ears red; he’d gone even redder when Jayce had carefully draped his suit jacket over the smaller’s shoulders.
The apartment was on the first floor and probably about the size of Jayce’s living room, he noticed with a small pang of guilt. There was a kitchenette, a couch facing a TV that was surrounded by various gaming consoles. The bathroom seemed to be the only additional room with a door, as Viktor’s bed was pushed up against a corner opposite the kitchenette.
“You want another drink?” Viktor asked as he made his way over to the kitchenette. “I think I only have beer left.”
Jayce slipped his shoes off and left them next to Viktor’s by the door. “Honestly, I think just some water would be great.”
“Mmh, good call.”
They both settled on the couch next to each other, waters sitting on the coffee table, along with some pastries that Jayce recognised from the café.
“These are only one day old,” Viktor said. “Whatever doesn’t sell we bring home. Was really hoping we’d have some raspberry tarts left over but we didn’t have anything left over after today.”
“Was it just the three of you dealing with those crowds?”
“Unfortunately,” Viktor threw his legs across Jayce’s lap, relaxing as if this was something they did all the time. “Isha showed up at one point to help run orders, though. We’ve added folks to the schedule for tomorrow. Vi, Isha, Silco agreed to come in and help.”
“Silco?” Jayce asked, picking up his glass to take a drink.
“Jinx and Vi’s dad,” Viktor explained, picking at one of the pastries. “Silco funded the opening of the café. Vander is their other dad, he’s the bartender and owner of The Last Drop.”
Viktor offered a piece of the pastries to Jayce, who leaned forward and opened his mouth. Giggling, Viktor fed him the pastry, that adorable flush still visible on their face.
“Help me out of my leg brace?”
Jayce turned his attention down to Viktor’s leg. He’d never really seen the brace up close before, only in Viktor’s sketches and schematics. It was a beautiful piece of engineering, he thought, and the schematics had been clear enough that he knew exactly how to remove it.
Once it was placed carefully off to the side, Jayce found his hands gently massaging Viktor’s leg, helping to soothe any discomfort or stiffness. Viktor let out a small sound, somewhere between a sigh and a moan, and sunk down further into the couch.
“I’m almost glad that asshole yelled at me on the tram,” Viktor said, his voice low and just a tiny bit slurred. “Wouldn’t have met you otherwise.”
Jayce chuckled. “I guess some good came from it after all.”
Jayce moved his hands away when Viktor moved, bending their legs to scoot closer and wrap their arms around his neck, practically climbing up into Jayce’s lap. Jayce let his hands rest on Viktor’s small waist, their eyes meeting.
“I’m so glad I met you,” Viktor said, their eyes flickering down to Jayce’s lips before moving back up. “You’re just…incredible, Jayce.”
“You’re the incredible one, V,” he chuckled, leaning in ever so slightly closer. “You’re beautiful.”
“Mmh,” they smiled. “Say more.”
“Beautiful, intelligent, gorgeous,” Jayce smiled. “Stunning.”
Anything else he might have had to say was cut off when the two finally met in a kiss, though he was unsure who leaned in first. Viktor’s lips were chapped but still soft, moving so wonderfully against his own, fingers playing with his hair, running over his beard, keeping him close.
When they parted, Viktor’s eyes were sparkling, a small, pleased smile on their lips.
Jayce felt a pang of guilt stab through him. He still hadn’t told Viktor his true identity, and the thought of saying anything in that moment terrified him. He didn’t want to lose this.
“I like you a lot, Jayce,” Viktor said softly.
“What a coincidence,” Jayce grinned, moving closer and leaning over Viktor, pressing them down to the couch. “I like you a lot too, Viktor.”
Jayce kept a steady hand on Viktor’s hip, his other behind their back for support and he leaned down to kiss them again. Viktor giggled into the kiss, muttering something in a language Jayce didn’t understand.
He’d tell Viktor the truth eventually.
Just…not right now.
Chapter Text
Jayce had to admit, the club was…classy.
Everything was dark oak and deep, rich reds, the seats were comfortable and the drinks were strong. There was classical music playing over some speakers, but there was also a stage set up for live performances.
The only real indication that there was something else going on beneath the surface was how little all of the servers wore and how they didn’t seem to mind being ogled. There was a strict no touching rule, signs plastered on the walls in regular intervals.
The serving staff and managers flitting around all knew who Jayce was. He wondered if the directors had name dropped him to reserve the entire club, and the servers were laying it on thick with the flirting.
“I’m telling you, this performer is great,” Hoskel was saying. Jayce wasn’t really listening, just watching the ice melt in his drink. “Beautiful, her voice sounds wonderful, and sometimes she does crowd work and it’s, urgh, I wish she had a price.”
Jayce felt sick listening to his own employees talk this way-–his directors who had whole teams of people reporting to them daily. Though, he was starting to see the cracks all throughout Hextech ever since he met Viktor.
The lights dimmed slightly as a spotlight illuminated the stage. There was some cheering and wolf-whistles, and Jayce just sank further into his seat, lifting his glass in a motion to the barman that he wanted another.
The descriptions that the directors had given did not do justice to the absolute vision that took the stage. The dress hugged their body distractingly, highlighting the curves, a slit up the skirt on the left side. The dress shimmered in the spotlight, dark, deep red with gold adornments–-Jayce wondered briefly if the dress choice was because of his presence there that night, as they were very much House Talis colours.
The waist of the dress was lace, giving a tantalising peek at creamy skin underneath, the sparkly fabric resuming to drape elegantly over the singer’s chest, sleeveless and high-necked. Soft looking opera gloves reached up past their elbows.
But Jayce was focused on the singer’s face. Long, curly brown and blonde hair that fell loosely about their shoulders, make up that perfectly matched their dress, and sparkling golden eyes that seemed to immediately pick out Jayce in the crowd.
Viktor.
It was Viktor.
They were singing, swaying to the music, their movements fluid and seductive, his voice hypnotic. His singing voice was higher pitched than his speaking voice, and his accent didn’t come out as strongly. Jayce wondered if that was all part of this persona.
“Isn’t she great?”
“He/They,” Jayce corrected without even thinking about it. Hoskel just raised an eyebrow, Jayce clearing his throat. “Uh–-I don’t think they’re a ‘she’. But yes, they’re…good.”
Viktor’s eyes kept coming back to land on Jayce, who had drained his new drink in record time.
The second song started up and this time Viktor was coming down from the stage, playfully flirting as he flitted between the tables. The way he moved mostly covered his limp, and the dress hid the leg Jayce knew was bound by his brace.
The Directors he sat with wolf-whistled and cheered when Viktor finally approached their table, still singing into the microphone he held. This song wasn’t in a language Jayce understood, but the teasing, sultry tone wasn’t lost on him.
Viktor turned from the Directors ogling him to look at Jayce, moving over to stand in front of him. Their hips swayed, Viktor leaned closer and kneeled against the seat with his bad leg, now practically hovering over Jayce’s lap, his left hand leaning against the back of the seat. Jayce felt pinned in place.
The song ended and there was applause, but all Jayce could focus on was Viktor. He couldn’t discern the expression on Viktor’s face-–was he angry? Annoyed or irritated, upon finally finding out that Jayce had been lying all this time?
A sweet, innocent smile graced Viktor’s lips. They moved the microphone away and leaned in even closer, Jayce’s grip on the chair arms tightening. Viktor was hovering over him, so close, as close as they could be without touching.
“Such an honour to finally meet you, Jayce Talis.”
Viktor pushed away from him, turning away and making his way back to the stage, moving on to the next song.
Jayce still felt completely frozen in place. His heart was racing, his face was burning, and his trousers felt uncomfortably tight. One of the directors laughed and clapped a hand on his shoulder, making some comment about how much of a lucky bastard he was.
—
After Viktor’s performance was over, Jayce excused himself, claiming to need some fresh air. He stepped out of a side door into the cool, dark night, taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves.
He leaned back against the brick wall, running a hand through his hair. Viktor hadn’t acknowledged him for the rest of the show, and Jayce had probably drained three more drinks and he was feeling much less than sober.
As if Jayce didn’t daydream (and actually dream) about Viktor enough already, now he had even more material to picture in his head in the middle of the night.
A door somewhere to his right opened and then closed, footsteps getting closer.
“What are you doing out here?”
It was Viktor. He’d cleaned the make up off his face, his hair was pulled back, and he had changed into an oversized hoodie and some skinny jeans. He had his messenger bag slung over his shoulders and his glasses back in place.
“Viktor,” Jayce turned to him. “I, uh, I wanted to apologise-–”
“For what?” Viktor tilted their head, raising an eyebrow.
“Y-you know-–”
“Keeping your true identity from me for the last three months?” Viktor provided. “Lying to me? Kissing me and making me think we could maybe be something, but then showing up at a sex club with Hextech’s management team?”
Jayce couldn’t find his voice to respond, instead just looking at the ground, feeling something like a scolded dog.
There was a long silence before Viktor sighed and moved closer to stand in front of Jayce. The handle of their cane came up to hook under Jayce’s chin, tilting his head to meet their eyes.
“It’s okay, Jayce.”
“You’re…not angry?”
“I was, for a moment,” Viktor replied, lowering the cane back down. “Especially considering the amount of embarrassing bullshit I’ve now admitted to the CEO of fucking Hextech.”
“Bullshit? Vik-–”
“And I’ve had my tongue down the throat of the person I wanted to be my boss one day. But,” they fixed him with a look, silently commanding him to keep quiet. “I understand you must have had your reasons. So, before I made any rash decisions, I was hoping to hear you explain your deception to me.”
Viktor looked at him, expectantly, as Jayce tried to get his thoughts together.
“People don’t want to know me,” he started. “They want to know ‘The Man of Progress,’ the face of Hextech, all that…outward, polished, fake version of me. I get surrounded at events and I’m constantly turning people down, because they don’t want me. They’re interested in my money, or my influence, all that…bullshit.”
Viktor remained quiet.
“When we first talked I genuinely didn’t think I’d run into you again,” Jayce continued. “I was just trying to help, and trying to keep that asshole from assaulting you. When I found the café, and we talked and I just confirmed that you didn’t recognise me, it was…it was genuine, in a way I haven’t had for…ages.”
Viktor stepped closer, meeting Jayce’s eyes.
“I wanted to make you like me—just Jayce, with no expectations or pressure or worries that I was just going to get used again,” Jayce said. “And…I would tell you the truth once I was sure. I was going to tell you when we kissed, b-but I…”
“Jayce,” a gentle hand lay on Jayce’s chest.
Jayce heard Viktor’s cane clatter to the ground, but was distracted by the press of their lips against his. He wrapped his arms around their waist to keep them close and supported, one kiss becoming two, then three, and he stopped counting after five.
“You weren’t the only one to keep something hidden,” Viktor murmured against his lips, Jayce not wanting to ever stop kissing them.
“Mmh, you work in a sex club?” Jayce asked, trailing his kisses down Viktor’s throat.
“Performer only,” Viktor replied, the breathiness in his voice doing something heavy to Jayce’s brain, his soft kisses becoming sharp nips. “I d-don’t–a-ah–I don’t take clients.”
“How close is your home?” Viktor asked.
“Just over the bridge.”
“Take me there.”