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Chapter Text

Viktor could barely keep his head propped up on his arm as he listened to Mrs. Ramsey droll on about physics. Normally, he would be more than engaged in lively discussions, but between school work, his assistant job, and now his newly picked up part-time job across the bridge, Viktor felt like he barely had any time to sleep.

“But that’s enough for today’s lesson,” said Mrs. Ramsey as she firmly closed her book, thus shocking Viktor awake. “I’m sure everyone is dying to know how they did on their test last week.”

The room was suddenly abuzz with chatter and noise as Mrs. Ramsey walked around with a stack of papers in her arms. As she passed each test out, a subsequent student either groaned at the score or merely nodded as they saw that they had passed. Viktor vaguely remembered the contents of the test, but what he remembers most is staying up all night to study for it the day before. He hoped his efforts were worth it as Mrs. Ramsey passed by his desk.

“Great work as always, Viktor,” she said with a small smile, placing his test face down on his table. Viktor carefully lifted the paper by its corner, taking a look at the red ink that was written underneath: 98 out of 100. Viktor's mouth quirked into a smile, before it was swiftly wiped away by the commotion occurring at the desk in front of him.

“And as usual, top of the class, Talis,” Mrs. Ramsey said as she gingerly handed the last test, face-up so Viktor could plainly see the score written in the corner: 99 out of 100.

“Woot-woot! Let’s go, class prez!” whooped the boy in the next seat over, jumping onto the broad shoulders of said ‘top of the class’ student. And that student was none other than Jayce Talis, revered Golden Boy of River Pilt High. Viktor just rolled his eyes.

“Ah, I knew I got that explanation wrong,” muttered Jayce, looking at the question he got incorrect on the test. Viktor couldn’t help but smirk, knowing that he got that question right. 0 Jayce,1 Viktor, he tallied in his mind. Though he supposed it didn’t matter, since Jayce still beat him by one point (but at least he didn’t get a perfect score, Viktor’s pride would be ruined otherwise).

As the bell rang, signifying the end of the class and the end of the day, Mrs. Ramsey called out, “Alright, next week we’ll be getting into pairs for the next assignment, which will be a project!” There was another chorus of groans as students left the classroom and into the halls, eager to leave campus as soon as possible.

And Viktor was just as eager, grabbing his bag and his cane, since he needed to make it across town to his new job.

“Ah— Viktor, wait—!” came a voice, belonging to none other than Jayce Talis, who for some reason was calling out to him. Viktor turned and his amber eyes briefly met Jayce’s hazel ones, as the taller boy pushed through the crowd to get to him. “Sorry, I just wanted to know what you got on Ramsey’s test.”

Viktor pouted. “Why? So you could brag to my face that you got the highest score again?” he said with as much venom in his tone as he could muster.

Jayce frowned for a moment before flashing a small smile. “No— I just got the theorem explanation wrong on question 6 and was wondering if you could explain it for me—”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to tutor you, Talis. Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

“Well, the Automatons don’t start practice ‘til next week, so I thought we could—”

“That was a rhetorical question.”

Viktor continued down the hall as Jayce stopped in his tracks, looking dumbfounded as Viktor glanced over his shoulder. He had to admit, a part of him felt bad, but Viktor had no place in Jayce’s world, a world full of popularity and grandeur. Even as a junior in high school, Viktor knew he had to stay focused if he wanted to get into Piltover Academy. Even if that meant leaving Golden Boy Jayce Talis behind, just as he did right now.

“W-well, see you on Monday, V!” Jayce called out for the final time, leaving a pang in Viktor’s chest to hear that accursed nickname again.

“Is a certain Golden Boy bothering you?” came a voice that slid next to him, making Viktor flinch. He whipped around and immediately felt relief as he saw who it was.

“Sky, thank god you’re here…” he said with a sigh. 

Sky just chuckled beside him. “I knew I had to swoop in before Talis gave you another migraine.”

“He’s just like one; loudly ringing in my ears, always a throbbing pain in my skull, and I can’t seem to get rid of him.”

It was Sky’s turn to flash a small frown. “Y’know, you two were attached to the hip our freshman year, and now you avoid him like the plague. I get that you're mad, but shouldn't you try to—?”

Viktor stopped in the middle of the hallway, causing Sky and several other students to bump into each other at the sudden standstill. “Please, I do not want to hear another word about Talis for the rest of the day. Could you honor that for me at the very least?”

His friend just sighed. “Fine. I’ll bother you about something else: There’s a meeting for the Robotics Club today,” she said plainly.

Now that was cause for Viktor to look sheepish. “Shit… Is that today?”

“I just said it was.”

“I know, I know…” Viktor pinched at the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry Sky, but until I get my schedule sorted out at work, I won’t be able to attend any meetings.”

“But you’re the team captain, we need your expertise on this stuff!” Sky protested. “We have two new freshmen— very promising, mind you— but they lack guidance. I can only do so much before they start blowing up the lab.”

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” Viktor replied, squeezing his cane tightly in frustration. How much had he lost track of the past few days? School was barely a few weeks in, and it already felt like everything was falling apart. “You are my co-captain. I trust you to lead the team while I’m away.” 

Sky relented, heaving a sigh as she did so. “Fine. I’m just glad Claggor and Mylo seem to know the two newbies— Powder and Ekko, I think? But if they get too rowdy, you are paying for any campus or equipment damages, Mr. I-need-another-part-time-job.”

Viktor laughed, hoping to relieve some of the tension he was starting to feel in his bones. “Right, of course. Well, I’ll see you on Monday, Sky.”

She waved one last goodbye as she walked over to her school bus, the two of them now having made it to the front of the school. Viktor still had a bit more walking to do, since he needed to take the city bus out of Piltover and into Zaun just across the bridge. He would walk over to work, since River Pilt High was not too far from the city of Zaun itself (the high school was built just on the banks of the River Pilt, hence the name), but given his bad knee, any more walking could cause some unwanted strain on himself. Plus, he might as well take advantage of his bus pass.

As he rode the bus across the bridge, watching the sun shine above the coast on both sides, Viktor idly thought about Jayce. Just like a migraine, Viktor thought, always on my mind… 

Since starting their junior year, Jayce has seemed to make a conscious effort to annoy the hell out of Viktor. They shared most classes together, much to Viktor’s dismay, which meant he couldn’t possibly avoid the boy even if he wanted to.

Not that he could even if he wasn’t in any of his classes. For some reason, their high school student body started worshipping Jayce; the nickname 'Golden Boy' was no joke. Every other poster around campus had his face on it, his dumb, smug face. Viktor half-contemplated ripping them down, but he knew only more would be put in his place, like some conceited poster-hydra.

Jayce and Viktor were just not the same. Even if they were 'attached to the hip' during their freshman year as Sky mentioned, it definitely did not hold true anymore. Not since the year prior. But that was an old wound that Viktor didn’t want to fester on anymore, and luckily he was torn away from such thoughts as the bus arrived at its stop. Viktor leapt off with a wave goodbye to the bus driver and walked down to his new workplace: the Book & Cranny.

The bell by the door rang as Viktor swung it open. “Welcome to the— oh, it’s just you,” came a booming voice from behind the counter. 

“Hope I’m not late, Benzo,” said Viktor solemnly, round the corner of the counter and placing his belongings on the shelf.

“Ack, don’t cha’ worry about that, boy,” Benzo said as he slapped his hand on Viktor’s shoulder, causing the smaller boy to recoil a bit. “ ‘m just glad you can make the time to help out an old man like me, unlike a certain someone.” Benzo gestured to a picture frame hidden underneath the counter; it was of him and a younger boy smiling brightly at the camera. 

A name suddenly popped into mind. “Ah yes, Ekko, right? He joined our robotics club on campus.”

Benzo chortled, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty bookstore. “Aye, that does sound like my boy. You’re a part of that too, right?”

And now an opportunity made itself known. “Yes, and about that— See, every Friday, the Robotics Club has a meeting and as its team captain, I would need to attend to my duties—”

“Woah woah, hold on now, boy—” Benzo interrupted, cutting off Viktor’s rambling. “I see what you’re askin’ for, and I feel for ya, I really do, but I’m afraid I can’t give you Fridays off. It’s the busiest day for us with all the students comin’ by for books and study sessions ‘n such. I need an extra set of hands around the store, is what I’m sayin’.”

Viktor’s shoulders slumped, disappointed yet understanding. He just felt bad for letting his team down. The Robotics Club was his baby, something he started, he and—

No. No more thinking about him, he told himself. Viktor just dropped the subject entirely and got started with work, stocking shelves and helping out the occasional customer when needed.

And Benzo was right, Friday was the busiest day of the week for them. Viktor had only been working for a few days in the week and this was his first Friday, so the difference was staggering. While Book & Cranny was a smaller bookstore, there were a few tables up front where students and other customers could gather and work. And even though they had meager food and drink options, it was still enough to entice customers to stay longer. Viktor found himself cleaning tables and taking orders, something he didn’t realize he would be doing as part of his bookstore job.

Though Viktor supposed he couldn’t be too mad. It was nice to see a local bookstore have so much traffic. Benzo mentioned that a new book in a popular fantasy romance series just dropped today, which explained an extra influx of customers pouring in to buy a copy. Viktor had never heard of the series before, but if so many people were begging for a copy, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to read it.

By the time the day was almost over, Viktor was slumped over the counter, slowly nodding off as his eyelids threatened to droop closed. Then, the door swung open and the bell rang, snapping Viktor awake.

“Sorry, we’re closed— Oh! There ya are, my boy, thought you weren’t going to make it!” Benzo chuckled.

“I got a bit side tracked, but you know me, I wouldn’t miss this newest installment for anything,” came a preppy voice.

A preppy voice? Oh no.

Before he could fully register who walked in, Viktor immediately got up from the counter and ducked behind a bookshelf, earning him a confused side eye from Benzo. “Well, I saved the last limited edition hard copy for you, though other folks were clamorin’ for it,” Benzo said as the customer walked up to the counter.

From his position behind the bookshelf, Viktor could see the customer’s face from the side, and he felt his stomach dropped to the floor.

It was Jayce Talis.

Viktor swore that boy was stalking him at this point, but then he did a double take. Jayce was not wearing the same clothes as he did early today (not that Viktor was keeping track, of course, but it was vastly different). He was wearing some oversized sweater and beanie to match, even when it was barely brisk outside. He also had on these large glasses, which Viktor wasn’t even sure if they were prescription. 

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that, Benzo,” Jayce replied, a small smile inching across his face.

“Bah, it’s the least I could do for a regular.” Benzo reached under the counter and revealed a book, the very same book that other customers were buying in droves the whole day. Odd, Viktor thought, because he could’ve sworn the main audience for that book were teenage girls. 

Jayce’s eyes brightened upon seeing the book, and his smile grew wider, causing Viktor’s stomach to do an unnecessary amount of flips. “Oh, and did that comic I was asking about get back in stock…?” he asked.

“‘The Valorant Protocol?’ Yup! It’s just on the shelf over there.” 

Benzo gestured further down the aisle, and Viktor had to quickly scamper out of sight as Jayce started to walk through the bookshelves, clearly familiar with the store. Just how often did Jayce visit this place? Why hadn’t it come up when the two of them were still friends? And why the hell was Jayce dressed like that?

He watched methodically as Jayce picked up a comic off the shelf, then he sauntered over to the corner where the store kept all its board game merchandise, taking something off its hook before walking back to the front counter.

“Another set of dice? Don’t cha’ have enough of these already?” Benzo asked with a laugh as he began ringing Jayce up.

“Yeah well, I’m starting up a new D&D campaign soon with some friends, and one of them didn’t have their own set so I decided to pick one up for them,” Jayce explained with a twinkle in his eye, the same sort of twinkle Viktor saw whenever Jayce talks about something he’s passionate about.

“Glad to hear it then. You have a great rest of the night, ya hear?”

“Thanks, and to you as well, Benzo!” Jayce waved the store owner goodbye before heading out, the bell ringing above the door signaling his departure. Viktor still couldn’t believe what he saw, his head still peering through an open gap in the shelf and watching through the front window as Jayce walked down the street.

Benzo looked over to where Viktor was perched between the shelves. “What is it then, kid? Do ya have a crush on the boy?” he asked innocently enough.

“What? No—! ” Viktor recoiled upwards, knocking his head straight into the shelf above him and causing a few books to fall to the floor. “He’s— I mean— I just know him from school, that’s all…” Viktor mused for a bit, remembering that Benzo had called Jayce ‘a regular.’ “Does Jay— he come here often?”

“Since he was a young lad, yes. Would often come here with his father— when he was still around, of course.”

It was an off-handed comment to Benzo, something that was so normal to him that he said it without even a second glance. But to Viktor, it left a sharp pang in his chest. Jayce adored his father, this much Viktor knew from how Jayce spoke of him, but it wasn’t often. Just how much was Jayce hiding from him this whole time? Maybe they weren’t as close as he thought they were.

“Enough of that— clean up your mess, boy!” Benzo scolded, and Viktor scurried off to pick up the books that scattered on the floor. As he helped Benzo close up shop for the day, Viktor processed all the information he gathered from that last encounter.

Fact 1: Jayce is seemingly a big fan of a fantasy romance series that is popular among teenage girls. Viktor might have to do more research on the specifics of this series to see how it’s telling about Jayce’s character.

Fact 2: Jayce plays Dungeons & Dragons, which is another piece of fantasy media that ties back to Fact 1. While this fact doesn’t hold much weight on its own, this and Fact 1 help Viktor to understand—

Fact 3: Jayce wore an extremely different wardrobe to the Book & Cranny, an outfit he did not wear earlier that day and that he seemingly prepared in anticipation for arriving at the bookstore. But why? Benzo made it seem like he was waiting for Jayce, expecting him to arrive earlier in the day. Early enough for other customers to see him, perhaps— and not just any other customers, other students. 

It all started to click for Viktor.

Jayce wore a different outfit to disguise himself from other River Pilt High students, who wouldn’t recognize the Golden Boy without his styled hair, broad shoulders, and varsity hockey jacket. He disguised himself so that he could purchase a copy of a popular fantasy romance book alongside some accessories for a particularly nerdy tabletop game without being recognized. And by doing so, he protects the reputation he has of being the most perfect student in all of River Pilt High! That’s when Viktor finally came to his conclusion:

Jayce Talis is a loser.

Chapter Text

Jayce could feel his heart racing as Mrs. Ramsey walked along the aisles of desks and passed out last week’s test. He remembered studying like a madman for that test and almost missed out on varsity team tryouts in doing so. And now all that was left is to see if his plans would bear fruit.

“Great work as always, Viktor,” he heard the teacher say as she dropped off a test at the desk behind him. His heart fluttered at the thought, wondering what score Viktor got as Mrs. Ramsey approached him next.

“And as usual, top of the class, Talis,” she said with a pleased smile as Jayce received his test; right at the very top of the paper read, in bold red ink: 99 out of 100. 

Jayce grinned. His plan was now in motion.

“Ah, I knew I got that explanation wrong,” said Jayce as loud as he could, feigning stupidity in doing so, hoping to catch the attention of a certain student sitting behind him. From the corner of his eye, he could see a cool smirk cross Viktor’s lips. Hook, line, and sinker.

The final bell rang around campus, and as students were leaving class, Jayce overheard Mrs. Ramsey mention something about a partner project starting next week, which got him excited. The odds of the two smartest students in class getting paired up for a class project were slim, but Jayce could only hope. However, his sole focus now was on chasing Viktor down the hall (you’d think with a bad leg it would be easier to catch up to him, but Viktor was a deceptively slippery guy).

“Ah— Viktor, wait—!” he called out among the crowd of bustling students, eager to get off campus for the weekend as soon as possible. Viktor, surprisingly, turned around to address Jayce, his amber eyes briefly meeting Jayce’s hazel ones. Composure, Jayce, he thought to himself, Stick to the plan. “Sorry, I just wanted to know what you got on Ramsey’s test,” he said with a cheeky smile.

Viktor's lips pulled into a frown. “Why? So you could brag to my face that you got the highest score again?” he said with such an accusing tone that it felt like the very words themselves stabbed into Jayce’s chest.

Jayce scowled at his tone before remembering The Plan, adjusting himself to flash another polite smile. “No— I just got the theorem explanation wrong on question 6 and was wondering if you could explain it for me—”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to tutor you, Talis. Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

Odd, this is not the outcome I expected. “Well, the Automatons don’t start practice ‘til next week, so I thought we could—”

“That was a rhetorical question.”

Ah. Jayce was never immune to Viktor’s sarcastic remarks, and he falls for it every single time.

The boy merely dismissed him and continued down the hall, leaving Jayce behind. There was no point in chasing him down, Jayce reasoned, and it would likely spell worse results for his Plan if he did.

“W-well, see you on Monday, V!” Jayce called out one last time, adding that nickname at the end to hopefully punctuate the end of their interaction (Viktor had a soft spot for that name, Jayce noted). 

He sighed, whipping out a small notebook from his back pocket to add another entry. “Attempt #17 — ask for help on a test, unsuccessful…” he muttered aloud, scribbling the words onto paper. “New partner project in Ramsey’s, next attempt perhaps?” he continued narrating.

“Earth to dumbass,” came a husky voice next to him, causing Jayce to jump at the noise. “Woah, watch it big guy! Cait, I think his head’s up in the clouds again.”

“And he’s narrating. C’mon now, Bramble, maybe don’t wax poetic in the middle of the hallway?”

Before Jayce could protest or even process what was going on, two pairs of arms ushered him out of the hallway and into the open quad, where it was much less cramped and crowded. He took note of the two heads who brought him here, bright pink and a deep blue, and Jayce rolled his eyes. “Alright now ladies, maybe ask before you whisk me away from my musings?” he said sarcastically.

Vi scoffed. “Shakespeare over here.”

“Y’know, for someone so concerned about his image, you love to make a fool of yourself in public,” scolded Caitlyn next to her, lightly punching the side of Jayce’s arm.

“I take it your plan to woo Mr. Robot didn’t work, again?” Vi asked with a smirk.

“First off, I am not trying to woo him, and secondly,” Jayce turned to Caitlyn disapprovingly, “did you tell your girlfriend about my plan?” Caitlyn flushed, having been caught red-handed, and raised her hands up in defense. “Ugh, Sprout. That was supposed to be a secret.”

“Not much of a secret if you keep mumbling about it in public,” Vi noted, then she swiftly snatched Jayce’s pocketbook out of his hands, turning the pages with her fingers.

“Wha— Hey!” Jayce protested.

“Let’s see here…” Vi mused, reading through each page of the pocketbook like it was some scandalous document. “‘Attempt #15, spill milk on V’s shirt — unsuccessful, ‘Attempt #10, ask V if he wants a ride home — unsuccessful,’ ‘Attempt #6, trip in front of V — unsuccessful’— Wow, you must be really obsessed with this guy, huh?” Vi grinned.

Jayce felt his face get warmer and warmer with each entry the girl read. “Violet, that is really private, and you shouldn’t be reading it out loud—”

“Woah, government name!” Vi laughed mockingly. “But I’m having so much fun reading it, Jay!”

“Vi, that’s enough,” Caitlyn scolded, now feeling bad for teasing Jayce so much.

“Hold on, cupcake, I’m getting to the good part—” Vi turned to another page and continued to read, except now her face contorted into that of confusion. “‘Dee and dee campaign ideas?’ What does that mean?”

Vi had finally stopped long enough for Jayce to grab his pocketbook and hold it high up out of reach. “It’s D&D, Dungeons & Dragons,” Jayce replied, exasperated and thoroughly embarrassed. “It’s a game where— y’know what, it doesn’t matter. Someone needs to teach you some manners, young lady,” Jayce teased, lightly smacking the top of Vi’s head with his pocketbook.

“Unfortunately, manners don’t come as naturally to some people,” added Caitlyn with a loving smile. “D&D? You’re thinking of playing again?”

“A-ah, no, well—” Jayce stammered; this was not the direction he thought this conversation was going. “I doubt I have time for it anyway, plus I don’t know if anyone else would be interested—”

“I’ve heard of that game before— Little Man said he’s always wanted us to play it,” Vi commented, having a surprising amount of interest in Jayce’s quote unquote ‘nerd shit’ (Vi’s words, not his).

Jayce’s spirits started to lift at the notion after having been beat down relentlessly by the two younger girls. “W-well, if we get enough people, maybe…”

“Could I join, too? It’ll be just like old times with your dad!” Caitlyn said with a bright twinkle in her eyes. Jayce’s heart ached at the mention of his father, but it did bring back fond memories of a young Jayce and Caitlyn playing make-believe and rolling dice with Jayce’s parents. 

“Yeah, that could be fun,” he said with a soft smile, their past squabble now forgotten. Then, Jayce remembered something. “Anyways, I have somewhere else to be if you ladies don’t mind,” he excused himself.

“Off to execute your ‘plan,’ I assume?” Caitlyn asked with a grin.

“Remind me to never tell you a secret ever again, you traitor.”

“Oh, you love me for it.” 

Jayce merely returned the smug gesture before wishing the couple a farewell. Just how did I get tangled up in those two? Jayce asked himself. He was grateful for them, though. Truly. They were perhaps the only real friends he had left at this school, besides other ‘friends’ who like to plaster themselves all over him due to his popularity. How did that happen again? Oh right.

It was technically all Jayce’s fault anyway. Everything he's been trying to do this year, his Plan, is really his way of making it up to Viktor for what he did. Sure, maybe there’s a bit of a selfish reason in there too; he missed Viktor’s company. It just goes to show that being at the top of the school hierarchy doesn't mean anything if you lose your closest friends along the way.

Thinking about Viktor must’ve caused Jayce’s body to move on its own, because he later found himself standing in an empty hallway, just in front of a door that led into a familiar room. And there was a very loud commotion coming out of said familiar room.

“Safety procedures, you guys! Mylo, you can’t just—” the smell of an open gas line started wafting in the air, “— turn on the gas like that! What if a spark goes off and causes the whole room to explode?!”

“Thank god, then we can finally take down the establishment,” came a nasally voice, followed by a deep chuckle.

“You guys are not good role models.”

“You’re only realizing that now?”

Jayce took that as his cue to open the door and step into the room, not realizing the chaos he was walking into. A skinny boy was sitting smugly atop one of the lab desks, his hands suspiciously hovering over the attached gas line. A huskier boy (Claggor, Jayce realized, one of his teammates on the hockey team), was leaning against the table next to him, his arm crossed as he watched two younger students chase each other around the lab. He recognized the kids, one of them was Benzo’s kid Ekko, and the other was Vi’s little sister Powder. 

Meanwhile, a girl stood at the front of the lab, one hand resting on her hip and the other pinching the bridge of her nose. She immediately perked up once Jayce entered the lab. “H-hey, welcome to the—! Oh.” Her face dropped as soon as her eyes landed on Jayce’s sheepish smile. 

“Uh, h-hey Sky…!” Jayce said with a nervous chuckle. “Is, um, Vik—?”

“No, he’s not,” was Sky’s curt response.

“Oh. So do you know where—?”

“Yes, but I won’t tell you.”

“Oh, okay.” Jayce stood idly in the doorway after being shot down by Sky, who only glared at him with a cocked eyebrow. Maybe he should give his Plan a break for today. The chaos did not cease, however, and now the skinny kid — Mylo, if Jayce remembered correctly — was chasing the two younger kids around the room. “Did you need help with the club?”

Sky’s expression softened into one of surprise, before bringing a hand to her chin in thought. “Well, I mean, I guess you are one of the co-founders…” Jayce heard Sky mutter to herself. “Y-yes, I would actually appreciate a little bit of help here.”

Jayce smiled. He did miss the Robotics Club— a lot , actually. In fact, he and Viktor met through this club. Upon seeing that ‘robotics’ was not named on the extracurricular list, Jayce waltzed over to the Student Clubs Office to start it himself. Little did he know that a Zaunite boy in his year was thinking the same thing, and boom, the two founded the Robotics Club on campus. 

Back then, it was a small club: just him, Viktor, and Viktor’s friend Sky. No one thought they could do it, but their team actually made it to the quarterfinals of the Runeterra Doom Bots Competition the year it was founded. They made it that far with just the three of them. Then the next year, their team actually made it to finals and—

Jayce stopped his line of thinking right there. His eyes glanced over to a gold trophy in the corner of the lab, safely displayed behind a glass door.

“Earth to Golden Boy,” came Sky’s voice (wow, if Jayce had a nickel for everytime a girl called him out today…), “you were in the middle of a demonstration?”

“O-oh, right— sorry,” stuttered Jayce, just remembering he was in the middle of a very important lab safety discussion.

“Another note, you guys,” Sky butted in, “always remember to be focused and stay on task while you’re working,” she jabbed. The other kids laughed, and Sky looked back up at Jayce with a teasing smirk. That was all Jayce needed to see to know there were no hard feelings between them.

Jayce continued helping out around the club; teaching more guidelines and procedures to the new members, helping Sky take inventory of what supplies they had, and even exchanged stories of when he was in the Robotics Club.

“So, why did you leave the club exactly?” Ekko asked innocently enough, though both Jayce and Sky knew it was a complicated answer.

“Ah, well, unfortunately hockey practice conflicts with club meetings.” Normally that excuse would be more than enough, but then—

“Isn’t Claggor also on the hockey team?” asked Mylo with an accusatory glare. The group turned to look at the quiet boy, who shrugged and turned their attention back on Jayce. Jayce could feel himself start to sweat under his varsity jacket.

“Y-yeah, that’s true,” Jayce stammered, “I guess I could technically still participate since hockey practice starts after the club meeting, but—” The truth is, Viktor doesn’t want me back, was what Jayce wanted to say, but Sky quickly intervened.

“Welp! I think that’s all the time we have left in the lab. Great work today guys, I’ll see you all next week!” The other kids looked at each other, confused, but didn’t push any further. As they started cleaning up and gathering their things, Sky approached Jayce.

“Thanks for that, Sky,” Jayce said softly. “You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Never thought I would see the Golden Boy himself look so nervous,” Sky remarked. ‘Golden Boy’, Jayce thought, I’m starting to get really tired of that nickname… “But it’s fine. The past is in the past, water under the bridge, y’know? Besides… I can tell that Viktor misses you at the club.”

“‘Misses me?’ Who, Viktor? There’s no way,” Jayce said with an all-too-pleased smile. He was quietly satisfied to know Viktor missed him, too.

“He won’t say it out loud, but I can tell it in the way he acts. He’s just so frazzled these days; he definitely needs a punching bag to take out his stress on.” Sky then mockingly punched Jayce’s arm (again, if Jayce had a nickel…). Jayce laughed alongside Sky. Though they weren’t really close even back in the day, he does miss this casual banter the robotics team had.

The club members waved their goodbyes, and Jayce had the pleasure of ushering Ekko and Powder to the front of the school to meet up with Vi and Caitlyn again. The couple looked surprised, obviously not expecting to see their friend again.

“Vi!” Powder shouted, running arms wide into her sister. Vi just greeted her by ruffling her blue hair. “Club was so fun today, and your friend Jayce was helping!”

“Really, is that so?” Vi said with a smirk. “What’s a lughead like you doing around the Robotics Club?”

“He was looking for someone, I think,” Powder wondered aloud, and Vi and Caitlyn shared a knowing glance before both turning to grin at Jayce. These girls…

“Hey Little Man, that reminds me,” Vi began. “Remember that game you were telling us about, Dee n’ Dee or something like that?”

Ekko gasped, a bright twinkle in his eyes. “Yes! What about it?”

“Well, pretty boy over here said we might play soon, so I thought you might wanna join us.” Vi gestured over to Jayce, and Ekko looked up to him in wonder.

“I’ve always wanted to play! Is it cool if I join you guys?” he asked excitedly.

Jayce couldn’t help but feel as overjoyed. “Of course! The more the merrier. How about you, Powder?” Jayce asked the other girl, not wanting her to feel left out.

“Sure! I don’t really know what the game is about, though…” she pouted.

“It’s all about making cool characters that beat up monsters,” said Vi animatedly, getting Powder amped up. “Kinda like our make-believe games when we were kids.”

“Except you do it with dice,” added Caitlyn, not wanting to be left out of the conversation.

“But I don’t have any dice,” said Powder with a small frown.

“That’s fine, I could probably get some for you when we play!” Jayce was already getting excited at the idea of playing D&D with some friends, though a part of him wanted someone else to play with them, too. Then, Jayce realized something and checked his watch. “Shoot— We’ll have to talk more about this later, but I gotta go!”

“What? Wait, Bramble—!”

“See you guys next week!” Jayce called out one last time before booking it to the student parking lot and getting in his car. Traffic shouldn’t be too bad, but he stayed at the Robotics Club way longer than expected. Hopefully he still had time to do what he needed to do that day.

As he drove through the streets of Piltover and crossed the bridge to get into Zaun, Jayce parked his car just around the corner from his destination: a local bookstore called the Book & Cranny. He and his dad had been going to this store since he was a kid, getting books and board games to take home to play as a family (and Caitlyn would often stop by, too). Even in his father’s passing, Jayce made sure to come by as often as he could, and today was no exception. 

He almost forgot, but the next installment in his current favorite series dropped this morning, and he wouldn’t want to wait out on reading it for even a single day. Though Jayce was eager to get into the bookstore as soon as possible, he still needed to take care of one last thing: his clothes.

It was a dumb and he knew it, but despite this, he followed through with it anyway, as he did every time he stopped by at the Book & Cranny. He’d been doing it for nearly a year at this point, and his body moved to prepare his peculiar habit. First, he took off his contacts and wore his old glasses. They were falling apart at the hinges and the lenses were covered in smudges, but it didn’t really matter. Next, he shrugged off his varsity jacket and threw on an oversized Valoran University sweater, once belonging to his dad. And finally, to top it all off, he put on a basic grey beaning to cover up his carefully styled hair. Looking at himself in the mirror, Jayce hoped he was unrecognizable.

It was dumb but Jayce did it every time. He felt like an idiot, but at the same time he didn’t know what he would do if he ever got caught doing something others perceived as ‘lame’ or ‘cringe.’ It was a sad notion, but Jayce folded easily to peer pressure.

With his outfit complete, Jayce made his way into the store, noticing it was empty of patrons through the front window. And at the counter, he could’ve sworn he saw a familiar swoop of brown hair.

“Sorry, we’re closed— Oh!” called out a voice from the counter, belonging to none other than the owner of the store, Benzo. “There ya are, my boy, thought you weren’t going to make it!”

“I got a bit side tracked, but you know me, I wouldn’t miss this newest installment for anything,” greeted Jayce with a grin.

The figure that was sitting next to Benzo got up and ducked into the bookshelves, too quick for Jayce to really catch what happened. He noticed that Benzo shot a curious glance in the figure’s direction, but turned his attention back to Jayce. “Well, I saved the last limited edition hard copy for you, though other folks were clamorin’ for it.” 

Jayce felt genuinely warmed at the fact that Benzo kept a copy just for him. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that, Benzo.” he replied with a small yet content smile.

“Bah, it’s the least I could do for a regular.” Benzo reached under the counter and revealed a book, The Ruined King: Rise of the Sentinels.

Jayce’s eyes brightened upon seeing the book, and his smile grew wider. Then, he remembered something Vi mentioned to him the other day. “Oh, and did that comic I was asking about get back in stock…?” he asked.

“‘The Valorant Protocol?’ Yup! It’s just on the shelf over there.” Benzo gestured further down the aisle to where all the comics were, and Jayce followed suit in that direction. 

Jayce doesn’t talk much about this book series he reads, since Caitlyn teases him relentlessly for liking a ‘girly book’ (but she just doesn’t get it). But when the topic of reading came up between the three of them, Vi seemed quite passionate about this comic series about powerful characters wielding magic or high-tech weapons. It piqued Jayce’s interest, and if Caitlyn were to keep dating Vi, he might as well be familiar with her passions.

As he took the comic off the shelf, he walked over to the board game section to pick up a new set of dice as well. Even if his whole Plan with Viktor wasn’t going so well, at least he had a D&D campaign to look forward to. Book, comic, and dice in hand, Jayce walked back to the counter and placed the items in front of Benzo (and for some odd reason, Jayce couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him). 

Jayce and Benzo made idle chatter as he paid for his things, then Jayce waved goodbye to Benzo as he left the store, a whole bag of goodies swinging from his arm. As Jayce drove home, he thought about the positives he could gather from today.

Positive 1: Jayce was going to be in a D&D campaign. That excited him, since he hadn’t really been able to play since his dad passed away. Plus, he wasn’t sure if anyone was really that interested, so for him to find a group so fast made him eager to come up with more ideas for their game. His schedule would be busy with college prep and hockey season starting soon, but he wanted to make time for it. He deserves to indulge in his nerdier passions, he reasoned.

Positive 2: Sky (and the Robotics Club as a whole) doesn’t hate him. It was a silent insecurity of his since the disaster that occurred in his sophomore year, though one not really rooted in any fact. The new members, those who joined after Jayce left, seem to not know anything about what happened, which was another positive in itself. And it was nice to know that Sky didn’t hold a grudge against him, either. Which led him to his last positive for the day.

Positive 3: Viktor missed him, which meant the feeling was mutual. Viktor is normally crabby and prickly in nature, so Jayce often had a hard time really understanding his feelings or emotions. So it was nice to hear from Sky that yes, Viktor missed being friends with Jayce as much as he did. That only emboldened him even further to continue with his Plan. By the end of this school year, Jayce wanted one thing more than anything:

Viktor will be his friend again.

Chapter Text

As the weekend settled in, Viktor once again took the bus across the city towards Piltover Academy. Normally, weekends were a break from the stresses of school and part-time jobs, but as his assistant, the Dean of Science specifically requested he show up. So Viktor rubbed his tired eyes as he watched a decent crowd of people, mostly kids around his age, walk up to campus with wonder in their eyes. It wasn’t until Viktor’s vision focused enough to catch a glimpse of the banners that were posted around the area that he understood: it was Open House Day on campus.

Having an open house in mid-September might be a bit too soon, but as the prestigious school that Piltover Academy is, any Academy-hopeful ought to prepare for applications and entrance exams as soon as possible. And Viktor was way ahead of the curve on that front; he was already preparing a whole year early. 

He watched as guided tours took place, clubs set up booths to rally interest, and current Academy students organized information for the attendees. Viktor managed to slip by a few Academy students, who might think he was attending the open house and badger him with flyers, and eventually he made his way to the Dean’s office.

The Dean of Science probably is the most revered person in Piltover. As head of the Council and one of the founders of the city, Cecil B. Heimerdinger was a name renowned throughout both Piltorver and Zaun. That is why it was such an honor to be his assistant… which was what Viktor thought at first. No, instead the yordle was often teetering between prodigal genius and mad scientist, a line that he crosses multiple times. In a way, it was an honor to watch him work, though some days Viktor was lucky to make it out of one of his lectures alive.

“Ah, Viktor, my boy! So glad you could make it,” Heimerdinger greeted as Viktor opened the door to his office.

“Apologies if I’m a bit late, professor, I didn’t realize there was an open house today,” Viktor explained calmly.

“Nonsense! A scientist arrives precisely when he means to,” the Dean replied in a cheerful tone. “I’m actually very glad you’re here; the open house would serve you well as someone interested in attending the Academy.”

“Really, how so?” Viktor questioned. In all honesty, Viktor felt he got enough of a taste of Academy life already. On days when he finished Heimerdinger’s tasks for him early, Viktor often walked around campus (as much as he could on account of his knee, of course). He’s sat in on lectures, helped grade exams, and attended a few formal events here and there with the Dean, so Viktor felt prepared enough for his future attendance.

“I know you might feel yourself well-equipped for the Academy already,” Heimerdinger began, already seeing straight through Viktor’s air of confidence, “but there’s an important aspect of Academy life that I think you’re missing.”

“And that is?”

“The social aspect!” 

Viktor immediately frowned at the Dean’s response. “I’m sorry professor, but I don’t see how the social aspect could be as important to the Academy as, well, the academic aspect.” 

“That is where you’re wrong, my boy,” Heimerdinger replied as he waggled his finger. “Alone, a scientist is capable of many things. But in collaboration, a scientist can accomplish them! The greatest minds of Piltover are not singular, they are a collection of creative innovators fostered by partnership.”

“‘Partnership…’” Viktor quietly echoed. He knew there was no point in arguing with Heimerdinger since he’s competing with decades of wisdom (and Viktor hated to admit that he was right most of the time), so instead he relented. “Alright, so what would you have me do today, professor?”

“I will be giving a presentation to a few of those interested in the College of Science, then afterwards, you will assist me in giving a tour of the campus!”

“A tour— But why me, professor?” he protested, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“Viktor,” said Heimerdinger with a soft tone, approaching the boy and clasping his hands around Viktor’s, “you are one of the most hardworking students I have ever had the honor of meeting. At your young age, I’m sure others in your age group will feel inspired to see your passion for the Academy. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to make some friends!” he ended on a cheery note.

On one hand, perhaps Viktor should feel grateful that Heimerdinger is looking out for him, albeit in his own, optimistic way. For the year he’s spent as his assistant, perhaps the Dean realized that Viktor tends to keep to himself. And he’ll admit, it feels good to be recognized by someone he looks up to. But on the other hand, Viktor can’t help but feel slightly annoyed at Heimerdinger’s doting nature. The Dean was the closest thing Viktor has ever been to having a fatherly presence, so perhaps it was just something he wasn’t used to.

“Alright,” he said gruffly. “But we’re calling a cart the moment my leg starts to ache.” Heimerdinger just chuckled in response.

They made it out to the courtyard and on to a stage that was prepared for the open house, and Viktor watched as Heimerdinger gave an impassioned speech about Piltover, the Academy, and progress. It wasn’t any different from other speeches he’s heard the Dean give (and Viktor has even written a few of them for him), so Viktor rightfully tuned out, mentally preparing himself to give a tour of the campus. Once the speech was over, the two of them joined the crowd of Academy hopefuls.

Heimerdinger was immediately bombarded by said crowd, asking for advice or greeting the Dean with a handshake, but after a few moments he cleared his throat. “Now, now, while I am very honored to receive such praise and enthusiasm from everyone, we must get on with the program! Please let me introduce you to my assistant Viktor, who will aid me in giving a tour of campus grounds.”

“Alright everyone,” Viktor said aloud, thankfully catching the attention of the group. “Please, follow me this way.” The crowd reluctantly followed, with Heimerdinger leading the charge and babbling on about the history of the very courtyard they stood in. With any luck, Viktor would hopefully not speak to anyone the whole tour and focus only on giving comments here and there about each campus landmark.

Except, luck was not on his side.

“Uh, Viktor?” came a voice from behind him.

“Yes—?” Viktor regretted turning around immediately, because his eyes fell upon the chiselled visage of none other than Jayce Talis. “W-wha— Jayce?”

Jayce smiled at him. “Fancy seeing you here, though I suppose it makes sense since you work for the Dean,” he said nonchalantly, as if they were friends who could make casual conversation like this.

“What are you doing here?!” Viktor asked, which he knew was a dumb question. Jayce was here for the open house, obviously, but he was too caught up in the fact that Jayce was here to really think straight.

“Is that a rhetorical question or…?” said Jayce with a playful smirk. Viktor didn’t even know how to respond.

“Ah, Viktor!” called out Heimerdinger as he approached the two boys. “I see you’ve already made a friend! And this is…?”

“Professor, he is not my—”

“Jayce Talis, sir,” Jayce said immediately, reaching out his hand to shake Heimerdinger’s. “It is a pleasure— no, an honor to meet you, Professor Heimerdinger.”

“‘Jayce Talis,’” Heimerdinger mused. “Ah yes, I’ve heard your name before! Your submission to the Innovator’s Creative Writing Workshop really intrigued me: ‘Mysteries of the Arcane: How to—’”

“‘—Invoke Magic Through Science,’ yes, you’ve read it!” said Jayce with the biggest grin on his face. Viktor could feel his face heat up at the sight (but only because he felt a second-hand embarrassment from him, of course).

“How could I not! It was an intriguing read, all in the hypothetical of course, but still grounded in theory and practice. You show great potential, my boy!” praised Heimerdinger, and Jayce was obviously on cloud nine.

Heimerdinger returned to the tour, and Viktor silently seethed since it meant leaving him alone with Jayce once more. The two mostly walked in silence, which was normally a good thing, but Jayce was awkwardly hovering too close for Viktor’s comfort.

“So, how do you like campus?” Jayce eventually asked, hoping to break the silence between the two.

“It exists,” was Viktor’s court reply.

But Jayce continued on, unbothered. “I’m sure you have plenty of favorite hiding spots already. This place is absolutely massive,” Jayce said as he looked around in awe at the towering marble archways and the beautiful Piltovan architecture. 

Their tour took them to the campus museum, where prototypes of famous inventions birthed at the Academy were placed on display. Both Viktor and Jayce stared at them, wonder filling their eyes. Viktor had seen the displays before, but he could never get tired of that spark of inspiration he gets when he sees them.

“Viktor, look!” Jayce called out, and Viktor instinctively turned to him. Jayce was pointing at a case that displayed a small tool with a hinge. “The collapsible pocket wrench, invented by George Giopara-Talis. My family helped provide the city of Piltover with the tools necessary to build it into the city it is today,” he said, pride swelling in his voice.

It was hard for Viktor to forget that part of Jayce’s family history. Not that Jayce bragged about it often, but it was a small tinge of insecurity that he felt when he walked around the halls of the Academy. In some ways, it was in Jayce’s namesake to attend Piltover Academy; his ancestor’s invention was displayed in the museum, after all. Meanwhile, Viktor had nothing to his name, just a fire that burned within him to leave an impact in this world.

“My dad had always wanted to attend the Academy,” Jayce continued on after a beat of silence, his tone soft and contemplative.

Jayce’s dad was always a topic Viktor danced around; with no real parents himself, he had no idea how to approach the subject. Back when they were friends, Jayce would only bring up his dad periodically, whenever something reminded him of the man. But Viktor never knew how to respond.

“Him and everyone who dreams to make a difference,” Viktor finally replied, his voice coming out gravelly for having been silent so long. “Piltover Academy is the birthplace of the greatest minds, the breeding ground for innovation and progress.” The words just spilled out of him, like a crack in a dam that threatened to burst. 

Jayce chuckled darkly. “You’re starting to sound like one of those Academy brochures.”

Viktor clicked his tongue. “Eh, I’ve been hearing it all day. Just parroting the words back.”

“But I know you believe in it, too,” Jayce said, turning to make eye contact with Viktor.

The sudden attention was enough to make him stumble. “Uh, I’m not quite sure I understand what you’re getting at.”

“You believe that getting into the Academy will help you make a difference in the world.” That twinkle returned in Jayce’s eyes, but his face looked pained. When Viktor didn’t respond, he just continued. “I believe that, too. Maybe it’s a foolish dream, but one can only hope, right?” He laughed, but clearly he only meant to do so to ease the mood.

“Right…” Viktor said, idly thumbing the handle in his cane. 

There was another awkward pause before either of them said anything. Viktor studied Jayce’s face methodically, noticing the creases in his brows as he furrowed them, deep in thought. This was opposite to how he’s seen Jayce before, optimistic, cheerful, naive Jayce. A layer that only muddled who Jayce was in Viktor’s mind.

“Viktor, do you think I could make it into the Academy…?” Jayce asked tentatively.

Viktor didn’t expect himself to answer, but the dam was breaking. “Eh, maybe if you ace your tests instead of getting the theorem explanation wrong.”

Jayce laughed, a beautiful ringing noise that filled Viktor’s cheeks with warmth. “Guess I’ll have a shot if you decide to tutor me then?”

“Hmph, I wouldn’t count on that happening any time soon.”

“Alright everyone! Let’s continue on with our tour,” called out Heimerdinger, and the rest of their group followed suit.

Viktor turned to follow the crowd, but paused for a brief moment when he realized Jayce wasn’t hovering uncomfortably close to him. He turned to see him still staring into the display, his expression hard to discern.

Viktor didn’t have to say anything. He could’ve just walked on and Jayce would’ve caught up to him. But the dam had burst and words were rushing out of him in waves. “If it’s any consolation, I think you might have a chance of getting into the Academy,” he said in a playful tone. Jayce perked up, pulled away from his thoughts, and turned to smile at Viktor.

“Thanks, V.”

The rest of the tour was rather uneventful, and the group ended up in the campus store. It seemed a few other groups ended their tours or events around the same time, as a large influx of bodies took up space in the store.

“And of course, our tour ends at the campus store, where you could purchase Academy merchandise if you’d like!” Heimerdinger announced to their group. “If you have any questions, I and my assistant shall be eager to assist.”

The crowd collapsed into Heimerdinger, surrounding him and leaving Viktor well enough alone. Jayce had disappeared as well, which would’ve been a positive, but Viktor found himself looking for the boy. He walked about the store aisle until he caught sight of the tall, broad-shoulder Golden Boy, and Viktor stopped in his tracks.

Jayce was in front of a display rack of several keychains, looking at the ones shaped like gears to represent the College of Science. Viktor watched as Jayce took one in his hand, thumbing the ridges, clearly deep in thought.

“You could have mine,” a boy’s voice echoed in Viktor’s mind.

“Why? Isn’t this yours?” Viktor replied, his voice young and cracking.

“Yeah, but I could always get another one.” Jayce turned to him and smiled a big toothy grin. “It’s a promise that we’ll both get into the Academy. Together.”

The memory replayed in his mind, filling Viktor’s chest with warmth but with a pang of pain. He wondered if Jayce remembered that promise, or if the distractions of being the school’s Golden Boy pulled him away. He didn’t know why, but a part of him wanted to approach Jayce, but it seemed that someone beat him to it. Viktor felt himself frown as he realized who Jayce was talking to.

“Oh, Viktor!” Jayce greeted, his face brightening up upon seeing him. Viktor must’ve made some kind of face at him, because Jayce started to act nervous under his gaze. “Ah, sorry, I just got distracted— Viktor, this is—”

“Mel. We’ve met before, remember? It’s good to see you again, Viktor.” Standing next to Jayce was none other than Mel Medarda. If Jayce was River Pilt High’s dashing prince, then Mel was its elusive siren. Effortlessly beautiful with splashes of freckles on her dark skin, gold jewelry decorating her body. She held out a hand for Viktor to shake, but he promptly ignored it.

“It’s not my business who you concern yourself with, Talis,” he said with venom. 

Mel’s face held a brief expression of shock, but she immediately composed herself. “There’s no need to be hostile. After all, we’re all just here to attend the Academy’s open house.”

“I didn’t realize the open house had a beauty pageant event,” Viktor muttered under his breath, and Mel frowned. In reality, Viktor had no reason to be this antagonistic towards Mel; she had never done anything to wrong him directly. No, it was what Mel represented that rubbed him the wrong way, the cruel social ladder of their high school that happened to drag Jayce along with it. It didn’t help that he often saw Jayce with an arm wrapped around her, laughing as they walked along the halls together, the whole school watching as they passed by: the king and queen of River Pilt High School.

“Actually, Mel’s here because she’s interested in the College of Law at the Academy,” Jayce intervened, sensing the tension rising between the three of them. 

“Yes, just as much as you two believe you could benefit the world through science, I am looking to do the same through law,” Mel said with a sly smirk. It was hard for Viktor to judge her intentions, but he couldn’t help but feel patronized by her tone. 

“I’m sure any university would be lucky to have you,” said Jayce with an adoring smile. Seeing it made Viktor feel sick to his stomach.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I should return to Professor Heimerdinger’s aid,” Viktor announced, turning away from the two others.

“Wait, Viktor—!” Jayce called out again, but Viktor wasn’t going to turn around this time. 

His mood was effectively soured, which was a shame since he felt those bonds between him and Jayce rekindling again. But seeing Jayce with Mel was yet another reminder that Viktor had no place by his side, that Jayce had no obligation to climb down from his place on the social ladder to be with Viktor. Seeing them together was also a reminder of Jayce’s betrayal, a crucial event that started the divide between them in their sophomore year; something that Viktor had never let go of in his mind. His chest ached at the thought. 

“Viktor?”

“What? ” Viktor snapped, but he immediately regretted it once he realized who was speaking to him. It was a taller woman, her face soft with smile lines. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, a streak of white betraying an age that no one would’ve guessed upon seeing her youthful visage. It was Jayce’s mom. “X-Ximena?” Viktor stuttered.

Ximena smiled softly at him. “It’s nice to see you again, Viktor. Ah, it’s a shame my son doesn’t bring you around anymore.”

Well, it’s because we’re not friends anymore, Viktor wanted to say, but obviously he couldn’t. “Ah, we’re just busy with, y’know, school and stuff,” he lied.

“It’s good to see you two working so hard. I’m sure when you graduate, you’ll both make it into the Academy.” Her words were genuine, which only made the pain in Viktor’s chest worse. “Speaking of my son, have you seen him anywhere?”

“Uh, yeah, he’s—” Viktor gestured over to the keychain display, where Jayce and Mel were still making casual conversation. 

“Thank you, mijo,” said Ximena, placing a comforting hand on Viktor’s shoulder before walking over to the couple. 

Viktor watched as the two greeted Jayce’s mom, with Mel giving her a warm hug. The three conversed a bit before Mel excused herself, catching eye contact with Viktor and nodding as she passed. Viktor just rolled his eyes, turning back to watch Jayce and his mom. Ximena had with her a small paper bag, ‘Piltover Academy Bakery’ written in the front of it. Jayce’s eyes widened at the sight, and he was on his tippy toes in joy. The sight of it reminded Viktor of what he saw last night and his conclusion.

Jayce Talis is a loser, Viktor’s mind echoed. Then, a thought occurred to him. Jayce is too preoccupied with being the most popular guy in school, a characteristic that Viktor isn’t even sure the boy enjoys. If anything, Jayce’s place is back with him, in the lab with the Robotics Club and working on projects together. But as it stands, Jayce wouldn’t be caught dead doing any of this anymore, that much Viktor could surmise after seeing his disguise from last night. Viktor was the only one who knew the truth, and maybe he was the only one who could show Jayce and the whole school this.

Viktor took out his phone, pulled up the camera, and aimed it at Jayce. Through the lens, he could see Jayce absolutely stuffing his face with a pastry his mom bought him, and Viktor snapped a picture at the most opportune moment. It was an embarrassing shot, and Viktor would almost feel guilty if he didn’t also have his own personal feelings on the line; Jayce did betray him and the Robotics Club, after all. 

That night, Viktor went home with ideas thrumming in his mind. From a drawer on his desk, he took out a keychain of a gear, the metal dull from having lost its shine. It was a reminder of what was, who Jayce was, and a dedication to right the social hierarchy of their school. As he ran the gear through his fingers, Viktor imported the photo he took earlier that day onto his computer and placed it under a folder titled simply “Evidence.”

Viktor had a new mission: to orchestrate the downfall of Jayce Talis.

Chapter Text

Deep breath in, deep breath out, Jayce thought to himself as he looked in the mirror. Hair? Perfectly styled, maybe a little too much gel that made his hair stiff to the touch. Face? A little bit of stubble growing, which was a point of pride for him at his ripe age of 16. Clothes? Nothing too crazy, just a plain white shirt underneath the blue and brown colors of his Automaton Hockey varsity jacket.

“Jayce? You’re going to be late,” came his mother’s voice, knocking on the door to Jayce’s bathroom.

“I’m almost ready!” he called out in response. “Alright Talis, another week means another chance. Remember, stick to the Plan,” he said, gazing into his own eyes in his reflection. 

“I can help you pack your things!” Jayce’s mom shouted again. “Dios mio, You’re things are everywhere…”

“Thanks mom!” replied Jayce. With one final splash of cold water in his face, Jayce felt prepared enough to tackle the week ahead. He opened the door to his bathroom to see his mom neatly tucking away his notebooks and other belongings into his bag, and she smiled as she saw him.

“Look at you, mijo,” she said, tidying up the collar of his varsity jacket. “Que guapo! Just like your dad.” Ximena cupped her son's cheeks, affectionately rubbing circles into the skin there.

“Aw thanks, mom. You’re embarrassing me,” he said with a chuckle. “Okay, I’m gonna be late— see you later!” He bid his mom farewell with a kiss on her cheek before grabbing his backpack from her grasp.

He quickly launched out of his room and out of their apartment, making his way down flights of stairs to get in his car. It was an old pile of junk originally belonging to his dad, but this thing was his baby. It was full of modifications, several that Jayce helped install, and since Jayce got his license, he’s made it his duty to maintain it for as long as possible.

Jayce inserted the key into the engine and the engine sputtered. “C’mon, Mercury!” he cheered underneath his breath as the car finally purred awake. The time on his dashboard read 8:22 AM; he was running late. Jayce cursed under his breath and floored it, knowing that Viktor wouldn’t let him hear the last of it.

And neither would his first period teacher.

“Late again, Talis?” came the low baritone of Mr. Wood’s voice as Jayce entered the classroom. 

“Uh, sorry Mr. Wood,” he replied with a sheepish smile. 

“I expected better of you,” the teacher continued with a disapproving tone. “Maybe if you paid as much attention to your studies as you did your hockey team, you wouldn’t be as far behind as you are in this class.”

That last comment was like a knife to the chest, and Jayce had to fight hard not to falter, especially not in front of the class, especially not in front of Viktor, who was sitting right in front of Mr. Wood’s desk. He just flashed another smile, hopefully something charming enough to appease his teacher. “I promise not to disappoint, Mr. Wood. Not to you, not to this class, nor to our varsity hockey team,” he said with an air of cockiness.

The class audibly swooned at Jayce’s words, earning him a firm nod from the teacher but also an eyeroll out of Viktor. Jayce’s charms win once again, and he finally took a seat in the back of the class as it resumed. He could feel his heart racing in his chest; speaking up to a teacher always pumps some adrenaline in him. Hell, speaking up in front of anyone always runs his nerves, but that’s the role he was to play as the poster boy of the school. 

Jayce just took out his notebook, listening to the teacher droll on about their last argumentative essay. First period was just a college prep class, nothing Jayce really had to sweat about (at least in his mind). He often spent class time trying to catch up on missed hours of sleep, nodding off to the monotone voice of their teacher. Just when did he become such a delinquent? Being late to class, talking back to his teacher, slacking off on school work… Jayce could barely recognize himself anymore.

The first hour inched on but eventually class finally ended. Jayce tried to catch up to Viktor to say good morning, but he was off talking to Mr. Wood, and he was not eager to have another one-on-one with his teacher. So, Jayce just scurried off to his next period: Student Leadership.

“Ah, there he is, man of the hour,” said a sarcastic voice as Jayce arrived, belonging to senior boy Marcus, a member of Student Publications. Oh, and he was also captain of the varsity hockey team, clad in the same jacket as Jayce. “I heard you talked back against your teacher this morning. Maybe don’t go pushing your luck with authorities, eh, wonder boy?”

Shit, how did he learn about that so quickly? Jayce asked himself. “I was just late and he reprimanded me,” Jayce replied, once again feigning charisma. “But I’m not gonna let someone like Mr. Wood talk me down.”

“Pssh, always the hotshot, aren’t you, Talis?” came another snide remark. 

“Marcus,” said a stern voice from beside Jayce, “could you excuse us for a moment? The period’s about to start and I need Jayce for the morning announcement.” Jayce felt an arm slide into his, and he knew immediately that Mel had come to his rescue.

“Fine, fine, whatever you two lovebirds need,” Marcus relented with his hands up in the air. “Kiramman, the script?”

“Right,” Caitlyn, also a part of Student Publications but since delegated to Marcus’s lackey, rushed forward with papers in her hands. “Maybe actually read what’s on the page, Jayce,” she said with a teasing smirk.

“Listen, I blanked out last week, okay? It’s a good thing I’m decent at improv,” he said, returning the smile. 

The second period bell rang, and the rest of Publications and Leadership ran to their stations to prepare for the morning announcements. Jayce and Mel had themselves seated at a desk in front of a green screen, while another student manned a camera. It was no studio-quality set up, since admittedly the school’s funding was all poured into the sports teams, but it was enough to provide a live broadcast to the whole school. 

Jayce always felt nervous to do the morning announcements, his stage fright only exacerbated now that the entire student body could see him, but it was easier this way since he didn’t have a whole audience before him. Plus, he can’t deny that having Mel beside him helped to ease his nerves. He checked his appearance one last time; hair, face, clothes, all looking as perfect as others expect it to be.

“And we’re live!” announced Marcus, and the school jingle began to play, signaling the start of the broadcast.

“Good morning, Automatons!” said Mel, her voice oozing like liquid gold to everyone’s ears. “Welcome to yet another fantastic week at River Pilt High. As always, we’re here to provide you all with some announcements for the week.”

Jayce and Mel went through the script as usual, making casual banter but keeping it short enough that their broadcast wouldn’t draw out for too long. It was autopilot for Jayce at this point, and if he was lucky, he could coast like this for the rest of the day, the rest of the week if the gods allow. 

“And remember Automatons, homecoming is only a few weeks away!” said Jayce with a bright smile, his cheeks starting to sore from how long he’s kept his face this way. “Student Leadership is still selling some homecoming grams during lunch, so feel free to stop by our table and send grams to your friends and partners!”

“Are you planning on asking anyone to homecoming, Jayce?” asked Mel with a glance to the side and a playful smile on her face. It was just a question, part of the normal banter they performed every week for the morning announcements. 

But Jayce froze. “H-huh?” 

His hesitance lasted for only a few short seconds in real time, but to him it felt like ages. Mel looked at him as panic and worry started to settle on her face, realizing the error in her question. All of a sudden, Jayce could feel all eyes staring at him: Mel’s, Marcus’s, the rest of Publications and Leadership, hell, it even felt like the entire school was staring at him. 

Like Viktor was staring at him.

At the brief thought of Viktor, Jayce suddenly grounded himself. “Well, I did have someone in mind, but that’s something I won’t be sharing on camera,” he said with yet another charming smile, locking eyes with Mel and only focusing on Mel. If Jayce only worried about her right now, it could feel like nobody else was in the room, staring at him.

And she smiled back, worry gone from her face as she relaxed and turned back to the broadcast. “And that’s it for this week’s announcements. Don’t forget to stay updated through our newsletter and the school website.”

“Good bye!” both Mel and Jayce said together, waving at the camera until the red light shut off. Jayce finally let go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding, and he felt a sudden warmth as a hand clasped around his.

“You did great,” Mel said in a soft voice, looking earnestly at Jayce. “I-I’m sorry about asking—”

“Great work as usual, you two,” came Marcus. “Though I think you might have flustered wonder boy a bit with your question, Medarda,” he said with a cocked brow.

Mel rolled her eyes. “But it made for great television, did it not?” 

Jayce took that as his cue to leave the conversation, ever grateful to have Mel in his corner to deal with Marcus. As he scampered off to another desk and proceeded with study hall for the rest of the period, Caitlyn settled in the desk next to him.

“Are you okay, Jayce?” she asked, worry seeping in her voice.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” he lied instantly, the crack in his voice betraying his true feelings.

Caitlyn frowned, knitting her brows together. “It was unfair of Mel to ask you that question— in front of a live broadcast, too!” 

“We were just going through the motions,” Jayce replied, equally as quick to defend Mel as she did with him. “… I didn’t look too flustered, did I?”

At the opportunity to mock her close friend, Caitlyn just laughed. “You look just as stupid as you always do, Bramble.” Jayce laughed in return, a weight coming off his shoulders with each chuckle. “Anyway, enough of that nonsense— when are we starting this campaign of yours?”

Jayce felt his mood instantly brighten, already distracted from this morning’s woes. “Well, hold your horses, Sprout. I still need to figure out when everyone’s available to meet up, first.”

“Ah, scheduling: the bane of every D&D campaign,” Caitlyn smirked. “Well, you already have Vi’s number, and I’m sure she could give you Powder’s and Ekko’s to start a group chat,” she suggested.

“Look at you, raring to go,” said Jayce with a knowing glance. “What are you thinking of running?”

“Hm, probably a high elf ranger,” she mused.

“Rather on point , isn’t it?”

“Har har.”

The rest of the period went on surprisingly smoothly, with the two of them casually making conversation between campaign notes and actual school work. Caitlyn always had that effect on him, making sure Jayce was distracted from whatever was troubling him in the moment. What would I ever do without this girl? he often thought to himself.

After having recovered from that rather awful experience during the live broadcast, Jayce was lucky enough to coast by the day as usual. The middle of the day was always a blur; a mixture of forced smiles, fake laughter, and guiling charisma. And the others fell for it every single time. Jayce could just smile in a general direction and students of any and all identities would swoon. I wonder how they would react to the real me, Jayce wondered, who ever that is…

He shared his last three class periods with Viktor, and as usual he was determined to make any sort of contact with him if possible, especially since he missed a chance to talk to him at this morning’s seminar class. But other students always got in the way, often physically putting themselves between him and Viktor, leaving Jayce to barely get a word or two out to him. But Jayce didn’t have the strength in him to push them away. Instead, he always indulged in their questions or conversations, getting swept up in this ‘image’ he placed upon himself. It was his burden to carry, he decided.

And lunch was no reprieve from that.

“Hey, Jay!” a voice called out, Vi’s, as Jayce whipped around to see the pink-haired girl waving at him from across the cafeteria. “C’mon!” she called again, gesturing for him to sit at their table, joining the likes of Caitlyn, Powder, Ekko, and their other friends.

And Jayce wanted to join them, he really did. But an arm slid into his and a sweet, honey-like voice spoke in his ear.

“Oh Jaycie!” the voice said, and Jayce turned around to see the redheaded Maddie, an energetic sophomore. “Do you mind if you could help me with my chemistry homework?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes at him as she did so. “I swear, Mr. Reveck’s homework is criminal.”

“I-I— Um—” Jayce hesitated, planting his feet firm on the ground and looking between Maddie and Vi. Vi returned the glance, her face confused and wondering why Jayce wasn’t joining them.

“Please,” Maddie begged, pouting as she looked at Jayce with large puppy-dog eyes. “Steb said he’d do it for me, but he forgot!”

Jayce has been in many situations like this, situations where he has to choose. And he always chose wrong.

“Fine, but you better be paying me for this,” he said with muted sarcasm. “I can’t be doing your homework all the time, Maddie.”

Maddie grinned. “I paid Steb $20, but since he didn’t do it, I can double it and give it to you.” Jayce allowed for Maddie to whisk him away to their table, all while Vi looked on in disappointment.

It was cliche, but their table was undoubtedly the ‘popular kids’ table. Their inhabitants consisted of: Maddie, a playful and desirable member of the girl’s basketball team; Steb, a quiet and reserved (yet notably rich) vastayan; Salo, son of Piltover politicians and main gossiper of the group; Loris, another varsity hockey player known for his large house parties; and Marcus, varsity hockey captain and leader of Student Publications.

Of course, there was Jayce, a newcomer to their table but well-deserving of the ‘popular’ title. And Mel would often stop by to rescue Jayce from his toils when he needed it. 

“About time you joined us, wonder boy,” Marcus greeted as he saw Maddie pull Jayce to their table. “Getting him into trouble again, Nolen?”

Maddie pouted. “Jayce said he would help me with my homework! Right, Jaycie?”

“R-right,” Jayce replied, unsure of how he felt about the nickname.

“You’ve made quite the commotion this morning, Talis,” Marcus continued. “First with what happened in Wood’s class and now that whole incident during the broadcast. Feelin’ alright there? Maybe too much air in that inflated ego of yours?” he chuckled, but only to himself as no one else at the table reacted.

Jayce could feel his blood pumping already. “People are really talking about that?” he asked, not feeling up to it to banter back and forth with Marcus.

“Oh yeah, word travels fast. You would know, of course,” Salo answered with a knowing smirk as he took a sip of his drink.

“Well, are you going to ask Mel to homecoming?” Maddie interrupted. “That’s the question on everyone’s minds now!”

“I mean, obviously,” Jayce said with a nervous chuckle, hoping he masked the restraint in his voice well enough. “Who else would I go with? A-and what about you guys?” he deflected.

“Ah well, I want to ask Kiramman out,” Maddie sighed longingly. “She kept looking at me during practice the other day…” she said, resting her chin upon her hand.

“Probably because you're her teammate,” Loris chimed in nonchalantly before returning to his lunch.

“But we made an amazing play during our practice match— dare I say we’re compatible!” Maddie turned her attention over to Jayce. “You’re good mates with her, right? Do you think Kiramman fancies me back?”

“Well, I mean, Cait’s already dating someone,” Jayce answered honestly.

Maddie’s expression soured immediately; it was hard to believe such a sweet face like hers could turn foul so quickly. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I still can’t believe she would associate herself with a sumprat.”

“Hey!” Jayce felt his blood boiling. But before he could defend either of Caitlyn’s or Vi’s honors, Maddie dug herself into Jayce’s backpack.

“Anyways, where do you keep your notes? Are they in here somewhere—” Maddie paused, looking at something buried within Jayce’s belongings. “Um, Jayce,” she said with an accusing tone. “What is this?”

From his backpack, Maddie pulled out a familiar book, laced with a shiny emboss that made it look like mist was ghosting the hardcover. Displayed prominently on the front was the image of a man and a woman, with the woman wrapped delicately within the arms of the man above her, both looking intimately into each other's eyes.

Jayce’s stomach dropped to the floor. He shot straight up in the air and shouted, drawing the attention of the rest of the cafeteria. “Th-that’s my moms—!” Jayce immediately lied. He quickly snatched the book out of Maddie’s grasp and shoved it back into his backpack, zipping it closed. “That reminds m-me— I, uh, need to be somewhere else real quick, s-sorry guys!” He excused himself, voice shaking, before dashing out of the cafeteria with his heart in his throat.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, he thought to himself as he raced down the halls. How did that book end up in his bag? How many people saw that just now? How many times is he gonna make a fool out of himself today? Jayce continued to scold himself, his mind spiraling as he thought about what the other students saw; he could already feel their gazes on him, imagining their whispers as they echoed in Jayce’s skull.

“Ew, what was that?”

“Does Jayce actually read that stuff?”

“What a weirdo!”

It was illogical, improbable, but Jayce thought about it anyway. Once again, his body was on autopilot as it guided him through buildings and hallways before it led him to his one sanctuary, his one safespot. 

Tucked into the older buildings on campus was a little storage room. He and Viktor discovered it together their freshman year. While dusty and filled with boxes of junk, it boasted a large window that gave them a view of both cities, Piltover and Zaun. Every day, he and Viktor would sit and eat lunch here. They would study for their classes, help each other with homework, or plan their next step for the Robotics Club. This room held everything that once was between Jayce and Viktor, but now it lay empty and unused.

Jayce was surprised to know that the door remained unlocked after all this time. He let himself in, walking over to the desk shoved against the large window; Jayce had moved it there to give him and Viktor a better view. He slumped into a chair (his chair, with Viktor’s right next to it), tucking his face into his arms as he slowed his breaths. This was likely Jayce’s worst day ever.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but Jayce was shunted back into reality when he heard the door behind him open. He nearly gave himself whiplash with how fast he turned. “Who—?” he began, but faltered as soon as he recognized who entered.

“I figured I’d find you here,” came Mel’s voice, low and soft. She approached slowly before sitting herself down on top of the desk.

Jayce sighed in relief. “Made quite the scene back there, didn’t I?” he said with a cruel chuckle.

“Definitely not your finest moment,” Mel smiled. “But they’ll be confused for a fleeting moment. You know how this school is, jumping from one scene to another. I’m sure they’ll forget what happened as soon as the day’s over.”

Jayce wanted to believe that, he really did. He settled his head into Mel’s lap, and he could feel her fingers draw through his hair in response. “You don’t really have to do this, y’know,” he said, voice quiet. “Be here with me, I mean. We’re not even really dat—”

“Oh, enough self-loathing, Talis,” Mel tutted. There was a brief pause, a moment of contemplation, before Mel continued. “Even if we aren’t really together, you’re still important to me.”

“Hm,” Jayce hummed. His relationship with Mel was… complicated, to say the least. It was symbiotic in nature at first, but it soon grew to become a genuine bond between the two. And Jayce was glad for it, despite the strange circumstances. “Thanks again, for everything…” he finally said.

Mel just chuckled softly. “About that book…”

“Please don’t make fun of me for it.”

“I won’t, I promise,” Mel said with a smile. “I’m just a little curious.”

Jayce got up, looking up at Mel with furrowed brows for a moment. “It’s part of the Ruined King series,” he explained after judging that Mel’s intentions were sincere. “People say it’s a romance series, but there’s actually a lot of action and political intrigue.” Mel quirked her eyebrows at Jayce, as if suggesting at something more, and Jayce relented. “… but the romance is pretty good, I guess.”

Before Jayce could ramble any further, the school bell rang, indicating the end of their lunch period. And Jayce barely got to eat anything. The two of them left the room together, rushing to their next classes as they bid each other farewell. Jayce did have classes with Viktor for the rest of the day, but his energy was too drained to really focus on his Plan. Instead, his focus was on getting out of the day alive.

“Reminder that we’ll be doing a partner project soon,” said Mrs. Ramsey as their physics class came to an end. “Sign-ups are due at the end of the week, so be sure to start asking around for partners.”

The class settled into a manageable buzz as students talked about their upcoming project. Jayce suddenly remembered his Plan once more and idly wondered if he should give it one last try. After all, Viktor was sitting in the seat behind him, supposedly with no one to be his partner. It didn’t hurt to give it a shot.

“Hey, Viktor, did you—”

“Ah, Jayce, about the project—”

The two boys paused and stared at each other. Jayce wasn’t sure what to do next, surprised that for once Viktor initiated conversation with him, until the other boy spoke up again.

“I, uh, was wondering if you wanted to be my partner for the project,” Viktor asked, avoiding eye contact with Jayce.

“Y-yeah, of course!” he replied a little too eagerly.

Maybe today was Jayce’s lucky day after all.

Chapter Text

Viktor spent the rest of the weekend abuzz with thoughts about his new mission to take down Jayce, but those thoughts were momentarily thrown out the window when Jayce arrived late to their morning seminar class. It was a moment that made Viktor’s blood boil, because how could someone like Jayce be arriving late to class so consistently? 

First off, if anything it should be Viktor who’s late since he barely gets enough sleep anyways, but he always manages to make it to class with a few minutes to spare. Secondly, and most importantly, this was Jayce Talis they’re dealing with, River Pilt High Perfect Attendance awardee for both his freshman and sophomore year. Jayce would be up at the ungodly hours of the morning and arrive at school almost a whole hour early. But now, Jayce was constantly arriving to class about five to ten minutes after the first period bell rang. And for some reason, that made Viktor furious.

Then Jayce had to go and talk back to Mr. Wood, acting all high and mighty in front of the class. Who did he have to impress in a college prep class? Everyone except Viktor, apparently, as the class was swayed by Jayce’s charisma. Viktor could only roll his eyes. He noticed that Jayce tried to approach him at the end of class, so Viktor rushed over to Mr. Wood to ask him a question, knowing Jayce wouldn’t think to confront their teacher again after what happened earlier.

Viktor was only reminded of his mission when, during the weekly announcements, Jayce once again made a fool of himself. Viktor was barely paying attention to the announcements, not too keen on listening to who he considers his opposition, until Mel had asked Jayce a question.

“Are you planning on asking anyone to homecoming, Jayce?” came Mel’s voice out of the crackling speakers of the TV that hung in the corner of the classroom. Viktor watched as the whole class held their breath, wondering what Jayce’s response would be.

Jayce and Mel’s relationship was the talk of campus. Students would often scorn or swoon at the couple, jealous of the relationship on both ends: of Jayce, who gets to date the beautiful Mel Medarda, and of Mel, who gets to date the perfect Jayce Talis. It left Viktor with a sour taste in his mouth. Mel was only casually interested in Jayce when they were sophomores, but that interest doubled after his betrayal, and they announced their relationship soon after. It was too quick, suspiciously quick, and it was something Viktor had always wanted to get to the bottom of.

“H-huh?” was Jayce’s response. It wasn’t something Viktor, nor the rest of the students at River Pilt, expected. Jayce, ever quick-witted and silver-tongued, was dumbfounded by Mel’s question. 

There was but a second of hesitance from Jayce before he flashed a smile again. It was like someone had flipped a breaker switch on Jayce’s short-circuited panel.

“Well, I did have someone in mind, but that’s something I won’t be sharing on camera,” came his cool reply. Of course, Viktor’s classmates were satisfied with the response, a chorus of ‘oooh’s and ‘awww’s filling the room. Viktor felt an ache in his temple. Whoever that boy was on screen was not the Jayce Viktor knew, and he was determined to get him back and get his revenge.

“Revenge for what, exactly?” asked Sky as Viktor relayed his whole plan to her during their lunch period.

“Revenge for last year, Sky!” he said pointedly. “Lest you forget he betrayed us both.”

Sky frowned. “Listen, I was pretty mad about what happened at the Doom Bots Final, too. What Jayce did was disrespectful, and frankly selfish.”

“So you agree!”

“But!” Sky intervened, “I think Jayce is trying to make amends. I mean, last week he stopped by and helped me with some club stuff, stuff that you weren’t there for,” she added with a glare.

That was news to Viktor. He thought Jayce didn’t want anything to do with the Robotics Club anymore. Yet so far, he’s been more active in it than Viktor has. “That just further proves my point, Ms. Young,” Viktor argued, brushing aside those other thoughts for now. “It’s clear that he harbors regret for his betrayal, which indicates a desire to reconcile and perhaps reconnect. So, it’s our duty to right the social balance and bring Jayce back on our side.”

“‘Our duty?’” Sky scrutinized. “I don’t think it’s ‘our duty’ to compile damning evidence against Jayce and embarrass him.”

Suddenly, a commotion echoed around the cafeteria as all eyes turned to the scene occurring at the center, the popular kids’ table. 

“Th-that’s my moms—!” came Jayce’s voice, his cheeks burning red as he held a book in his hands, before quickly shoving it back in his bag. Viktor couldn’t hear what he said afterwards, he only knew that it left the rest of the popular kids confused as Jayce dashed out of the cafeteria. Soon after, Viktor noticed Mel leave after him.

When the scene settled down and the cafeteria fell into a state of hushed whispers, Viktor turned back to Sky with a satisfied look. “See? We have our work cut out for us, since Jayce seems eager to embarrass himself in our stead.”

Sky just looked back at him dumbfounded. “I just can’t believe you don’t even feel remotely bad for the guy.”

“I am but a machine underneath this flesh,” Viktor joked.

Sky sighed, giving up in her futile defense in Jayce’s name. “Ugh, alright. Well, what ‘evidence’ have you gathered?”

Viktor grinned, pulling out his cracked phone from his pocket and bringing up the photo he took last Saturday. “I chanced upon seeing Jayce at the Academy’s open house and got this.” There wasn’t any point in telling Sky what else happened that day since it wasn’t important. What was important was their mission.

The picture was slightly blurry, and from the angle and composition, it was admittedly hard to even tell the picture was of Jayce. It was zoomed in all the way on his face, his mouth and cheeks full with a pastry he was scarfing down.

“And this is all you have?” Sky asked incredulously. When Viktor nodded, she went on. “If I may critique your work, Viktor: should you continue on this ‘mission’ of yours, you might need to take a different approach.”

Viktor cocked his eyebrow, unsure of what Sky was getting at. “What do you mean?”

There was a glint in Sky’s eyes as she smiled to herself. “Well, you already said that Jayce is rather secretive of this side of him, no?” Viktor nodded. “Then perhaps he would be more willing to open up to someone if they were a close friend.”

Viktor rubbed his chin in thought. “And then it would be easier to gather more evidence against him.”

“Bingo,” said Sky as she snapped her fingers. “And better get started sooner than later— the target just left the building, and I hypothesize that this is the perfect opportunity to start this new angle.”

Viktor understood what she meant, though he still was suspicious of the mischievous look on Sky’s face. Nevertheless, Viktor took this as his chance to leave the cafeteria in hopes of catching up to Jayce.

There were plenty of theoretical places that Jayce could be: the library, but Viktor thought that would be too obvious and too public a spot to hide at; the restrooms, but Viktor wasn’t about to barge into several stalls to find Jayce moping on the toilet; or the Student Leadership room, but Viktor hoped not since he was not allowed in there. In reality, there was only one place Jayce could be at, especially if he means to hide himself from the rest of the school.

It was their room, a dusty old storage room tucked into one of the oldest buildings on campus. They found it while exploring the school together their freshman year, left unlocked and unbothered for who knows how long. Viktor himself had never been back to this room since what happened last year. It was too painful, there were too many memories. Too many memories of two young boys, dreaming of what they could accomplish if they worked together. 

When Viktor arrived at the room, the door was already slightly ajar. He peered through the crack, his heart racing at the thought of talking to Jayce in such a private manner. How would he even start the conversation? Is it weird for Viktor to approach Jayce like this? Just how often does Jayce even come to this room?

But what he saw as he neared the door froze him in his tracks. Jayce was in the room, yes, but his head was resting on Mel’s lap, with the older girl gently stroking her fingers through his hair. It was a quiet, solemn scene. Viktor felt a pit form in his stomach, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from what he saw. It hurt to admit, but Jayce and Mel looked like the perfect couple. Jayce is smart, charismatic if a bit naive, but good-hearted. Mel is beautiful, ambitious, and steadfast in her ideals. It was like they were made for each other.

Viktor couldn’t help but wonder how he looks when he stands next to Jayce. Probably like a crumpled piece of paper someone forgot to throw away, or a twig ready to snap at the mere inkling of a breeze. Viktor was incomparable to Jayce. He had no place in Jayce’s world, but as it stands, did Jayce have a place in his?

Of course he did, Viktor reminded himself. Thoughts of self-doubt aside, Viktor knew the truth behind the shiny golden exterior of Jayce Talis. He was a nerd, a geek, a loser as much as Viktor was, and he was going to balance the scales. 

When the lunch period was over, Viktor left the scene as quickly as he could, hoping not to cross paths with either Mel or Jayce. Even if his chest ached at the thought of those two together, a similar burn of determination coursed through him. Viktor had never been more sure of anything: he was going to rescue Jayce from the maw of popularity.

His vigor was only further tempered when, despite trying to speak to Jayce several times before the day ended, Viktor kept getting interrupted or separated from Jayce by his adoring fans, leaving him to observe Jayce from a distance as he continued to turn on his charisma for them. But Viktor wasn’t going to give up, and the perfect opportunity presented itself at the end of their AP Physics class.

“Reminder that we’ll be doing a partner project soon,” announced Mrs. Ramsey to the class. “Sign-ups are due at the end of the week, so be sure to start asking around for partners.”

Class hadn’t ended yet, so Viktor’s other classmates turned to each other to ask about the project, or even just talk in general. Viktor looked up at Jayce's broad back that sat in front of him, waiting for him to turn around and talk to Viktor like he usually does. When even just a second had passed and Jayce didn’t move, Viktor felt his heart race. Maybe after all those past rejections, Jayce already thought there would be no point in asking Viktor to be his project partner, since he expected Viktor to say no as usual. Maybe it was time for Viktor to make the first move and ask, swallow his pride and actually initiate conversation with Jayce for once.

For some reason, Viktor could feel his cheeks start to warm at the thought.

“Ah, Jayce, about the project—”

“Hey, Viktor, did you—”

The two boys paused and stared at each other, having both spoken at the same time. For a moment, Viktor locked eyes with Jayce, seeing the soft warmth that glowed in his hazel eyes, a glimmer of hope. Viktor immediately looked away, trying to gather his senses.

“I, uh, was wondering if you wanted to be my partner for the project,” Viktor asked, his voice so quiet and foreign in his own mouth that he wasn’t sure if Jayce heard him at all.

But Jayce did. “Y-yeah, of course!” he replied, his own voice eager and excited. Viktor honestly thought the conversation would end right there, but Jayce continued on. “Actually, did you wanna talk more about it today?”

“H-huh…?”

Viktor stared at Jayce blankly; it was his turn to short-circuit. “A-after school,” Jayce barreled on, energy filling his words. “We could go to the library or even to my house if you want—”

“Uh, s-sure…” Viktor agreed, though he wasn’t sure why. He was so caught off-guard that he didn’t know how else to respond. 

“Great!” said Jayce as he leapt up from his seat, coinciding with the end-of-class bell ringing. “So what works best for you?”

Viktor was about to suggest the library, but then he remembered one crucial fact: he had work after school. “Shit, I actually need to go to Book & Cranny today…” he whispered under his breath.

But like an eager puppy, Jayce’s ears perked up at the name. “‘Book & Cranny?’ The bookstore in Zaun?” he asked, as if he had never heard of the store before (which Viktor knew was a lie; he was a regular for god’s sake).

“Well, I don’t think I can—” Viktor tried to explain his way out of their agreement, but Jayce was acting like a train that couldn’t be stopped.

“I could drive you there— unless you don’t want that, of course,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. 

Viktor knew at this point that telling Jayce ‘no’ was not an option (which means he totally still could, but then Jayce would pull out those sad puppy dog eyes that’s worked on Viktor since their freshman year). He simply sighed, wondering how he was going to handle the situation with Benzo. “Alright, I guess you could drive me there.”

Viktor swore that if Jayce had a tail, he would see it wagging up a storm. He watched as Jayce hastily put all his things into his backpack, filled with a sudden life in his eyes that Viktor hadn’t seen all day. He couldn’t help himself from smiling at the scene; this dork in front of him was the boy he recognized as Jayce, excited at the prospect of studying. 

Viktor and Jayce walked side by side down the hall, briefly passing by Sky who flashed a thumbs up at Viktor. Eventually they got to Jayce’s beat-up car, a real fixer-upper if Viktor had ever seen one. It was a wonder the thing still worked, but knowing Jayce, he would’ve modified the heap of metal to high heaven. The car smelled of oil and grease with a layer of fresh lemon on top. The interior was well-kept with hardly a stain or peel on the leather seats; it was clear to Viktor that Jayce took good care of his car.

“Sorry for the mess,” said Jayce as they both got in, as if there was even a speck of dust in the whole car. 

“There’s hardly a mess in here,” Viktor commented, tucking his bag by his legs and his cane to the side. “Eh, except for maybe the person sitting in the driver’s seat.”

Jayce burst into laughter, the sound bright and loud in Viktor’s ears. Surely his joke wasn’t that funny, right? But Jayce was laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. Viktor couldn’t stop a smile curling across his lips, looking at Jayce with a strange mix of fondness and bewilderment.

The whole ride over, Viktor thought more about his mission and how best to execute it. Working at Book & Cranny is a solid position, since it allows him to see Jayce wearing that ridiculous disguise again (he still needed to snap a picture of it, too). But if Jayce knew that Viktor worked there, it could ruin his plans to further gather embarrassing evidence against him. So when Jayce and Viktor arrived at the store, Viktor ran in ahead of him while Jayce parked the car. 

“Benzo!” he called out, walking over to the counter where said store owner was seated.

“Ah, finally on time I see, eh?” the older man teased.

“Benzo, I need you to do me a favor,” Viktor whispered, and Benzo merely cocked an eyebrow at him. “I need you to pretend like I don’t work here.”

“What?” Benzo said incredulously. “I don’t know what kind of shenanigans you’re trying to run in my shop, boy, but I need you to be workin’ while on the job.”

“And I will!” Viktor pleaded, “I will still work, just… you can’t tell anyone I work here.”

“Why? Is it so embarrassing to be workin’ at my shop? I just don’t understand—”

“Hey, Benzo!” greeted Jayce as he entered the store.

Benzo took one good look at Jayce, one good look at Viktor, and smirked. “Oh. I see what this is about. So ya do have a crush on the lad.”

“No, I don’t!” Viktor seethed, covering his face with his hand and feeling the warmth surge into his cheeks.

“Eh, don’t worry boy, I’ll play along with ya,” said Benzo with a wink. “Greetins’ Jayce! And boy I’ve never met before. So, what brings ya in today?”

Jayce walked over to the counter and next to Viktor, seemingly not noticing either Benzo’s or Vitkor’s strange behaviors. “Ah, Viktor and I are just here to do some project prep.”

“‘Project prep,’ eh?” Benzo parroted, shooting a sly glance at Viktor. “Well, you two boys help yourselves to my shop then. Ekko!”

“Yeah?” came out the young freshman boy. “Oh, hey Jayce, hey Viktor!”

“Hey Little Man!” Jayce greeted back, and Viktor just waved. “Viktor, have you met Ekko?” Jayce asked with a glance to the side.

Shit, Ekko doesn’t know my plan, Viktor thought to himself. “Y-yes of course, he’s part of the Robotic Club.”

“Yeah, and he also works—” Ekko began, but Benzo swiftly intervened.

“Ekko, my boy, why don’t you fetch these two some tea?” Benzo shot a wink at Viktor, and he felt like he could pass out from embarrassment.

Jayce and Viktor eventually moved on to their own table, comparing notes and coming up with ideas for their project. It was really simple; they just had to build a bridge out of popsicle sticks, a classic physics project. But the caveat is that they had to build the lightest possible bridge that could bear the most possible weight. It was a test of design as much as it was showcasing the principles of tension and compression, an easy concept to wrap one’s head around, but exciting nonetheless. 

Viktor had to admit, working with Jayce like this brought up old memories of working on the Robotic Club together. Even after not speaking to each other for months, the two boys quickly fell into the same ebb and flow they’ve always had, an energy and a chemistry that was undeniable. Jayce often had great ideas for projects, and it was always Viktor’s job to streamline them to make it workable. In tandem, Viktor often found himself overcomplicating certain designs, and Jayce would swoop in with a straightforward concept. When working together, Viktor and Jayce were like a well-oiled machine. 

Maybe it was from being separated from Jayce for a while, but Viktor had never noticed how… physical Jayce was. Constantly bumping elbows, lightly placing his weight over Viktor’s shoulder, always patting Viktor on the back whenever he liked his ideas; it made Viktor’s heart race every single time. Viktor convinced himself it was because he’s not used to so much physical contact. It was the only reasonable explanation for these unnecessary feelings. He had to focus on his mission after all.

At some point into the hour, Ekko walked over and placed a large pile of books on their desk. When Viktor and Jayce looked at it confused, he explained. “Dad wants you to do your job.”

“W-what?” Viktor feigned obliviousness. “What could you be talking about—?”

“He just wants you to put these back on the shelves, no biggie,” Ekko replied with a shrug. “I mean, he is paying you after all.”

“Paying me for what—?” Viktor tried to lie again, but it was getting increasingly hard to do so.

“That’s fine, we’d love to help around the store,” Jayce butted in, a warm yet naive smile on his face. “We’ve made some pretty good progress on our project, right, V?”

“S-sure,” Viktor replied, hoping Jayce was dense enough not to catch what Ekko was getting at (and he was). 

They each split the stack of books and dispersed into the aisles, neatly tucking each book into the shelves. It was a nice break from work (and a nice break for Viktor’s heart), giving him enough time to think of his next course of action. As if the gods graced him with the perfect opportunity to enact his plan, the next book in his pile touted a familiar name.

“‘The Ruined King ,’” Viktor mused to himself, loud enough to make sure Jayce could hear. And, like a dog to a treat, Jayce rushed over to Viktor’s side and peered over his shoulder at the book. Viktor tried to pay him no mind. “I heard this was a popular book series.”

“It is!” said Jayce a little too enthusiastically, then he cleared his throat. “I mean— It is,” he readjusted, his tone much more muted and serious.

Viktor quirked his eyebrow at him. “And how would you know that, Jayce?” he said with as accusing a tone as possible.

Jayce was visibly flustered, and Viktor was quite tickled by the sight. “Ah, w-well, my mom reads it, actually. You know me, I only read, like, science books and stuff…”

Maybe Viktor was having too much fun with it now, but he has to admit, Jayce did look cute while embarrassed like this (Brush away those thoughts, Viktor! Focus on the mission!). “Ah, so perhaps I shouldn’t concern myself with this book then.”

“N-no!” Jayce jumped forward, actually physically grabbing Viktor’s wrist before he could place it back on the shelf. The two boys locked eyes for a moment before Jayce let go of his grip, both of them looking away with a pink dusting on their cheeks. “I meant, um, if it is a good series, why don’t you give it a shot?”

Viktor pondered the suggestion for a moment. He was idly curious about the book but didn’t quite have the motivation to pick it up. Though, reading the book might not only give him insight into Jayce’s mind, but it could also draw them closer together for the mission. If Viktor indulged in more of Jayce’s hobbies, he could easily gather more evidence against him.

“Alright, I’ll read it then,” Viktor said, tucking the book under his arm.

“Great! I mean— Cool,” said Jayce, trying to hide his excitement behind a polite smile. “Actually, you could borrow mine— my mom’s book, if you want.”

“Sure,” Viktor replied, unable to stop himself from grinning. The target took the bait.

“Anyways, I should probably go soon. I need to be home to cook dinner,” Jayce said as he placed his final book on the shelf. “Did you want to come over or…?”

“N-no, it’s fine!” Viktor quickly answered. He still needed to stay at the Book & Cranny for the rest of his shift, so there was no way he would be going home early, nor would he be going home with Jayce. “I, uh, need to catch up on a few more things before I go,” he offered as his excuse.

“Sure, o-of course,” Jayce replied back, rubbing the back of his neck. “Th-thanks for today, V. I, uh, appreciate you being my partner.” Jayce wasn’t looking at Viktor anymore, but he could still see the redness on the tips of his ears.

“Yeah, thanks for your hard work,” Viktor echoed, also choosing to look away from Jayce. How did the mood get so awkward all of the sudden?

“Did you want to meet up again at my place? Like on Wednesday or something? I know you probably have work at the Academy tomorrow so…” Jayce still wasn’t looking at him, but he was making animated gestures as he spoke. “We don’t have to work on the project or anything— I’m actually a little behind on Mr. Wood’s class, so maybe if you could help— also, I know my mom would love to see you—”

“Okay, Jayce,” Viktor finally answered before Jayce could ramble on any further. “Maybe I will tutor you after all. That display during Wood’s class this morning was… eh, it wasn’t your best work.”

“So I looked stupid up there, didn’t I?”

“Jayce, you always do.”

Jayce returned a soft chuckle, yet again leaving Viktor with a fluttering in his chest. The boy waved one last goodbye to both him and Benzo before leaving for the night, driving off in his beat-up car. 

“I’m starting to think the feelin’ between you two’s mutual,” Benzo commented, not even looking up from the book he was reading.

“Just wait ‘til Vi hears about this,” Ekko added, lounging over the counter with his head propped up by his arm.

Viktor just sighed and returned to work, deciding to ignore any other comments from the father-son duo for the rest of the night. Overall, he thinks his plan was successful. He knew making a connection with Jayce would be easy; the other boy was clamoring for a chance to rekindle their friendship already. The real challenge was to get Jayce to open up, though Viktor assumed that can’t be too hard either. He already got a ticket to visit Jayce’s house, which meant he was closer to finding his next piece of evidence. Now that Viktor thought about it, Jayce never let him see his room during the times he’s visited; he would always complain about it being too messy or too cramped. Viktor suspects there are more things he’s hiding in his room.

His mission was now firmly in motion. He will be taking down Jayce Talis. No regrets, no remorse, no hard feelings.

Chapter Text

Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough. The night Jayce went home after spending time with Viktor at Benzo’s, he felt electric. Even his mom pointed out how jittery he was, but he couldn’t help it.

Viktor wants to be his friend again. At least, that’s how Jayce interprets it. Why would he ask to be partners on their next physics project otherwise? Or agree to help Jayce out in their college prep class? Maybe Jayce’s plan to rekindle their friendship was working. No matter the reason why, Jayce was happy, the happiest he’s felt in months.

Despite his mood, he was still anxious going into Tuesday considering what happened the day prior. But like Mel foretold, everyone already forgot about all the times Jayce made a fool of himself in public. So Jayce turned on the charisma as usual and managed to speedrun the day. He even offered Viktor a ride to the Academy, but he still declined. Jayce just had to be patient, he and Viktor just started talking again after all.

When Wednesday rolled in, Jayce swore the classes felt doubly long. Instead, he passed the time by daydreaming about that day at Benzo’s, or what lies ahead at his place. Despite the horrible, no good day he was having, just spending a few moments with Viktor was enough to wipe his memory of the past. 

He wasn’t being too weird with Viktor, right? About halfway through the day, Jayce realized that he had been staring too much at Viktor, leaning too close, laughing too hard— he hoped it wasn’t annoying. Though, maybe it’s because he missed Viktor, missed their banter and their closeness. The pitter-patter he feels in his heart is just because he’s excited to have his friend back and nothing else.

“Aaand we’ve lost him again,” said a gruff, annoyed voice next to him.

“He’s been more distracted recently, is something going on?” asked another, more sophisticated voice.

“It’s because he went on a date with that Viktor guy,” came another voice, and that was enough to snap Jayce back to reality.

“W-what? No, I didn’t—!” Jayce fired back, glaring daggers at Ekko, who was nonchalantly eating a sandwich. “We were just working on a project together, that’s all.”

“Yeah right, that’s why you were all over him at the bookstore,” Ekko said again, grinning to himself knowing that he’s riled Jayce up.

And he did, because Jayce could already feel his face burning red. “N-no, I wasn’t!”

“Dude, no way, Jay finally scored it with that tired-looking guy?” Vi cheered. “So what, your Plan’s finally working out for you, huh, pretty boy?”

Jayce stuffed his face into his hands. “I’m never sitting with you guys at lunch. Ever. Again.”

Their table just laughed at Jayce’s demise until Caitlyn finally decided to step in. “Alright, enough teasing everyone,” she reprimanded the group. “I’m glad things are going well with you and Viktor. So, how did this ‘date’ go?” she grinned.

“I thought you said no more teasing?” Jayce said with a pout, but there was no use getting mad at Caitlyn. He just sighed. “Again, not a date, but we were just coming up with ideas for our physics project. Then Ekko’s dad had us help around the store for some reason,” at this comment, Ekko just shrugged, “and then Viktor agreed to hang out again after school.” Jayce couldn’t help from a pleased smile forming across his face, and it must’ve been obvious because Caitlyn and Vi were giggling to each other.

“Speaking of after school,” butted in Powder, who wasn’t really engaged in the whole Viktor conversation, “I’m really excited for later!”

“Yeah, it’s gonna be so fun!” Ekko agreed. “How ‘bout you two? You guys are ready for later, right?”

“Definitely! I made sure this one right here,” Caitlyn gestured to Vi with an elbow to her side, “has all her things ready.”

“She wouldn’t give it up!” Vi complained. “She triple-checked with me this morning to make sure I had everything. Should’ve guessed you were so controlling, Cupcake.”

Jayce hadn’t a clue what the other four were talking about, but the group was content to ramble amongst themselves. Jayce was just glad that they had moved on from their previous conversation, and he could go back to enjoying his lunch. 

Time alone with his thoughts gave Jayce plenty of time to think about Viktor and their plans later. It had been a while since he’d been over, and even his mom was ecstatic to hear he was visiting and even prepared some food for them. Jayce was wondering if they should just take it slow and focus on school work, or if maybe Viktor would be down to play some video games. Either way, Jayce could feel himself tingling with excitement, a racing in his chest that he couldn’t control.

“How about you Jayce,” asked Caitlyn suddenly, “are you excited for later?”

“Yeah, very!” was his immediate response, though he wasn’t sure if he was really in the same conversation as the rest of the group. Before anyone could clarify what they were talking about, the lunch bell rang and the group dispersed.

“See ya later, Jay!” Vi called out as she walked away hand-in-hand with Caitlyn. Jayce bid farewell to the two girls and headed off to his next class.

Though Jayce wanted school to end as quickly as possible, he still savored his last two class periods as he got to spend more time with Viktor. Even if there wasn’t much space to hold conversations between the lecture or school work, Jayce would take any small interaction between him and Viktor. He was just glad Viktor didn’t turn him away this time. It really felt like they were on track to becoming friends again, and everything would be back to normal.

Well, as normal as it could be. Jayce was still a ‘popular kid,’ after all. He could still feel eyes on him the whole day, like when he sat with Vi and Caitlyn instead of the other popular kids. Or when he talked with Viktor, it was like he could hear whispers behind his back. Maybe he was being paranoid and delusional, just imagining things. Jayce’s worries were quickly swept away, however, once the final school bell rang. He was practically skipping to his car, with Viktor trailing behind him.

“Hey Talis,” called out a voice; it was Marcus. “Where are you off to?”

Jayce stopped in his tracks, turning around to address his hockey captain. “Ah, just heading home. Why?” he asked nervously.

“Loris and I were gonna practice some drills before practice on Friday, you in?” Marcus answered, gesturing over to Loris who stood beside him. Peaking over the taller boy’s shoulder, Jayce could also spot the familiar crew of Maddie, Salo and Steb, presumably going to the rink with the other two as well.

“Sorry guys,” Jayce replied as he smiled sheepishly, “I have some school work to catch up on, so…”

“‘School work?’” Marcus immediately questioned, sauntering over to Jayce and draping his arm around his shoulders. “But you’re wonder boy Jayce Talis,” he said with flair, “you’ve got as much muscle in your bicep as you do in your head. You don’t need to study, you need to get ready for our season.”

Jayce hesitated; he is admittedly very bad at saying no to people, especially to people like Marcus. Technically yes, he’s not so far behind in Mr. Wood’s class to really justify needing to be tutored, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. Plus, of course Jayce would want to spend more time with Viktor now that their friendship was rekindling. But was that selfish for him to indulge in? Should he instead spend time practicing for the benefit of their hockey team?

When Jayce couldn’t find the words to respond to Marcus, Viktor intervened. “Actually, Jayce has somewhere else to be,” he said, stepping up and making himself known to the senior boy.

Marcus looked at Viktor with a mixture of disgust and amusement. “Wow, Jayce Talis: too weak to stand up for himself that when Mommy Mel isn’t here to protect her trophy wife, some Undercity sumprat has to do it himself.”

“H-hey—!” Jayce tried to spit back, but his voice cracked and his words faltered.

“It’s alright, I see how it is,” Marcus said as he backed away. “Go have fun with your little boy toy. I’ll see you at practice on Friday. Better be in top form, Talis, or I’ll have you running drills all day.” With that final threat, Marcus left with the rest of his gang, whispering one last thing into Salo’s ear as the other boy looked at Viktor and Jayce with a smirk.

Salo’s word was something to be feared. The silver-tongued boy was no stranger to a rumor or two, and he was partially the reason for Jayce’s surge in popularity. Maybe it was something he should be thankful for, or maybe not. But there was one thing for certain: never show weakness in front of Salo, because that boy will sow his seeds throughout campus to bear fruits of his making. In essence, the social survival of any student at River Pilt High lived and died by Salo’s word. So Jayce was terrified.

“Jayce, let’s go,” Viktor called out, but Jayce was still frozen in place, mind running in circles as he thought about the implications of Marcus and Salo’s whispers. “Jayce?” Still no response. “Jayce. ” Viktor roughly grabbed at Jayce’s jacket sleeve and gave it a firm tug, which was enough to snap Jayce out of it.

“H-huh? Oh, right,” Jayce replied, head bowed. “C’mon, V.” The ride over to Jayce’s house was silent, with all of the energy leading up to having been sucked away.

It had been months since Viktor had been to Jayce’s apartment, so now that all of his excitement had gone away, nerves replaced it instead. Jayce could feel the tips of his fingers tingle with adrenaline as the two climbed up the stairs to their third-floor apartment (Jayce had to stop a few times to make sure Viktor was doing okay with his knee). When it finally came time to enter his home, Jayce felt like his heart would burst out of his chest.

“Hey mom!” Jayce greeted as they entered, spotting his mom preparing something in the kitchen. “Um, Viktor’s here.”

“Hello, Mrs. Talis,” Viktor greeted politely.

“Ah, hello, Viktor!” Ximena walked over to the two boys, giving Jayce a kiss on the cheek and Viktor an awkward yet warm hug. “So glad you can finally stop by again!”

“Eh, your son needed my help, and you know I’m eager to teach him a lesson or two,” Viktor replied with a grin, and Ximena chuckled.

“You boys are always so funny,” she said as she pinched both of their cheeks, to the annoyance and endearment of the two boys. “And for a moment I thought you weren’t Jayce’s friend anymore.”

“Uh…” Both Jayce and Viktor shot a look at each other, but Jayce was quick to change the subject.

“Something smells good, mom!” said Jayce as he inspected what his mom was cooking up. In the kitchen and on the stoves, Ximena seemed to have prepared several snacks as well as a stew. “Woah, that's a lot of food!”

“Of course! I know you’re having friends over, so I had to make sure you guys had enough to eat,” Ximena replied.

“But there’s only two of us…” Jayce muttered under his breath, amazed at the bountiful feast that laid before them, but confused at the notion that three people would be eating this much.

Jayce and Viktor settled themselves in the living room, sprawling all of their notes and writing materials all over the table. Back when Viktor visited often, they would always work in Jayce’s living room or the kitchen. His excuse was always that it was spacious enough for them to work in, and that wasn’t technically a lie. Jayce’s room is quite cramped, but that’s because of something he wasn’t willing to admit to anyone.

Jayce’s room was filled with fan memorabilia; posters, figurines, plushies, everything . Jayce and his mom weren’t particularly wealthy, but whatever extra income Jayce did have went straight to buying merchandise of his favorite pieces of media. He’s always had this habit of collecting things (Ximena says he got it from his father). Jayce wondered if he would sell or otherwise get rid of his collection when he was older, but he wasn’t at that point yet. Though, he did find his obsessions a bit embarrassing, which is why no one but him was allowed in his room, his sanctuary. 

Not even Viktor would be allowed in his room. He’d rather be caught dead than have Viktor discover his stash and realize how much of a loser he really is.

“You know Jayce, I’ve always wondered why we don’t ever hang out in your room,” Viktor pondered aloud in the middle of their study session, which nearly made Jayce spit out his drink.

“W-what?” he asked, confused as to why now Viktor was curious about his room. “I-I mean, I told you before— it’s too messy in there.”

“Eh, I’ve never been too bothered by any kind of mess,” Viktor shot back. “Plus, if you consider your car a mess, then perhaps I won’t find your room any less a disaster.”

Jayce could feel a thin layer of sweat form on his brow. He had to get out of this situation somehow, or else Viktor might actually talk him into showing off his room. Then, a thought occurred to Jayce, one that made his heart race and his cheeks feel warm, but it felt like his only option.

“Why are you so interested in getting in my room, hm?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, insinuating as much as he could muster in his words. 

And it worked, because Viktor’s pale skin immediately turned red. “It’s not like that, Jayce, y-you idiot,” he scolded. “I was just curious and nothing else— is it so wrong for a friend to ask about someone’s room—?”

Jayce couldn’t help but grin. “So you agree we’re friends again?”

Viktor became slack-jawed, his expression so baffled and adorable Jayce wished he could take a picture. “N-no—! Jayce Talis, that is not what I meant—”

Their teasing was swiftly interrupted by a sudden knock at the door, and Jayce wondered who else that could be. He wasn’t expecting anyone else to come over… right?

Ximena walked over to the door and opened, a wide smile spreading across her face as she greeted whoever was by the door. “Caitlyn! So nice to see you again, mija!”

“And to you as well, Mrs. Talis!” Jayce watched as a familiar raven-haired girl wrapped his mom in a tight embrace. Then, a few other figures entered the living room.

“Nice place you got here, Jay,” came Vi’s voice, taking in the scenery of Jayce’s apartment before her eyes fell upon Jayce and Viktor. “Oh, uh, are we interrupting something?”

“Viktor?” Ekko walked in as well, with Powder trailing not too far behind him. “Is he joining us, too?”

“Wha— What are you guys doing here?” Jayce asked, confused as he got up from his and Viktor’s setup in the living room.

“Don’t tell me you forgot,” pouted Powder. “We’re supposed to meet up today to play that game, remember?”

“'Game?’ Wait a minute—”

Oh. It all made sense now. What they were talking about during lunch, his mom preparing this much food for his ‘friends’ who were coming over. Jayce just forgot because he was too preoccupied with Viktor. He was supposed to play D&D with his friends today.

Jayce froze again, paralyzed by the decision to choose between his friends or Viktor. Should he just tell Viktor to go home? But he drove him here, so he would need to bring him back to his place. Should he cancel with his friends? But they just got here, and they were all so excited to play today.

“Ah, sorry about this V,” Jayce apologized. “I kinda forgot I would have other friends over today.”

Viktor looked at Jayce’s other friends, a curious and not-at-all mad expression on his face. In fact, Jayce could’ve sworn there was a mischievous glint in Viktor’s eyes. “Ah, it’s not a problem, Jayce. May I ask what you are all here for?”

“We should be asking you that,” Vi said accusingly. “We called dibs on Jayce first.”

“Eh, apologies, I was only here to help your friend here catch up on some of his class work,” Viktor explained calmly. 

“Jayce? Catch up on class?” Caitlyn repeated with scrutiny. “Well, we’re here to play Dungeons & Dragons, have you played?”

Viktor grinned, though Jayce wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or worried. “No, can’t say I have. But I have heard of it, and I am curious.” Viktor turned his attention to Jayce, a pleased smile on his face. “You wouldn’t mind if I stayed and observed the game, do you?”

“Uh, n-no—! I mean, you’re more than welcome to stay, if you want,” Jayce sputtered. He was equally as excited as he was mortified. 

Jayce often worried about how others perceived him based on his hobbies; Caitlyn was never an issue since they basically grew together, Vi and the rest of the gang were a bit worrisome at first but seem to be taking Jayce’s nerdy side in stride, but Viktor was someone Jayce could never fully read. Cool, calm, and collected, Jayce was constantly worried about disappointing Viktor somehow. In truth, Jayce admired Viktor. In every way, Jayce wanted to prove himself to the other boy, but he never knew how. Impressing other students was a walk in the park for Jayce (despite how exhausted he is by the end of it), but Viktor was an enigma. Jayce just never knew how to act, and he didn’t know why.

“Alright, that settles it then,” Caitlyn announced with arms crossed, snapping Jayce out of his spiraling thoughts. “C’mon, Bramble, the rest of us can hardly wait!”

Jayce looked at the eager faces of the younger kids in the room, Powder and Ekko, who were excited to play the game Jayce had prepared. Seeing those two reminded Jayce of when he was younger, playing the same make-believe games with Caitlyn and his parents. Those were fond memories for him, so perhaps he could make some fond memories for them, too.

“Alright, let me get everything set up!” he said with a grin as the rest of them cheered.

It had been a series of ups and downs all day for Jayce, but he hoped that the rest of the day would be a high point. Admittedly, it had been a while since Jayce had played D&D, but he spends a lot of his downtime thinking about new campaigns or worlds, imagining what characters or monsters inhabited them. Jayce had always been passionate about fantasy and magic; it helped him and his family get through some rough patches in their lives, something Jayce was always thankful for. It may seem childish to others, but Jayce cherished those moments all the same, so when he gets the opportunity to share that with others, he gets filled with a lively energy.

Today’s task was to get everyone familiarized with the game and make a few characters, otherwise known as a session zero. Ximena brought along the feast she prepared, so the kitchen table was now sprawling with notes, dice, and food. Caitlyn had played a few games when she was younger, but that was years ago so she was quite rusty. Ekko seemed knowledgeable enough about the game, telling Jayce that he had always wanted to play but could never convince their friend group to do so. Powder was often confused but she had the spirit, equally fueled by Ekko’s eagerness for the game. It was Vi who took Jayce by surprise, since Jayce thought this ‘nerdy shit’ would be below her, but she seemed to enjoy it as long as her little sister and girlfriend were having fun. 

Viktor quietly nodded along as the group conversed amongst themselves, taking a few notes himself and asking a few questions here and there. He sat next to Jayce and took a peak at some of his notes with an amused smile.

“You thought of all of this?” he asked, looking at a crudely drawn map that Jayce had made.

“Uh, y-yeah,” Jayce chuckled nervously. “Guess my note-taking in class is just as jumbled as this is.”

“No, this is… good,” Viktor replied, his eyes still wandering across the piles of paper in front of him. Jayce’s heart fluttered at the compliment (if it was one, he could never be too sure with Viktor).

“Well, since everyone is just about ready, why don’t we do a quick introduction session?” Jayce announced, getting everyone to settle into their seats.

“Are you going to make us start in a tavern?” Caitlyn asked with a teasing smirk.

“No, of course not!” Jayce joked back. “Anyways, we find ourselves at a tavern…” The whole group laughed, making Jayce bristle with pride. It would normally feel uncomfortable to have so many eyes on him, but he felt himself get swept away as he began to describe the scene.

Though Jayce loved imagining fantastical scenarios, he never said he was original. So, the group did start in a tavern, looking for their next adventure. Vi decided to play a rowdy monk character, who went on to nearly cause a bar fight trying to get answers out of Jayce’s quest-giving NPC. Ekko was more interested in advancing the storyline, playing as an inquisitive half-elf rogue and managing to actually receive their quest. 

It was a fairly simple first quest; Jayce just wanted everyone to get a feel for their characters before the real story could begin. The party was tasked to hunt down a rather voracious wolf-like monster in the outskirts of their town. Caitlyn was able to use her high elf ranger’s tracking abilities to trace the beast’s footsteps, and now the party was dead-set on defeating this beast.

It took a while to get into the swing of things, but well into an hour in their session, Jayce was up from his seat, making animated gestures and wild voices. He was scared to do so at first, maybe worried he would be ridiculed by his new friends, but they were all so invested in the story he had to tell that it didn’t matter anymore. Caitlyn, Vi, Ekko, and Powder were just as energized to play, all managing to get into character pretty easily as they went along. There were a few hiccups here and there, some arguments about dice roles and certain rules, but otherwise the game was running smoothly.

Jayce would often look to his side where Viktor was sitting, watching as the other five kids played this fantasy game. He looked on with an amused smile, often laughing at their antics or even making a sly comment or two. Sometimes, Jayce would catch Viktor looking up at him, awe and admiration in his face. And again, that made Jayce feel happy.

Then, for some reason, part way through their session, Viktor took out his phone and took a picture of Jayce. There was a lull in the gameplay as the other players decided their next course of action. Jayce himself was skimming through the rulebook, just making sure everything was going along smoothly. He glanced at a few notes hidden behind his DM screen, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Viktor with his phone out and pointed at him, before hearing the familiar click of a photo being taken. Viktor locked eyes with Jayce in shock, aware that he had been caught.

“Uh, what was—?” Jayce meant to ask, but then he was swiftly interrupted. 

“Okay, so I’m gonna use my magic monkey cannon to fire at the big wolf guy!” Powder’s words exploded out of her mouth.

Jayce hesitated for a moment. He turned to look at Viktor only to see that his phone was gone, and his attention turned elsewhere; maybe he had imagined it? “Alright then,” Jayce responded, turning his focus back on the game, “go ahead and roll a d20 plus your spell attack modifier!”

“That’s a, uh…” Powder took the dice in her hands and the twenty-sided die, reading the number printed on its face. “A natural 20!”

The table exploded in noise, everyone getting up out of their chairs and cheering at the odds of landing the perfect 20 on the die. Jayce couldn’t even be mad (the wolf was about to die anyway), he was just so happy to see the rest of the group holler and applaud at the feat.

“Take that, wolf bastard!” Vi whooped, holding out a middle finger on both hands at the wolf figurine placed on the crudely drawn map.

“Hey, watch your manners!” Caitlyn scolded, earning her a cheeky grin for her girlfriend.

“Nice going, Powder!” Ekko cheered, tossing his arm around Powder’s shoulder and hugging her tightly (a soft pink colored both of their cheeks, a sight Jayce made sure to take note of going forward).

“Alright Powder, how do you wanna do this?” Jayce asked the age old question, hands planted on his hips as he watched the younger girl consider her finishing move carefully.

“Okay, so, my monkey bomb walks over to the big wolf guy, and it explodes in this massive colorful fireball!” Powder exclaimed, making her own sound effects as she mimed the effect of the explosion over the wolf figurine.

“Alright, you guys watch as Powder’s artillery cannon, built to look like a little monkey, walks over to the beast undetected,” Jayce narrated dramatically. “The wolf, clamoring for the last inches of its life, doesn’t even realize the small invention has gotten close, until you hear this massive explosion as the wolf is engulfed in colorful, bright blue flames! As your eyes begin to adjust to the scene, you watch as the beast topples over, its fur burnt and matted with blood; you guys have successfully taken down your bounty!”

There was one final hurrah from the group, and even Viktor was cheering alongside the rest of Jayce’s friends. The group spent a few more moments talking about the game afterwards between snacking and cleaning up their mess. Everyone agreed that the game was so fun, and that they were excited for their next session. Jayce was just as excited, if a little stressed now that it seems they’ve officially started their campaign. Either way, Jayce was glad everyone had a good time. At the end of the day, the group said their goodbyes, and Jayce took Viktor in his car to drop him off at his place.

“So, what did you think?” Jayce asked as he drove, eager to hear Viktor’s opinion.

“It was very entertaining to watch, I’ll admit,” said Viktor with a smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make those faces before, or even make those voices.”

Jayce laughed, cringing at himself in hindsight. “Yeah, I can get pretty deep into my characters. I bet it was kind of embarrassing to watch.”

“Yeah…” was Viktor’s muted response. The tone of his voice was enough to shoot a pang through Jayce’s chest. 

What did he mean by that? So was what Jayce did embarrassing after all? Did Viktor think differently of him now? Suddenly, Jayce remembered how he caught Viktor with his phone earlier.

As they pulled up to Viktor’s apartment, Jayce pondered bringing up what he saw. “So, Viktor, um…”

“Yes?” the other boy turned to him, looking expectantly at Jayce. They locked eyes, and Jayce hesitated again.

Maybe he was just paranoid as he always was. Maybe the phone meant nothing, and Jayce was just imagining things. He and Viktor just started becoming friends again; he didn’t want to lose that by accusing him of something he may or may not have done.

“Uh, here—” Jayce turned around and grabbed something from the back seat of his car, a used copy of The Ruined King , and handed it to Viktor. “It’s my book— no—”

“Right, your mom’s book, ” Viktor corrected him, flashing a knowing smile at Jayce. “Thank you, Jayce, I appreciate it. I’ll be sure to let you know if it's worth the popularity.”

Jayce chuckled to himself; Viktor saw straight through him as usual. They both got out of his car, with Jayce escorting Viktor to his front door (Viktor protested at first, but Jayce was already at his side of the car and opening his door for him). Just as Viktor reached for the keys to his door, Jayce remembered something in the back of his mind. “Hey, so, um…”

“What is now, Jayce?” questioned Viktor with feigned annoyance.

“Well, if you’re not busy…” Jayce could feel his heart banging against his ribcage. “Did you want to maybe… go to homecoming?”

Viktor went slack-jawed. “W-with you?”

“N-no— well, yes, but—” Jayce panicked, his words failing to form cohesive sentences. “Just as, y’know, friends.”

Viktor just looked at him with a bewildered expression. “As ‘friends?’”

“Yeah, I mean— You could invite Sky, too, y’know. I think it’ll be fun. I helped paint some of the banners, so you could go to make fun of them if you want.”

Viktor laughed at the absurdity of Jayce’s request, leaving the other boy to chuckle nervously at his response. “Me, go to homecoming with you and your ‘friends?’”

Jayce frowned for a moment, his eyes cast aside. He knew Viktor hated crowds and parties, and he knew that Viktor would not be interested in hanging out with the likes of Marcus and Maddie. There was no way he would agree to go to an event as big as homecoming with Jayce. 

But deep down, he wanted him to say yes. Being at events like this with the ‘friends’ he has now… it made Jayce feel lonely. Of course, Vi and Caitlyn would be there, too, but he knew he was gonna get himself swept away by the popular crowd again. If Viktor was there with him… 

“You’re right, just forget I asked,” he responded coldly.

“No, Jayce—” Just as Jayce turned to walk back to his car, Viktor reached out and grabbed his shoulder. The two boys turned to face each other, amber meeting hazel once more. They were frozen in place, shocked at what just happened. Viktor quickly recoiled his hand, surprised with himself. “I’ll think about it,” was all he said after an awkward beat.

Jayce let go of his breath, a small smile curling at the edge of his lips. He didn’t feel the need to say anything else. As he walked back to his car, he waved one last time to Viktor. “Thanks again, V. I had a good time,” he said with a sad yet sincere smile.

Viktor hesitated, and in the dim lighting of the evening sky, Jayce could’ve sworn he saw him with a pained expression on his face. “See you tomorrow, Jayce,” he replied softly.

That night, Jayce could barely sleep, his mind racing as he overanalyzed every little moment spent with Viktor that day. His expression, his tone, that picture he took. What did it all mean?

For some reason, Jayce couldn’t help but feel unease churning in his gut.

Chapter Text

Viktor hadn’t stopped thinking about Jayce’s question since he asked, and it had already been about a week. Homecoming was this coming Saturday, and Viktor could feel the time ticking away. 

He should’ve just said no. Jayce knew that Viktor despised social events, so he was sure that the other boy would understand if he declined. But something about Jayce’s big, sad puppy eyes convinced him enough to say ‘maybe.’ ‘Maybe!’ That was basically a ‘yes’ in Jayce’s book. 

It didn't help that things were quite awkward between him and Jayce right now. Afterall, Jayce had caught Viktor taking a picture of him. Viktor often found himself staring at the photo on his phone: a photo of Jayce looking contemplatively at a rulebook, those large square glasses perched on his face again, perfectly posed right behind a tri-fold screen that had a dragon printed in the front. In any other case, the photo would’ve looked cool, but Viktor meant to use this as evidence against Jayce. He had since placed both photos, this one and the one of the pastry, into a flash drive that he carried with him everywhere. Maybe it was impractical, but Viktor wanted to feel secure knowing he had the evidence with him.

Since that day, Viktor’s interactions with Jayce have been limited. They still greeted each other in passing, and they were still working together on their project, but Viktor noticed that Jayce wasn’t approaching him as often as he used to. Viktor, however, didn’t feel too guilty about the photo, because he was certain Jayce’s popular posse was to blame for his estranged behavior. At every possible moment, Viktor noticed that Jayce was constantly with one of their group, like that arrogant hockey captain or that cheeky basketball girl. In tandem, Viktor swore he could feel more eyes on him recently, hear more people talking behind his back.

This was no doubt the work of one of River Pilt’s most notorious students, Salo. That damn nepo baby probably said something about him and Jayce, and now Jayce was keeping his distance. To Viktor, it was all the more reason to rescue Jayce and show him who he really is, a nerdy, dorky loser like him.

“So, any plans this Saturday, Ms. Young?” Viktor asked as nonchalantly as he could, but Sky clocked his intentions immediately.

“Other than not going to homecoming? No, not really,” she replied as she took a bite of her lunch. “And you?”

Viktor nervously cleared his throat. “Well, since you seem free that evening, would you like to, ah, go to homecoming with me?”

Sky looked at Viktor with a mixture of amusement and confusion. “You, Viktor, are asking me to homecoming? Maybe the world is ending.”

“Just as friends, Sky!” Viktor emphasized. 

“Y’know, last time I asked you out, you outright turned me down, said you were only interested in a professional relationship,” she said with a smug look. “Maybe I should return the favor and turn you down this time.”

“Sky, I’m sorry—”

“No, no, it’s fine, Viktor,” she waved him off, not yet done having her fun with him, “I should’ve known you don’t swing that way, especially given how you love to ogle at Jay—”

“S-Sky!” Viktor slammed his hands down on the lunch table, knee suddenly sore with how quickly he shot up in his seat. The surrounding tables got quiet, all turning to look at Viktor, who’s face was burning red. “Ehe, sorry…” he apologized to the other tables with a cheeky smile as he sat back down.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing,” Sky finally relented. “But why are you going to homecoming exactly? Is this part of that plan of yours?”

“Well, yes and no,” Viktor explained. “While going to homecoming to appease Jayce does help me build my reputation with him, I’m mostly going under the guidance of Professor Heimerdinger.”

“‘Professor Heimerdinger?’ The founder of Piltover told you to go to your high school homecoming?” Sky said incredulously.

“Not that specifically, Ms. Young, don’t be ridiculous,” said Viktor as he rolled his eyes. “He said that I am lacking in the social aspect of my career path, that if I intend to be a successful scientist at the Academy, I should look to foster more connections with my peers. And if Jayce is still serious about attending the Academy, it wouldn’t hurt to start that connection now.”

“And would you feel better if I came with you.”

Viktor sighed. “Yes, Sky. I would very much appreciate it if you could accompany me to this event. I’m still not quite comfortable in large gatherings…”

Sky smiled fondly at Viktor. “Alright, Vik. I’ll escort you to your little gala. Maybe I’ll talk to a cute boy while I’m there, ask him to dance with me,” she chuckled. “Hopefully he doesn’t turn me down. Don’t know if I’ll be able to handle that again.”

Viktor laughed alongside Sky, relieved to now have a friend joining him that evening if things went south between him and Jayce. Not that he wanted things to go south. No, in fact he wanted things to go very well between the two of them, so that Viktor could further advance his mission to take him down. He wasn’t going to give up yet, and getting caught once does not guarantee that he’ll get caught again. He just has to be more careful.

“So I’ll pick you up at your place around 8?” Sky asked as the lunch bell rang.

Viktor smiled. “I’ll see you then.”

✧✧✧

It was the day of homecoming, and Jayce had probably checked his outfit out in the mirror around seven times by now. It didn’t help that he accidentally stained his one good pair of slacks, so now Jayce had to pull up to homecoming in dark wash jeans. He hoped the rest of his outfit wasn’t too bad: he had on a nicely ironed white dress shirt, a wine red tie, and a silvery grey suit jacket. His hair was styled as usual (he tried a few other hairstyles but they were… a choice), and despite it potentially clashing with his outfit, he still wore the crystal-studded leather band on his left wrist as he always does. It was his good luck charm, something he was never without, and he definitely needed some good luck tonight.

Who was he trying to impress at homecoming anyway? Sure, he invited Viktor, but he highly doubted he would actually show up. No, Jayce was actually worried about impressing someone before he went to homecoming.

“Jayce, don’t want to be late!” Ximena came into his room, reprimanding him for his tardiness once again. “Oy, stop looking at yourself already, you look fine. Here, don’t forget this.” 

His mom pressed a bouquet of flowers into his chest as he frantically grabbed at it. Jayce looked down at the fragrant display, something he had picked up from the local flower shop on his way back from the dry cleaners. It was a beautiful arrangement of pink carnations and yellow roses: a gift for Mel.

“Don’t know why you didn’t do red roses, but I guess you don’t want to intimidate your girlfriend in front of her mother, hm?” Ximena commented as she flattened the collar on Jayce’s suit jacket.

Right. Mel’s mom, Mrs. Medarda. That’s who Jayce needed to impress tonight. Though they hadn’t been dating long (if 'dating' was really a term that applied to them, it was still a finicky label), apparently Mel’s mother had insisted on meeting Jayce before they both left for homecoming. So yeah, Jayce was understandably nervous. 

“Alright, wish me luck,” he said with a stilted smile and a crack in his voice.

With a comforting smile, Ximena once again cupped her son's cheeks in her hands. “Oh, hijo mío, estarás bien. Mel is very lucky to have you, and I’m sure you’ll make a great impression on her mother.”

Jayce sighed before pulling his mom into a tight embrace. “ Gracias, mamá…” he replied softly.

Ximena returned the hug for a small moment, before she quickly pushed her son away. “But you’re not going to impress her if you’re late, so go! Ve rapido!”

“Okay, okay—!” Jayce said as he was quickly ushered out of his room and eventually out of their home. “Bye mom, te amo!” he called out as he raced down the stairs and to his car.

“Love you, too! Have fun!” she responded before heading back inside.

When Jayce got to Mel’s house, he simply parked his car before pacing back and forth on the sidewalk for several minutes. Her house wasn’t as grand as he expected, but it still reached Piltover-levels of opulence. It was painted in a similar pearly white as the rest of the houses around the block, with a red-tiled roof and gold embellishments around the exterior. There was a large, gold gate that surrounded the perimeter, though not as extreme as the gate surrounding House Kiramman (he and Caitlyn would always hurt themselves climbing over that thing). And it made sense; Mel isn’t originally from Piltover, so this house was temporary for her. 

But still, this house was leagues beyond the tiny apartment that Jayce lived in; he was even in a part of the city that he had never been to before, normally reserved for higher-class families. In his crooked grey suit jacket and wrinkled dark jeans, Jayce felt out of place.

“‘Hi, Mrs. Medarda—’ no, that’s too informal,” Jayce muttered as he rehearsed to himself. “‘Hello, Madame Medarda—’ ‘Madame?’ Ugh, you’ve fully lost it, Talis.”

“Oh, you’ve definitely lost it.”

“Eek—!” Jayce physically jumped as he heard the voice next to him, relaxing only to see that it was Mel by his side. “M-Mel—? Oh Janna, you scared the sh— shingles out of me…” Jayce corrected himself, not yet fully aware of who else may be nearby; he didn’t want to cuss in front of his girlfriend’s mother, not when he’s meeting her for the first time.

Mel just chuckled at the display of a dishevelled Jayce. “Relax, Golden Boy. What are you doing out here besides embarrassing yourself?”

“Er, trying not to embarrass myself in front of your mom?”

Mel cocked an eyebrow at him. “Well, you’re already doing plenty of that. My mum noticed your car pull up and saw a particularly frazzled boy pace up and down our sidewalk. I had to come collect you lest she think you’re deranged.”

Jayce pinched the bridge of his nose; there goes his first impression. “Great. So I’ve ruined it already.”

Mel clicked her tongue. “Not quite, but your chances grow slimmer the longer we’re out here. Come.” Mel wrapped an arm around Jayce’s, pulling him towards her front door, before Jayce dug his heel into the pavement.

“W-wait!” he called out. Mel turned to him, perplexed.

“What is it?”

“I, uh, have something for you.” Jayce opened the passenger seat of his car, pulling out the bouquet of flowers and holding it to Mel. The flowers were drooping a bit after having sat in the car for a while, but otherwise were still as bright and fragrant as they were earlier.

Mel took the bouquet with a pleased smile. “Pink and yellow: appreciation and friendship. Someone knows their flower languages.”

“Hah,” Jayce sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “The man at the flower shop helped me pick those out. I just thought, well, you deserved it.”

There was a pained smile on Mel’s face, not too different from what Jayce had seen the other day. A similar pained expression coming from Viktor floated into Jayce’s memory. In some ways, the two were alike. Both held importance in Jayce’s life, and he admired both of them. But like Viktor, Jayce often had a hard time discerning Mel’s true thoughts and feelings.

After a beat of silence, Mel replied, “Thank you, Jayce. This is really sweet of you. Now, you didn’t do all this to impress my mother, did you?”

Jayce chuckled nervously. “Of course not! Well, maybe… kinda. But I did want to get you something.”

As a return for the kind gesture, Mel leaned forward and gave Jayce a small kiss on the cheek. “Alright, let’s head inside before my mother starts complaining again. Oh, and my brother will be joining us for dinner as well.”

“Don’t tell me I have to impress your brother too?” Jayce said as Mel dragged him along.

Mel let out a hearty laugh, something Jayce doesn’t hear often. “Please, anything you do is already monumentally more impressive than whatever my brother does. You could breathe and my mother would be more convinced by you than by my brother.”

“Yeesh, sibling rivalry, much?” Jayce joked, but Mel rolled her eyes.

“You can’t tell me you and Caitlyn aren’t much the same. I love to tease my brother but sometimes he deserves it.” As they got to Mel’s front door, Jayce’s heart started racing. He could feel his palms start to sweat, but Mel grabbed his hand and held it in hers. The two locked gazes, ease slowly seeping into his veins as Jayce stared into Mel’s soft green eyes. “He’ll love you.”

Jayce took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s do this.”

And with one final nod, Mel opened the front door to the Medarda household. “Mum, Kino, Jayce is here!”

The inside of the house was just as grand as Jayce expected: marbled floors, dark mahogany furniture, and glass chandeliers in the main entrance. From down the hall, Jayce spotted a head peak out from what he assumed was another room. Upon recognizing the two of them, the head ducked away before materializing once more as a full body, and a young man about college-age walked up to Mel and Jayce.

“Mel! And your boyfriend Jayce,” he said in a grandiose manner.

“Jayce, this is my older brother Kino,” Mel introduced.

Jayce thrust out his arm, maybe a little too quickly, to shake Kino’s hand. “N-nice to meet you, Kino.”

Kino noticed Jayce’s nervous energy but didn’t acknowledge it beyond a curious cocked brow. He took Jayce’s hand in his and shook it. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Y’know, Mel here is always talking about you.”

“Really?” Jayce asked in a surprised tone, looking back at Mel, who shied away from his gaze.

“Oh yeah,” Kino continued, clearly entertained by his little sister’s embarrassment. “It’s always ‘Jayce says this,’ ‘Jayce does that,’ with her. My little sister is properly infatuated with you.”

“Kino,” Mel intervened with a stressed tone, “perhaps we should join mother for dinner, hm?”

“Right, of course!” Kino beamed, walking behind Mel and Jayce to usher them towards the dining room. “Wouldn’t want to embarrass you without mum watching,” he said with a grin.

Mel groaned and rolled her eyes. She held Jayce’s hand again and gave it a tight squeeze. “Remember, you’ll be fine,” she whispered. “Just be yourself.”

Like that isn’t hard enough already, Jayce thought to himself. He just swallowed his racing heart back into his chest as they entered yet another grand room. A large dining table filled the center, as more twinkling chandeliers hovered above them. A deep, dark red rug covered the floor beneath the table, which was already set with dinner plates and utensils. From the kitchen next door, Jayce could smell something savory and fragrant wafting in the air.

“Mum, Jayce is here!” Mel called out again, peeking her head into the kitchen.

“Wonderful! I’m almost done preparing our meal,” came a loud, husky voice. “Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll be out shortly. Kino, come help me in here.”

“Yes, mother,” Kino replied somewhat begrudgingly, heading into the kitchen following his mother’s voice.

Jayce and Mel took their seats at the table, sitting next to each other, and after a few moments passed, Kino and Mrs. Medarda entered the dining room with large plates of food, namely what seemed like a large boiled lobster and a platter with a few steaks on it. Without a doubt, Jayce could feel himself salivating upon seeing the meal; it looked absolutely delicious.

“Jayce! It is so good to finally meet you,” Mrs. Medarda greeted as she placed a firm hand on his shoulder. 

Jayce immediately got up from his chair and politely bowed his head. “And it is my pleasure to meet you as well, ma’am,” he said as she shook her hand (he noted that her grip was quite strong).

“Oh please, child, no need for such formalities. You may call me Ambessa,” she replied before taking her seat at the head of the table, with Kino sitting across from Mel and Jayce. “Please, help yourselves!”

Jayce hesitated for a moment, waiting for at least Mel or Kino to grab their servings first before he got anything, though he couldn’t deny how excited he was to try the food. And he was right to be so, because the steak melted in his mouth and the lobster was buttery smooth. The four of them enjoyed their meal in silence for a few moments, before Mel elbowed subtly at Jayce’s side to start idle conversation. Jayce quickly swallowed his food and followed suit.

“The food is fantastic, Mis— I mean, Ambessa,” Jayce corrected himself, though it did feel weird to call her by her first name.

Ambessa held a pleased smile on her face. “Thank you, Jayce. I figured I’d prepare my best meal for such an esteemed guest. My Mel does often speak fondly of you.”

“Sh-she does?” Jayce stuttered, slightly embarrassed and flattered. He tried to look at Mel again, but she turned away just like earlier.

“Why yes! Says you’re quite the inspiration to her,” Ambessa continued as she took a sip from her gold wine glass. “Tell me, Jayce, what are your plans for the future?”

“Whew, getting into the hard questions already, huh mum?” Kino muttered, earning him a stern glare from Ambessa.

Jayce chose to ignore the noticeable tension and decided to just answer her questions. “Ah well, I actually hope to be a scientist or engineer. I’m actually working towards attending Piltover Academy.”

“Of course, a top choice for anyone interested in the field. What makes you interested in such a career?” Ambessa continued interrogating.

Jayce had prepared for this since Mel had warned him that her mother would likely ask him about his ambitions. Mel’s mother is very goal-oriented, being a known general for Noxus. That fact did intimidate Jayce, but his goal of attending the Academy was his passion. He was always more than willing to tell anyone who would hear him out on his dream. 

“Well, I actually come from a long line of laborers, workers, and other handy-men, people who have helped build the city of Piltover.” As he spoke, he could feel his nerves slowly melt away. There was a new energy in his voice, and he could feel a driving force behind his words. “I want to do something similar, improve the lives of people in not just this city but also across the bridge in Zaun, too, like maybe invent new technologies that enhance accessibility for all people.”

“Such a noble cause for a young boy,” said Ambessa as she nodded along, though Jayce wasn’t sure if she was being patronizing or not. “But Mel here says you’re also quite charismatic, a leading influence in your school. Have you perhaps considered a career more suited for your character?”

Now Jayce was confused. Sure, he could be charismatic if he wants to be, but what did that have to do with his career? “Um, what do you mean by that, ma’am?”

“Ambessa, child,” the matriarch corrected. “If what I hear about you is true, then you should be seeking a career in politics. We need someone with the same passion and drive as you leading our cities and our nations, not our science research,” Ambessa laughed to herself, taking another sip of her drink. “The University of Noxus offers high-quality education on an esteemed campus with exemplary professors. Mel will be attending next year once she graduates.”

That was news to Jayce. “Wait, I thought Mel wanted to go to the Academy—?”

“Shh—!” Mel tried to silence him, but it was already too late.

“Mel? Attend the Academy?” Ambessa let out a boisterous laugh, one that echoed down the marble hallways of their house and rang in Jayce’s ears. “No offense to you, child, but Mel will not be attending such an institute. The Academy is for dreamers. Mel needs to go to a proper university that incites immediate action.”

“There is no shame in attending the Academy, mother,” Mel spat back. “Noxus’s curriculum is nothing but military courses and combat tactics. The law track at the Academy is just as rigorous and more studious, I don’t see why I can’t just study here instead of your alma mater.”

“Because your home is in Noxus, Mel, by my side. Once you finish high school, we will be going back to Noxus,” Ambessa answered, grip tightening on the dinner knife in her hand.

“You can’t just do that!” Mel raised her voice, having forgotten about her meal. “Besides, I’ve already sent in my application for review. If I get accepted, then you can’t stop me from attending.”

“Mother, please,” Kino intervened, now stepping into the conversation. “Mel can attend wherever she pleases. Can we just leave it at that? We have a guest over,” Kino gestured back to Jayce, who wasn’t too happy to have the spotlight back on him.

“Don’t interrupt, boy, you’ve disappointed me enough,” Ambessa chastised, holding her hand up to Kino. 

“Don’t speak to my brother like that,” Mel seethed, now getting up in her chair.

Jayce got up just as fast to calm her down, but it was pointless. “Mel—!”

“Then don’t use that tone of voice on me, child,” Ambessa scolded. “But your brother does have some semblance of sanity. We do have a guest,” Ambessa shot a glance at Jayce, one so cold and piercing that Jayce couldn’t help but look away. “We can discuss this more later, after your party. Now, finish your meal.”

“No thanks, I’m not hungry anymore.” Mel just left the dinner table and the room, storming upstairs to what Jayce could only assume was her room.

Jayce tried to follow suit, but Kino got up and interrupted him. “It’s fine, Jayce, you can take a seat. Let big bro handle this, eh?” Kino gave him a comforting smile before following after Mel up the stairs, leaving just Ambessa and Jayce at the dinner table.

To call the situation awkward would be a severe understatement. Suddenly, the delicious meal Jayce could hardly wait to eat was now cold and stale. He chewed at the tough meat slowly, avoiding any eye contact or conversation with Ambessa. But he couldn’t help but feel bothered. 

Jayce knew, or at least assumed, that Mel felt a lot of pressure from her mom. That was the general basis of their relationship anyway. Mel needed someone her mom would find impressive, and Jayce just so happened to fit that criteria. In exchange, Mel would offer any form of compensation, but Jayce declined. Instead, he just wanted a real friend after all of his left in the wake of his betrayal. So, they developed a relationship of dependency; Mel depended on Jayce to be her picture-perfect boyfriend, and Jayce depended on Mel for her company and protection from the meaner side of popularity.

But despite the shallow appearances of their relationship, Mel and Jayce did grow quite close. So Jayce did feel a sort of protectiveness over her, even if that protectiveness was aimed against her own mother.

Even though he had been plagued by anxiety the whole day, even though he had no idea what he was going to say, Jayce spoke aloud to Ambessa. “Is there really something wrong with Mel attending the Academy?”

Ambessa hesitated, one movement away from taking another bite out of her lobster tail. “The minds behind the Academy are weak-willed.” She took a large bite of her meal before washing it down with her drink, eyes downcast and dark as she spoke. “They seek to invent or improve for the sake of ‘progress,’ when in reality there are more imposing threats that constantly surround us. We need greater minds focused on protecting and leading our people. It is only when we’ve guaranteed our safety and prosperity that we can even consider such a notion of progress. At Noxus, many might consider our ways barbaric, but we consider it more practical.”

“But, progress isn’t weak-willed, I actually think it’s the opposite,” Jayce said with a small smile. “Progress is the hope for a better tomorrow, for all people. Maybe it’s not through governing or leading like you want it to be for me and Mel, but it could also be sparked in the innovation to invent something new or the inspiration to create new art. Progress is passion.”

Ambessa looked at Jayce with a muted astonishment, like she was surprised he had spoken up to her at all. Jayce could see a faint smile curl at the edge of her lips before she hid it behind the rim of her glass. “I see why Mel adores you so much. You have quite the way with words.”

“Th-thank you,” Jayce replied, nerves coming back to him. “I know it’s not my place to say this, but I think you should apologise to her.”

“What?” Ambessa asked, and Jayce nearly thought she would kill him for the suggestion.

“Mel looks up to you, she really does,” Jayce confessed. “She’s always looking to impress you somehow. But going to the Academy is something she really wants, and I guess she just wants you to support her and, well, be proud of her.”

“‘Proud of her…’” Ambessa somberly echoed. “I’m plenty proud of my daughter, even if she has an attitude with me.” Ambessa then gestures to a painting hung up on the wall: a small yet beautiful landscape of Noxian mountains with the amber sun rising behind it. “Mel painted that one when she was younger, and I’ve kept it hung up there since she showed it to me.”

Jayce looked at the painting in awe, but he wasn’t surprised. Mel did still enjoy painting, but she often did it in secret. Mel had confessed to Jayce that, at some point, Ambessa had scolded her for her painting and writing, saying it was a waste of her time and that she should focus on her studies. 

“I’m sure she appreciated it then, but I still think you should support her even more so now,” Jayce continued. “And not just with your actions, but with your words. I think that Mel needs to hear it from you.”

Ambessa looked to Jayce again with similar surprise, though her smile was more obvious this time. “I can’t believe I’m taking advice from a child,” she said as she chuckled darkly to herself. “Thank you, Jayce.”

“No, thank you for the meal,” Jayce replied.

“Well, mum, they better head out soon or they’ll be late,” Kino interrupted. “Mel’s getting ready upstairs, said she’ll wait for you outside.”

“R-right.” Jayce got up from his seat and followed Kino down the hall.

“If you don’t mind, Kino, I need to speak with Mel privately,” Ambessa announced. 

“Of course, of course, us boys will be out here,” Kino said in a cheerful tune as he brought himself and Jayce outside. Once they were in the clear and away from either Mel or Ambessa, Kino took Jayce aside. “Wonderful performance back there, Jayce.”

“Uh, thanks?” Jayce could only reply in confusion.

“You properly stupefied my mother, you’re better than any other ‘boyfriend’ my sister has brought in before,” Kino continued, though his tone was enough for Jayce to scrutinize.

“Ah, but I am her boyfriend,” he tried to clarify, but he supposed he didn’t sound too convincing since Kino just cocked an eyebrow at him.

“It’s alright, Jayce. I know,” he said. “This isn’t the first time Mel has brought someone over to impress our mum, though it also hasn’t lasted this long.”

“Wait, what—?” Jayce asked incredulously.

“Oh yeah, plenty of other popular, charismatic boys have passed through Casa Medarda, but none have left alive! Except you, of course,” he said dramatically. “Especially after schooling my mother like that, I wish I had it on film.”

“You heard all that?” But that was the least of Jayce’s concerns. “Besides that— You’re… okay that Mel and I aren’t really dating?”

Kino’s playful energy simmered down, now looking at Jayce with sincerity and softness. “You’re not wrong about Mel. She is always trying to impress our mother. Probably my fault, honestly, since I try almost everything to piss her off. Mel always wanted to be better than me in that way, always seeking her praise. The boys she brought were always superficial, just feeding into Mel’s fantasy about a perfect lifestyle. You’ve been the only one so far to set her straight. Since you’ve been ‘together,’ she’s actually been more herself. Started painting again, writing again, she’s just been more lively. Hell, she’s nicer to me now, and that took a while to get used to.” That earned a chuckle from Jayce, and Kino laughed alongside him. “Needless to say, whether you two are actually dating or not… you’re good for Mel.”

“How so?” Jayce asked, wondering the same thing himself. Mel had always been a support for him, so now he was curious how it could be the other way around.

“You make her more vulnerable, not afraid to be more than who our mother wants her to be. It’s funny actually,” Kino chuckled again, “she very briefly mentioned wanting to go to the Academy about a year ago. Back then, she was still set on going to the University of Noxus, or attending Valoran Uni with me. But, when you two started hanging out together, she got more serious about attending. You inspired her to go to the Academy.”

“Huh…” Jayce hummed quietly to himself. He had no idea he had such an effect on Mel, but the information did make him happy. In a way, it made him feel more assured of himself, more so than he did these days.

“So thank you, Jayce,” Kino said with a genuine smile, “for taking care of my little sister. I really appreciate it.”

“O-of course,” Jayce replied.

“Alright, Jayce, let’s go,” came Mel’s voice from the front door.

Jayce turned to see Mel as she left her house, his jaw hanging open. Mel changed out of the clothes she wore earlier into a pearly white dress, complete with gold embellishments and jewelry. The colors did wonders to complement her dark skin, her coils also neatly styled into a bun. In comparison, Jayce felt way underdressed. 

“You look beautiful,” Jayce said, still stunned by Mel’s appearance. 

Mel clearly blushed from the compliment, turning away for a moment to prevent Jayce from seeing, but it was futile. “Don’t push your luck, Talis,” she joked instead.

“Bye you two, have fun!” Kino called out from their front lawn. Next to him, Ambessa similarly waved the couple farewell.

As Jayce and Mel got into the car and prepared to head over to their homecoming, Mel turned to Jayce. “What did you tell my mom exactly?”

Jayce just turned to her with a toothy grin. “Eh, I just turned on the classic ‘Golden Boy’ charisma for her.”

✧✧✧

Viktor tapped his foot impatiently on the sidewalk, waiting for the familiar sight of Sky’s family car. Nerves were coursing through his veins as he stood outside his apartment by himself, no doubt catching awkward glances from other Zaunites passing by. Viktor was dressed a bit more formally than he was used to; he had on a silky, dark red dress shirt and black slacks, nothing too fancy but still out of his comfort zone. He was just about to head back inside and cancel on Sky when he spotted the sedan pull up the street, his friend eagerly waving at him from the passenger seat. Welp, there was no use turning back now.

As Viktor got into the back, Sky greeted him eagerly. “Hey, Viktor! Nice outfit,” she chuckled.

“Thanks,” Viktor said sheepishly. He would’ve tried to compliment Sky in return, but it was hard to see her outfit from where he was sitting. “Hello, Mr. Young,” Viktor greeted, looking at the older man in the driver’s seat, “how are you and your husband?”

“Oh, we’re doing great, Alph is just at home relaxing,” Mr. Young responded. “I’m glad to see you two going out though, that means he and I can have some alone time…” Mr. Young shimmied his shoulders and bumped into Sky, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

“Ew, dad, don’t talk about that,” Sky grimaced, distancing herself from her dad. The older man just let out a hearty chuckle, and for a moment Viktor’s nerves went away.

As Viktor expected, the event was quite crowded as students from all grades filed into the River Pilt High gymnasium. As the two of them got out of the car, Viktor was finally able to glance at Sky’s outfit; she was wearing a simple, light teal dress with a white cardigan atop it. Her gold rimmed glasses were now also accented with dangling gold butterfly earrings, and her curly hair which was normally up in a bun was let down. Viktor had never seen Sky dressed like this before, and he was actually amazed by how she looked.

“You look wonderful tonight, Ms. Young,” Viktor said with a grin, and Sky laughed.

“If you keep complimenting me, I might get a crush on you again,” she replied jokingly.

“Alright, have fun you two! And Viktor, make sure my little one finds a boyfriend tonight!” Mr. Young called out from the driver’s seat, and with a final wave he drove off.

The two of them walked into the gymnasium with the rest of the attendees, following the sound of muffled music coming from inside. They were met with a dark interior, lit only by the few dim colored lights that hung from the ceiling, plus a few brighter lasers that swung around. On stage was a hired DJ playing remixes of popular music, and just off to the side was a large table filled with chips and a large punch bowl. Viktor had never been to a school event like this before, but if he had any inclination, he would consider this quite the stereotypical display.

“So, uh, what do we do now?” Viktor asked Sky tentatively, looking at her for guidance.

“I guess we just have fun,” she said with a shrug.

“And how do you suggest we do that?” Viktor pressed again. He really wasn’t in his element, and just ‘having fun’ was too vague for him to work with.

Sky just laughed at his cluelessness. “C’mon, let’s grab some snacks and head to the dance floor!”

Snacks and drinks acquired and consumed, Sky led Viktor to the main dance floor. Viktor tried his best to follow Sky’s moves, shimmying his shoulders, nodding his head to the music, even swinging around his elbows, but there wasn’t much more movement he could do with his bad knee. However, Viktor couldn’t deny that it was… fun. Normally, he would find such an act embarrassing and worthy of ridicule (especially the way he was doing it, he was probably moving around like a headless chicken), but actually participating in such festivities, especially with a friend, made things much more enjoyable.

“Viktor?” came a voice from the crowd, though Viktor couldn’t quite pinpoint exactly who it came from.

It wasn’t until his eyes adjusted to the dimness in the gym that he turned around and made eye contact with that familiar set of hazel eyes, which were widened in surprise. It was Jayce. And of course, Mel was with him, their hands clasped together as they stood in the crowd. But before Viktor could register his annoyance with the sight, he felt something warm envelop him as Jayce ran up and took him in his arms.

“Viktor! I can’t believe you actually came!” Jayce laughed in disbelief as he tightened their embrace. 

“Wha— Jayce, let g-go—!” Viktor protested, thankful for the dim lighting that hid his quickly reddening face from other observers.

“Er, r-right—!” Jayce let go of Viktor as quickly as he latched onto him, though his hands still lingered on his shoulders. The boy was close enough for Viktor to see that pinkish tint on his cheeks. Or maybe he was imagining things. 

“I’m also here!” Sky interrupted, grinning at the two boys. Jayce was eager to change subject, as he turned to Sky and greeted her, finally letting go of Viktor completely.

“Hey Sky! I’m so glad you’re here, too!” Maybe he was embarrassed by running over to hug the living hell out of Viktor, because Jayce was quick to give Sky a similar bear hug, possibly to cover his tracks. From the corner of his eye, Viktor spotted Mel with a smirk of amusement; perhaps she was thinking the same thing he was.

Sky awkwardly accepted the hug, wrapping her arms around Jayce in a way that made Viktor scowl unexpectedly. It looked so natural to see them hugging like this, had the two of them ever really been that close? Deep down, Viktor wasn’t really sure who he was protective of: Sky or Jayce.

“Can you believe it? Viktor actually asked me to go to homecoming with him,” Sky joked as they both released their hugs.

“Really? Even after he rejected you our freshman year?” Jayce bantered back, and Viktor was back to turning red with embarrassment.

“You know about that?!” he asked incredulously, glaring daggers at Sky and Jayce.

“Well, uh, yeah,” Jayce said with a timid smile. “I was just passing by the Robotics Club room with new stuff for Blitz, and I overheard the whole thing.” Viktor dug his face into his hand, now feeling doubly humiliated for something that happened two years ago. “Either way, I’m really glad the two of you made it!” Jayce beamed with yet another toothy grin on his face; Viktor could hardly look at it without feeling his heart race.

“Well, we don’t want to keep the Homecoming King and Queen waiting, do we? I’m sure you two have other places to be,” Sky continued, attempting to wave off the other couple.

Jayce flushed at the titles but quickly regained his composure. “Actually, we were about to go meet up with our friends if you wanted to join us?”

“Us, with your friends?” Viktor said incredulously, echoing the same sentiment he held last Wednesday. He saw Jayce visibly shrink at his tone, a sight that made Viktor feel a pang of guilt.

“Marcus and his lackeys aren’t who we’re referring to, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Mel clarified with a small smile. 

“Y-yeah, they’re the ones who came over to my house last time, if you remember,” Jayce said with a nervous smile.

That definitely changed Viktor’s mood. Though he didn’t much talk to Caitlyn or the others, Viktor felt plenty more comfortable with that lot than the one Jayce chooses to publicly hang out with. Viktor gave a small nod to Sky, signalling his permission to join up with Mel and Jayce.

“Sure, we’d love to! Not that the two of us have other friends here, anyway,” Sky said with a cruel laugh. 

It was supposed to be a self-jab at herself and Viktor, but Viktor couldn’t help but actually feel hurt by the comment. She wasn’t wrong by any means. Viktor was himself a very reclusive person, not talking to really anyone besides teachers and who he needed to. Sky really was his only friend, and they have been friends since childhood, back when Viktor was slightly more outgoing than he is now. Sky did have a small group of close girl friends, though Viktor wasn’t sure if any of them were in attendance.

Of course, this was in stark contrast to Jayce. Not even considering the popular posse he hangs out with, Jayce had Caitlyn, Vi, Powder, and Ekko to consider friends. Sky, too, now that the two of them had gotten closer recently. Viktor couldn’t forget about Mel, of course, his picture-perfect girlfriend. Many would even consider Jayce a friend to the whole school with his charismatic and easy-going nature. It made Viktor’s chest pang with jealousy, and he couldn’t help but remember Heimerdinger’s words.

“Alone, a scientist is capable of many things. But in collaboration, a scientist can accomplish them!” came the cheery voice of the yordle in his mind. In all aspects, Jayce and Viktor would be the same. They were both equally intelligent, equally hardworking, and equally ambitious, but likability was something Viktor could not match Jayce at. If Jayce were to continue pursuing science as his career, that would make him a much better scientist than Viktor according to Heimerdinger.

Maybe that was the whole point of this ‘plan’ of his. To take down Jayce so VIktor could feel even with him again.

Malicious thoughts aside, Sky dragged Viktor as they both followed Mel and Jayce deeper into the crowd. There were considerably more people in the gym now that about an hour passed, making it difficult for their group to navigate the sea of people. Eventually though, Viktor was able to spot the familiar bright pink and blue hair of two sisters.

“I think I see them over there,” Viktor called out to Jayce, who turned and saw the same sight.

“Thanks, V!” Jayce grinned as he shouted over the crowd, and Viktor felt that strange fluttering in his stomach again. That damn nickname, he thought. 

Jayce led the group over to Caitlyn, Vi, Powder, and Ekko, and the group shared their greetings. Jayce only had to introduce Sky to Caitlyn and Vi, since of course she knew Powder and Ekko through the Robotics Club. The group made their way back to the snack and drinks table before dispersing to have their own fun. 

At some point, the group went over to a little photobooth that was set up in the corner of the gym and all took photos together. Viktor was really hesitant at first since he barely knew anyone, but Sky was eager to get him involved in as much of the photos as possible. He took a picture with Jayce and his friends for their D&D group, even if Viktor wasn’t very involved in their game. Then Sky asked for photos with the Robotics Club, first with its current members then with its original members. 

At least in the previous group picture, Viktor had a few other bodies to separate himself from Jayce, since he wasn’t sure how much his body could handle more physical contact with him. Plus, Jayce wasn’t a part of the current Robotics Club photo, so it was just Viktor, Sky, Powder, and Ekko. But such wasn’t the case in the other Robotics Club photo. Sky practically shoved Viktor and Jayce together, and if Viktor didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn it was intentional. By the time the photoshoot was over, Viktor could see Sky practically grinning from ear to ear.

As the night went on, the group sort of split off. Powder and Ekko must’ve ditched early, because they were nowhere to be seen after they all took the photos (Vi was visibly agitated by this, she wasn’t worried about Powder being gone but more specifically what Powder and Ekko were doing off alone). Sky eventually left the group to go talk to a tall bat vastayan who walked by, eager to maybe get a dance with him. Viktor would’ve gone with her, but he also wasn’t too keen on third-wheeling his friend. This left Viktor with the rest of Jayce’s friends. 

It was awkward at first, but Jayce and Caitlyn were easy conversationalists. Vi was a bit more standoffish and sometimes a bit rude, and Mel was being a lot more quiet than usual. She would be nodding along to conversations or laughing alongside Jayce, but otherwise didn’t talk as much as the rest of them. What was Mel doing with them anyway? Viktor could’ve sworn he spotted a few more of the popular kids in attendance at homecoming, so why wasn’t Mel hanging out with people more suited for her stature? Was Mel finding it entertaining hanging out with the lesser students of River Pilt High? Then, a song came on over the crowd, and Caitlyn looked at Jayce eagerly.

“Jayce, this is our song!” she said in an excited tone.

“I guess it is,” Jayce said with a smug expression, bobbing his head to the bouncy pop tune that was playing.

Caitlyn cocked her eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you asked the DJ to put this on?”

“Maybe,” he replied with a grin. “Gosh, Sprout, you’re quite the sharp one, aren’t you?”

“I don’t get it, what’s the deal with the song, Cupcake?” Vi intervened, asking the question that was on the rest of the group’s minds.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes but she still had that playful smile on her face. “Bramble— I mean, Jayce and I learned the choreography to this song when we were kids. My parents would make us perform it for our parties all the time, it was embarrassing!”

“Hey, but we killed it though!” Jayce said with a nudge on Caitlyn’s shoulders.

“So why don’t you perform it for us then?” Mel asked, entertained by the notion of Jayce dancing.

“Yeah, c’mon Jay! I wanna see if the pretty boy can dance!” Vi whooped.

“Alright, but don’t blame us if we knock your socks off!” Jayce joked. He offered his hand to Caitlyn, who theatrically took it as they walked further on the dance floor. The group was standing at the edges of the crowd, hovering near the snack bar since Vi was perpetually hungry, which meant no one was paying much attention once the two of them started going for it.

Once the chorus of the song hit, Jayce and Caitlyn sprung into a well-choreographed routine, a duet that had been rehearsed repeatedly by the two. Viktor couldn’t help but feel amazed, and so were Mel and Vi. Vi started loudly cheering for them, bringing more attention towards them as others standing nearby turned to see what the commotion was about. Mel watched on with amusement, a wide smile not leaving her face. Viktor was in disbelief; he had never considered Jayce to be a particularly good dancer, but he was clearly being proven wrong.

Then Viktor realized something. While a few more eyes were on Jayce and Caitlyn now that Vi was making a big deal out of it, there still weren’t a lot of people watching. Not any notable people, Viktor might add. Notable people who might otherwise think it would be weird to see Jayce dancing so extravagantly. And again, it was considerably dim in the gymnasium save for the colored lights and lasers, so unless people came closer, it would be hard to even tell it was Jayce dancing in the first place.

And Viktor was standing right in front of him, in perfect view of the whole spectacle. Jayce would be too busy dancing with Caitlyn to notice, not like last time. So, Viktor took out his phone and started recording. The lighting was horrible, but Viktor made sure it was clear that Jayce was the one who was dancing. He tried not to get Caitlyn in the shot, because he didn’t want to rope her into his whole ‘Jayce takedown’ plan. Viktor would’ve recorded the whole thing until the song ended, but then he felt someone approach him. He immediately tucked his phone into his pocket and turned to whoever was next to him: it was Mel.

“Keeping that for your records?” she asked, her tone more curious than accusing.

“Eh, maybe embarrassment material for later, if Jayce ever gets on my nerves,” Viktor half-joked. He wasn’t really lying, though he was internally beating himself up for getting caught again. At least it was just Mel this time.

Mel seemed satisfied with that answer since she didn’t press the subject any further. “I’m glad you and Jayce are becoming friends again,” she said, a soft but genuine smile on her lips.

Viktor was taken aback by this. “What do you mean?”

Mel pursed her lips and looked away for a moment, her brows furrowed. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve done something that has gotten us on the wrong foot,” she began. 

That something was stealing Jayce away from me, Viktor thought quite possessively, but he let her continue.

“Whatever it is, I apologize,” she said, leaving Viktor slack-jawed. An apology from Mel? A rich topsider apologizing to a Zaunite like Viktor? “I didn’t mean for us to be on bad terms, though I can understand why it may be that way. Jayce… he may have told me what happened between the two of you, why you stopped being friends.”

“Oh.” Viktor shouldn’t be surprised, Mel was Jayce’s girlfriend after all. Of course he would’ve told her what happened last year.

“Which is why I’m happy to see you two together again,” Mel continued. “Jayce seems a lot happier now that you’re friends.”

“Really?” Viktor scoffed. “As if Jayce doesn’t have enough friends…”

Mel chuckled. “Yes, he’s quite the friendly one. But it’s different with you. He seems… more himself. Normally he’s so high-strung, constantly worried about impressing people. Kind of reminds me of me…” she said in a distant tone. “But he does a way worse job at hiding it. Maybe most people don’t see it, but I think you and I know better.” Mel gave Viktor a knowing glance. Perhaps the two of them were more alike than he thought.

“What is your angle here, Medarda?” Viktor questioned, still not too sure about Mel’s intentions.

Mel scowled, starting to get more frustrated by Viktor’s suspicions. “I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me, but I just want to say: we’re both on the same side here. We both care about Jayce. We both worry about him.”

“Me? Worry about Jayce? Psh,” Viktor deflected.

Mel furrowed her brows at his reaction. “Maybe I’m wrong about you. Maybe you’re just trying to get close to Jayce for reasons I don’t yet understand. But please,” Mel grabbed Viktor’s arm, causing the boy to flinch at the sudden physicality, “be good to Jayce.”

The sincerity in Mel’s voice was enough to freeze Viktor in his tracks. Maybe he was wrong about Mel. He always viewed Mel as some superficial partner to Jayce, someone who latched onto him just because of his good looks and charismatic ways. There might still be some truth to that, but it was clear to him now that Mel does care about Jayce. Guilt filled a lump in Viktor’s throat. Perhaps there’s no need to be so hostile towards her, not anymore.

“I’m sorry for acting the way I have,” he said quietly. Mel raised her eyebrows in surprise, clearly not expecting Viktor to respond to her. “You’re right, I do have certain impressions of you, not necessarily positive ones. But, I see that Jayce… takes comfort in your presence. Especially in my absence.” Viktor was reminded once more of the memory of Jayce and Mel together in the storage room, with Jayce’s head resting on Mel’s lap. It fills him with a sense of jealousy, a disgusting feeling that he pushes away.

“I’m not your replacement, Viktor,” Mel replied, her gaze soft. “Something so important can’t be so easily restored.”

“Do you really think I’m so important to Jayce? A poor cripple from the Undercity?” he chuckled darkly to himself.

Then another unexpected thing: Mel’s hand moved to hold Viktor’s, squeezing it tightly. “Don’t sell yourself short, Viktor. I can tell that Jayce cherishes you very deeply. Of course you’re important to him.”

Viktor found himself smiling at Mel, something he would’ve never guessed in a million years he would do. But behind that smile settled a shame, burning in his pocket where his phone would be. What was his whole plan for again? To rescue Jayce from what exactly?

Viktor was torn away from his doubts when he heard a round of applause. It seems the song had ended, and Jayce and Caitlyn were taking their final bows.

“Whew, I think I threw out my back,” Jayce panted, wiping the sweat off his brow.

Meanwhile, it barely looked like Caitlyn struggled at all. “But we still crushed it as usual, Bramble!” Caitlyn and Jayce shared a high-five.

“Woo! I knew Cupcake had moves but I didn’t know you had them, too, pretty boy,” Vi cheered as she playfully punched Jayce’s arm.

“H-hey! Could you please stop punching me,” Jayce fake pouted, and the group laughed at his expense.

A more somber song started to play, obviously the token slow song for couples to dance to. Viktor expected Jayce to ask Mel to dance, and with Vi and Caitlyn off to dance with each other, it would just leave Viktor by the sidelines. Not that it would bother him. But then, Viktor felt a hand on his again.

“Mind if I danced with you, Viktor?” Mel asked, her bright green eyes looking up to Viktor’s amber ones.

“Uh—” Viktor turned to see Jayce’s reaction, but he wasn’t as mad as he thought he would be. Instead, his expression held a surprised smile.

“Go ahead, V, I don’t mind! Glad to see you two getting along,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “I’ll just go bother Sprout and her girlfriend then!”

As Jayce left to go mess around with Vi and Caitlyn, Mel placed her hands on Viktor’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, we’ll go slow, and I’ll take the lead,” she assured, clearly conscious of Viktor’s bad knee.

Viktor smiled softly at her. “I appreciate it, Medarda.”

“Oh please, just call me Mel.”

The two danced slowly, swaying from side to side. Viktor had never danced with a partner before, and while it was obvious that Mel knew more than what she was letting on, she was true to her word and keeping it simple for VIktor. Of course, it made him wonder if she and Jayce had ever danced before, and he wondered if he should ask. But before their dance could last any longer, the two of them turned to a commotion going on nearby.

“I said back off, redhead,” came an agitated voice: Vi’s.

“I just want to ask Kira— I mean, Caitlyn if she’d fancy a dance with me,” came another voice, coming from a girl with red hair and icy blue eyes.

“I know what you want, but it’s too bad. Cupcake’s mine,” Vi spat back.

“Vi, please calm down—” Caitlyn protested, but it fell on deaf ears. Nearby, Jayce was also there to diffuse the tension.

“Maddie, I’m sure there are plenty of other people who would love to dance with you,” he suggested. “I-I could even dance with you, if you’d like.”

Then the girl’s face turned into a deep scowl. “Move out of the way, Talis. You know better than to let an Undercity sumprat prance alongside a Topsider.”

“What the fuck did you just call me?” Vi moved forward threateningly, and it was then that Mel and Viktor decided to approach to try and help the scene.

“Violet, don’t—” Caitlyn stood between Vi and Maddie as Jayce looked to physically restrain her.

“Ugh, let go of me, Jay!” Vi protested, thrashing around wildly and kicking her feet. A whole crowd had gathered around them now, on the edge of the gymnasium.

“It’s alright Jayce, let me fight for my honor and for Caitlyn's hand,” Maddie challenged, sending Vi into another fit of rage.

“Now you’re fucking pissing me off—!”

Vi backed up harshly into Jayce, breaking his hold on her. Viktor was unknowingly behind him, so he had to quickly back away or else Jayce would stumble into him. But then Viktor lost his balance, his knee sore and tired from standing and dancing all night. 

He fell backwards, straight into the snack table. Viktor felt a cold rush as the table collapsed, causing the punch bowl to spill its contents all over him. The crowd stopped for a moment, turning away from the scene with Vi and Maddie to look at Viktor. Never before had so many eyes stared at him. Then there was a laugh. Soon enough, other people started laughing, too, pointing at Viktor as he looked up at them from the floor. 

Viktor felt humiliated.

“Viktor!” Jayce ran over to his side, checking to make sure he was okay. “Viktor, I’m so sorry—”

“You’re gonna pay for that, you bitch!” Vi threatened once more, but Caitlyn grabbed her by the wrist before she could actually throw a punch. Maddie flinched before slinking away into the crowd, snickering as she did.

“Viktor!” called out another voice from the crowd, it was Sky. She arrived just as Mel and Jayce had helped Viktor up to his feet, grabbing his cane off of the floor. “Those monsters… C’mon, let’s leave.” The group nodded and headed outside (Caitlyn practically had to drag Vi out). 

The night breeze hit Viktor immediately, the sensation made worse by the large wet stain on his shirt. Jayce must’ve noticed his discomfort, taking off his jacket and quickly placing it on Viktor’s shoulders.

“Here, you can borrow my jacket for now,” he said softly. Viktor would normally feel his heart racing at the gesture, but right now he only felt numb.

“Ugh, c’mon dad, pick up!” yelled Sky, frustrated as she looked at her phone.

“I could take Viktor home,” Jayce offered. “That is, if it’s okay with you?” Jayce looked at Viktor with sad, pleading eyes. Viktor just nodded.

“That should be fine, it might take a while for my dads to get here anyway,” sighed Sky.

“We could take Mel home,” Caitlyn added with Vi off to the side, still trying to cool down from what transpired.

“Viktor…” Mel reached for Viktor’s hand one last time. She had a pained expression on her face, like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Instead, she just squeezed his hand before letting go. “Take good care of him, Jayce.”

“Yeah, I will,” Jayce gave Mel one last hug before departing. 

Viktor just followed him to his car in silence, and the car ride over to his apartment was no different.

✧✧✧

They were quiet the whole ride over, the energy from the night sapped away and now left with an emptiness. Jayce gripped at his steering wheel with a new intensity, silently fuming as he drove. How could he have let this happen? Was there a better way to diffuse the situation? If anything, he should’ve realized Viktor was behind him. He didn’t have to get involved, but he did, and he was ridiculed. They laughed at him. Jayce had never felt more mortified. For now, though, he needed to worry about Viktor, who sat silently in the passenger seat, Jayce’s jacket hanging loosely on his shoulders.

Jayce had never been in Viktor’s apartment before, so it was a shame that this had to be the first time. Jayce followed quietly behind Viktor as he led him to his front door, allowing him entry into his tiny studio apartment. It was a bit of a mess, but at least it was still somewhat organized. Notes, blueprints, and books were scattered on pretty much every surface, and by the open windowsill, Jayce noticed a small plate of half-eaten pet food.

“Are you okay, Viktor?” Jayce finally asked, hoping to hear something from Viktor before he left for the night.

“Feeling better now that we’re out of that hell hole,” he chuckled darkly to himself. The sound was enough to pull the weight off of Jayce’s shoulders.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Jayce apologized. “I should’ve realized you were behind me, I should’ve been more careful—”

“There was nothing more you could’ve done, Jayce, don’t blame yourself.” Here Viktor was, comforting Jayce in his own way as if he wasn’t the one covered in punch. “Eh, I should probably wash this off myself before it gets too sticky…” he remarked.

“Did you need me to leave?” Jayce asked.

“N-no,” Viktor replied, hesitating for a moment. “I won’t take long, you can wait here if you’d like.”

Jayce flushed pink as Viktor left into his bathroom. He felt frozen in place, not really sure where to sit or stand besides right in front of his door. He didn’t want to pry either and let his eyes wander around his apartment. So, Jayce just stood awkwardly by the front door, eyes glued to the ground like he was a kid who got put in the corner. After a few short minutes, VIktor came back out of his bathroom with new clothes and Jayce’s jacket neatly folded.

“You could take a seat here, if you’d like.” Viktor gestured to his daybed which lay in the center of the room, across from his desk that was pushed up against the wall by the open window. Jayce slowly approached, sitting on the bed next to Viktor. “Here, thanks for the jacket, Jayce,” he said softly as he offered his jacket back to him.

“O-of course.” Jayce took his jacket from him, idly rubbing at the fabric in thought. “Thanks for coming, by the way. You really didn’t have to.”

“Eh, you were practically begging me to go, so…” Viktor teased. “Besides, I had fun.”

“D-did you really?” Jayced asked, surprised. Viktor, a known social recluse, had fun at a social event? It was simply unheard of.

“Yes, your friends are an interesting bunch,” Viktor remarked. “Plus, I would’ve missed your amazing spectacle with Caitlyn otherwise.”

Jayce laughed, the tension now easing away in his muscles. “Sorry you had to see such an embarrassing display.”

“Embarrassing? Hardly. I actually found it quite impressive,” Viktor said with an amused grin.

“Did you now?”

“Yes, Jayce, now did you need any more compliments to satisfy your ego?”

The two boys shared a laugh for a moment, the pain of what happened earlier now fading away. Now, they were back to their old banter as if nothing had happened. He had missed this ebb and flow they had. He had a taste for it last week with their hangout on Monday and their brief study session on Wednesday. Jayce hoped to keep hanging out with Viktor like they were friends again.

“I’m really glad you’re my friend again, V,” Jayce said softly, his words echoing his thoughts.

“R-really?” Viktor stuttered, his cheeks flushed pink.

“Yeah…” Jayce sighed. “I’m really sorry for what happened last year. I know I was dick, but that’s why I’m trying really hard to make it up to you again. I miss hanging out with you, working on projects together, playing video games, building robots, all of it…  I miss being your best friend, Viktor.”

There was a brief pause as Viktor turned away for a moment, avoiding Jayce’s gaze. “I missed you, too, Jayce,” he finally said, his voice small and quiet.

They turned to look at each other one more time, Jayce’s hazel eyes meeting Viktor’s amber ones. When was he sitting so close? Jayce could practically feel his heartbeat in his throat, could hear it thumping in his ears. His stomach was fluttering like it never did before, and he felt himself slowly leaning forward. What’s worse, he could’ve sworn Viktor was leaning in closer, too. Amber eyes flickered down to Jayce’s lips for a split second, but that was all he needed.

Jayce surged forward until his lips met Viktor’s. The moment was quick, almost like their lips barely grazed each other, but it happened. Jayce pulled away almost immediately.

“I– I-I’m so sorry—!” Jayce sputtered, holding a hand over his mouth. He could feel his cheeks grow hot, heart banging louder than before. “I should go—”

“Jayce, wait—!” Viktor called out, but Jayce was already at the door.

“Th-thanks again for everything, V—” Jayce struggled with the door momentarily but as soon as he had it open, he was out.

“Jayce, your jacket—!” but it was too late, Jayce was gone.

The boy quickly made it to his car, turned the engine on and started driving. He wasn’t even paying attention to the road, his body just autopiloted until he made it home. He ran up straight to his room, barely greeting his mother as he did so before locking his own door behind him. Jayce threw himself onto his bed and buried his face deep into his sheets.

He can’t believe he just did that. Just after he said he missed being his friend, his friend . Nothing more than that. Right? But Jayce was starting to doubt it now. He had never felt this kind of way for any person before, no. He had only ever felt like this around Viktor. How his breath quickened, his heart raced, and his stomach fluttered whenever the other boy was around. The pieces fell into place, and he was sure of it now.

Jayce liked Viktor as more than a friend.

Chapter Text

Viktor watched dumbfounded as Jayce shut the door behind him, frozen in the wake of what just happened. Even if it had been just a quick moment, Viktor swore he could still feel the warmth of Jayce’s lips on his. He slowly brought up a hand there, as if trying to touch that feeling like it was an object he could hold. And he wanted to hold it and never let go.

He slumped in his bed as he combed his hand through his hair, chest aching with each fast pump in his heart. He couldn’t believe that just happened, and now Viktor was left more confused than ever. Isn’t Jayce dating Mel? Why would he kiss him if they’re together? Was that why Mel approached him at homecoming? Viktor had no clear answer, and that frustrated him.

In most aspects, Viktor is a genius. Mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics… he knew all of these concepts like the back of his hand. But people were a subject he couldn’t wrap his head around. Humans, society, relationships, these were all things he couldn’t understand as well as the fundamental theories and practices of science. So when Jayce, a person in a relationship, decides to kiss Viktor, all it does is fry his brain.

Viktor crawled up into a ball in his bed, thinking about what happened the rest of the night. He didn’t lie to Jayce; he did have fun for the most part. But of course, all of that was overshadowed by the end of the night. When Viktor fell into that punch bowl, he felt disconnected from his own body. It felt like he watched that scene unfold in third-person, his self so dissociated and detached from what was going on around him. The crowd pointed and laughed at him, and it felt like the world started to warp, time slowing down to make the moment last ages. He had never been so perceived before, and it was terrifying.

Was this what he wanted Jayce to feel…? To feel so ridiculed that you don’t even feel like yourself anymore, to be so humiliated to the point of being numb. Morally, he knew his answer was no, that he should stop his mission entirely. But another voice, a sickly, disgusting voice told him that yes, this is exactly what he wants Jayce to feel.

Viktor, as a disabled Zaunite, was no stranger to contempt and mockery. He had lived with it his whole life. Growing up, he felt the stares of bystanders boring holes into his skin, watching him as he would stumble and fall. And his genius at a young age was yet another quirk of his that others found troubling. It was a wonder that Viktor had any friends at all, but it’s why he will always be eternally grateful for Sky.

Jayce may not have been born into riches, but he was still a Piltovan, a topsider who would have many reasons to look down on someone like Viktor. But he never did, and Viktor never knew if he should be grateful for it or feel patronized by his companionship. It was such a shame that his upbringing left him distrustful of others, but such was Viktor’s nature. If he could, that dark, petty side of him would want every Piltovan to feel what he felt: ridiculed, inferior, and worthy of nothing but scorn.

Viktor fell asleep in his fetal position, clutching at the ache he felt in his chest.

He really shouldn’t have gone to school the following Monday, but he did. He felt even more like a skeleton of himself than usual as he skulked around the halls of River Pilt High. He expected more people to be pointing and whispering around him, but strangely enough, everyone paid him no mind, just like how it normally is. Now Viktor was starting to wonder if what happened on Saturday occurred at all.

As expected, Jayce avoided him all day. Viktor could still feel his lingering gazes, but whenever he would turn to catch him, Jayce would hurriedly swivel his head the other way, the tips of his ears burning red. Viktor would’ve felt more curious, been more teasing, but he just wasn’t up for it today, not with how tired he felt from the weekend. It didn’t help that when arriving at their usual spot for lunch, Sky seemed to be grinning at him from ear to ear.

“Is there something I can help you with, Ms. Young?” Viktor eventually asked, the energy radiating off of Sky was palpable. 

“Oh, nothing,” she said with a sly smile. “Just wondering how it went after homecoming.”

“You mean after I fell and then was publicly humiliated?” he replied coldly, mindlessly playing with the salad in front of him.

That got Sky to change moods entirely, her face contorting into a scowl. “I’m sorry that happened, by the way,” she said, her voice quiet and soft. “You didn’t deserve that. People, especially hormonal teens, are shitty.”

“It’s fine, Sky. I’ve moved on from it already. I’m used to it…” Viktor said with a dry laugh.

Sky’s frown just deepened further. “No, it’s not fine, Vik. No one deserves to feel like that ever.”

Does Jayce deserve to feel like that? Viktor thought cruelly to himself, but he wanted to be away from that line of thinking, at least for now. “Well, enough about me, how was your homecoming? Did you and that vastayan boy hit it off?” he said in an attempt to change the subject.

And Sky took the bait, eager to move away from their previous conversation, too. “His name’s Scar, and he’s really sweet. He’s a senior boy and we got to dance, but then he told me afterwards he’s not really into, um, girls…” Sky then buried her face in her hands, letting out a loud groan. “Ugh, why does this always happen to me…”

Viktor gently pat Sky on her back, a small but amused smile on his face. “You know, for someone with two dads, you have a horrible gaydar.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me…” she said with a pout. “Maybe if I was as gorgeous as Mel Medarda, then I could be with anyone I want…” 

At the sound of Mel’s name, Viktor immediately felt an ache in his chest, and those confusing feelings he felt all weekend started flooding to him again. Sky was right, Mel is gorgeous, the epitome of beauty. And she was with Jayce, so why did Jayce kiss him, of all people, when he’s already dating Mel? It made no sense, and just the thought of it made his head ache.

“I think I’ll pass on lunch today,” he said quietly, pushing away his tray of half-eaten salad aside as he got up.

“W-where are you going?” Sky asked, worry seeping in her voice.

“I’ll just be in the library, I need to clear my head…” Sky didn’t question any further and just watched silently as Viktor walked off. 

The rest of the day, and even the rest of the week, was mundane. Viktor continued going to school and going to work like normal, and it oddly reminded him of his sophomore year. Following Jayce’s betrayal, their friendship had ended; he and Jayce were not on speaking terms, and the two outright avoided each other in the halls and in their classes. Sure, circumstances are a lot different now, but after what happened on Saturday, the two drifted apart again. And all it did was make Viktor feel antsy. 

For what it’s worth, by the time Friday rolled around, Viktor was over his confusing feelings. He knew if he wanted answers as to why Jayce did what he did, he needed to talk to Jayce again. But the other boy was set on avoiding him at every turn. Viktor was starting to find it annoying. 

“Alright class, reminder that we’ll be doing project presentations on Monday!” Mrs. Ramsey announced to the class as the final bell rang, earning a collective groan from the students. Viktor and Jayce had already finished their project a few days ago, their popsicle bridge likely sitting somewhere in Jayce’s apartment. But they had yet to actually work on the presentation portion of their project, which gave Viktor the perfect opportunity to talk to Jayce.

“Um, Jayce?” Viktor called out tentatively, looking up at the broad shoulders of Jayce’s back. But as expected, Jayce ignored him. “Ahem, Jayce,” he called even louder this time, and he swore he saw Jayce flinch at his voice, which let him know that he definitely heard him that time. “Jayce Talis,” he said a final time, his tone firm.

“Hey prez, I think the Zaunite is trying to talk to you,” said the boy sitting next to Jayce, a demeaning smirk on his face. Viktor just rolled his eyes at him.

“Uh, r-right…” replied Jayce with an ashamed look as he timidly turned to Viktor. “Um, h-hey V…”

Viktor couldn’t help himself from scowling at Jayce, his concerns about their project briefly forgotten. If there was one thing about Jayce that peeved him, it was his often immature attitude. Viktor just let out a sigh. “The project, Talis. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”

“No, of course not!” he said defensively, eyes widened in panic. “I, um… we can work on it over the weekend if—”

“Talis!” came a voice from the doorway. The two boys turned to see another boy leaning on the frame, his arm crossed with a smug expression. It was Marcus. “Hockey practice, let’s go,” he said in a stern tone.

Jayce shook his head in disbelief. “Hockey practice? But it doesn’t start for another two hours—”

“Special meeting,” he replied curtly, “your attendance is mandatory.” Beyond Marcus’s cold expression, from behind him Viktor could see the figures of the other popular gang, namely Salo and that sophomore girl Maddie, the one from homecoming. He could already tell by their stance that they were plotting something, scheming looks splattered all over their faces.

Jayce looked at Viktor with a torn expression. He pursed his lips, glancing between him and the doorway where his other friends were before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry, V, I have to go…” he said remorsefully. “I’ll text you after, is that okay?”

Viktor huffed, frustrations bubbling to the surface. “Fine. Go enjoy your time with your clique, Talis.”

Jayce frowned like a kicked puppy, their gazes lingering on each other for a brief moment. Viktor couldn’t help but feel angry at him. He’s been annoyed with how he’s acted all week, ignoring him and avoiding him like he did last year. All it did was bring back painful memories. He just met his sorrowful look with a furrowed brow and a tight lip. Eventually, Jayce got up, grabbed his things, and followed out the door with Marcus and the rest.

Viktor similarly grabbed his things and left out the door shortly after Jayce, making sure not to cross paths with him as he walked over to the Robotics Club room. Finally, after a few weeks of missing out on club meetings, Viktor was able to convince Benzo to give him today off. He sighed just before he entered, letting out the pent up irritation he’s felt all day— no, all week. 

“Hey, come on in—! Oh, Viktor!” Sky immediately ran up and greeted him with a hug, shocking Viktor for a moment. “Oop, sorry, I’m just so excited to see you finally make it to a meeting!” she said with a wide smile, quickly releasing Viktor from her embrace.

Viktor tried not to think about how the hug reminded him of Jayce, how quickly he ran up and basically threw himself at Viktor during homecoming. He brushed those thoughts away; he was supposed to be mad at Jayce right now. “Eh, I started to worry about how you might be running the club, so I thought it was about time I stop by,” he joked.

Sky’s lips pulled into a teasing smirk. “I thought you trusted me as your co-captain? Well, either way, I do need your help for today’s meeting— I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun with this one.” 

Sky led him into the meeting room, and Viktor waved at the four other members present: Mylo, Claggor, Ekko, and Powder. On the front desk was a large object covered in a tarp, but Viktor could immediately recognize its silhouette. A new excitement filled his chest, his eyes glimmering as he eagerly stood next to the object; his son was under there.

“Ahem, hello, everyone,” Viktor greeted awkwardly. “I’m sure you know of me already, but just for formality’s sake: I am Viktor, co-founder and co-captain of the Robotics Club. I do apologize for my absence in the past few meetings, but I am glad to be sharing this moment with you today.”

There was a quiet, scattered applause started by Sky and then half-heartedly followed by everyone else, and Viktor stiffly bowed his head in response. “It’s an exciting day today!” cheered Sky, standing on the opposite side of the desk. “Like I mentioned last week, since Doom Bots season is upon us, it’s time to unveil something I’m sure we’ve all been waiting for!” Sky grabbed something from behind the desk, a large controller, and slung the strap around her shoulders. “Vik, would you like to do the honors?” she asked, looking over to her co-captain.

“I would love to, Ms. Young.” Viktor gingerly placed his hand on the tarp, his fingers lightly playing with the material as a nervous energy filled him. “Team Hextech, allow me to introduce to you, the winner of last year’s Runeterra Doom Bots Competition: Blitzcrank!”

Viktor dramatically pulled off the tarp, revealing a large, golden robot underneath it. It had a stout, wide frame, its metal edges poorly welded but giving it a certain charm. It still had a few scratches and dents from last year, but otherwise it was still in working condition. With a few button presses and a sound of whirring, Sky got Blitzcrank to spring to life with the controller. The other members gawked at the machinery, their eyes wide with wonder.

“Woah! You guys built this?” Ekko asked in disbelief, inching closer to examine the robot. Sky moved the controls and made Blitzcrank inch its hand forward, causing the younger boy to flinch at the sudden movement.

Sky just chuckled at Ekko’s annoyed yet embarrassed face. “Yes, we built this our freshman year. He had a few kinks to work out, which is why we only got to the quarter finals, but last year, we won first place!” Sky gestured over to the gold trophy that stood in the case behind them, gleaming in the light of the lab. “He’s designed by our very own Viktor here, so by all means, Blitz’s is his creation.”

“Ehe, you flatter me, Ms. Young,” Viktor said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “We all had our part to play in his design; for example, Sky here is the one who programmed all his controls.” At this statement, Sky flaunted the game-pad-like controller in her hands, pressing a few buttons to make Blitzcrank do a silly dance. “I designed his build and his abilities: he has a grappling-hook hand to bring enemy robots closer to him, a powered-up punch he can deliver to subdue his opponents, and an overdrive mechanism that allows him to move faster— at the expense of him overheating, of course.”

“What did Jayce do?” Powder asked innocently, her chin resting on her hand as she stared wide-eyed at Blitzcrank. 

“Yeah, isn’t he like a co-founder or something?” came Mylo’s snarky tone. “Did the resident Golden Boy even do anything for this club?”

“Yes, he did,” Viktor said defensively, as if on instinct. He was still mad at Jayce, of course, but his words quickly spilled out of him. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “He helped in Blitzcrank’s construction, as you can see his welding is a bit cleaner than mine…” he said contemplatively as he ran his fingers across the smooth edges of Blitzcrank’s plating. “Also, he helped design the mechanics for his final ability. Ms Young?”

Sky gave him a firm nod. “Alright, for this demonstration, I think everyone should take their phones out and place it in front of Blitz!” she said excitedly. Confused, the rest of the students placed their phones on the desk in front of Blitzcrank. 

With a nod of approval from Viktor, Sky pressed a few more buttons, flicked a few switches, and turned a few knobs until a calm hum started to emanate from the robot. The other members held their breath in anticipation as the buzz grew louder, their hairs standing on the backs of their necks as static electricity filled the air around them. Then, a large blast of energy depleted from Blitzcrank, with everyone shielding their eyes from the brief spark of light. It was like a shock went through them, but as they settled their gazes, they looked at Sky and Viktor, bewildered.

“Uh, what just happened…?” Claggor asked tentatively.

“Why don’t you guys pick up your phones and check?” said Sky with a grin. The group turned to each other, hesitating at first, before reaching forward to grab their phones. Their eyes widened in surprise once they figured out what happened to their devices.

“Wait a minute, my phone won’t turn on—” Ekko said, baffled. Then, his eyebrows raised as if a lightbulb went off in his head. “Was that an EMP?”

“Eh, a more condensed version, yes,” Viktor answered with an air of pride.

“There’s no way a buncha high schoolers built an EMP generator!” Powder added on, equally as confounded as everyone else. “Is this even legal?”

Mylo scoffed, still cocky yet he couldn’t deny his amazement. “So you’re telling me that hunkheaded, class president, varsity hockey star Jayce Talis designed an EMP machine for the Robotics Club?”

For some reason, Viktor’s heart ached at that comment; was it really so hard to believe that someone like Jayce could be capable of this? To these kids, maybe. All they knew about Jayce was that he was the poster boy of the school, the spitting image of what most teens would consider a ‘popular guy.’ A year passes and all of a sudden the school forgets that Jayce is one of the brightest minds in this school— no, in Piltover. It was like all these prepubescent teens had the memories of goldfish.

“Yes, he did,” replied Viktor slowly, processing his confusing emotions. “It hardly works most of the time; it’s what almost cost us the final.”

There was a moment of silence as everyone took in what just happened, the awe of seeing an actual robot having now died down. Then, in that settled calm, Ekko asked a simple question. “What did Jayce do that made him leave the club?”

“W-what?” Viktor asked, taken aback by the sudden question.

“S-sorry, I know it might be a touchy subject for you guys, but it’s something that’s been botherin’ me since I joined,” Ekko explained. “I sorta knew Jayce growing up; he’s a smart guy, and he seemed really passionate about stuff like this. It just doesn’t make sense to me why he would leave…”

“Ekko, I don’t think now is the time to—”

“It’s fine, Sky,” Viktor interrupted. “As members of the club, you deserve to know our history, even if it is hard to speak about.”

“You really don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Ekko continued, regret seeping in his words.

Viktor just sighed, preparing himself to recount what happened last year. “I’m sure you all know exactly how Jayce came to be the ‘Golden Boy’ of this school,” he began. “Claggor?”

The other boy was shocked by the sudden attention, but he quickly said his piece. “R-right, everyone on the hockey team knows about it. Last year, the varsity captain got a serious injury and couldn’t play in the final. So, Jayce stepped in and scored the game winning point, earning the trophy for the Automatons.”

“You are correct,” Viktor continued, “but what most people don’t know is that the hockey final landed on the same day as the robotics final.”

As Viktor began to recount the story, he felt himself get transported back to last year. He remembered how excited he was to start school; for once in his life, he had friends. He had Sky, of course— they’ve known each other for years prior to high school— but then there was Jayce. Smart, nerdy, goofy Jayce. He would be constantly cracking bland, corny jokes while working on their projects, but then he’d come up with concepts and designs as crazy as a miniature EMP generator, for a high school robot project. 

Viktor had never met anyone with the same genius as his, but Jayce had a certain charm to him, a quality that he couldn’t deny was magnetic. He was embarrassed to admit it now, but Viktor wanted to spend more time with Jayce, spend more time bantering and picking his brain for ideas. Coming into his sophomore year, Viktor was excited to spend another year with him.

But something happened their sophomore year. Viktor wasn’t sure what, but Jayce started acting cockier, more arrogant than usual. And around the same time, he started talking to a girl in the year above them, Mel Medarda. Jayce started hanging out with other people — popular people, — going to house parties, and slacking off little by little at school. But back then, Viktor didn't suspect anything because he was still dedicated to the Robotics Club, he was still spending time with Viktor and Sky. Yet there was something undoubtedly different about Jayce.

The junior varsity team lost their season, so Jayce spent more time at the Robotics Club to ensure that they got as far as they did the year prior. There isn’t an academic league for robotics competitions, so their club, dubbed Team Hextech by their founders, decided to gun for the international robotics event: the Runeterra Doom Bots Competition. Any team of any expertise from any region could compete, even a group of high schoolers. No one expected them to get far, but in their first year of competing, they had made it to the quarterfinals. Blitzcrank was a marvel to behold, and many spectators were baffled that a gaggle of teens was able to create such a machine.

“Hey V,” Jayce had said, a week prior to their final weekend at Doom Bots. He looked guilty, hesitating to speak further, but Viktor egged him on.

“C’mon Jayce, out with it,” he said in an annoyed tone, goggles strapped to his face as he welded a loose panel back in place. “Surely what you have to say is so important as to bother me while I work with dangerous tools and machinery.”

“Ha, right…” Jayce chuckled nervously. “Well, um, the varsity hockey coach— she, uh, asked me if I could play for their finals this weekend.”

Viktor shut off the blowtorch. “When exactly will this be?” he asked, not even turning to address Jayce.

“Saturday. Same day as, ah, Doom Bots…” Jayce said finally, his voice getting quieter as he spoke.

“Jayce,” Viktor said in a stern voice, swivelling in his chair and tossing off his goggles, “this is the most important event of our lives— you already know that Professor Heimerdinger will be in attendance! If you are still serious about attending the Academy, this is the perfect opportunity to impress the Dean.”

“I know, I know— you’re right,” Jayce said defensively. “We should focus on our competition. I’ll let Coach Grayson know that I can’t make it.”

Viktor furrowed his brows. “If you know I’m right, then why did you ask?”

Jayce didn’t answer him. That should’ve been his first indicator, but Viktor decided to ignore it. The days leading up to Saturday, Jayce had been so focused on improving Blitzcrank— he was even losing sleep over it. Viktor took this as a sign of dedication, but in hindsight, it was a sign of guilt. Every day, Jayce promised to the team over and over that his mission was to support the Robotics Club; he promised he wasn’t going to the varsity hockey final.

Then Saturday came. The Doom Bots Final was a whole day event; it started with quarterfinals, then semis, all the way to finals, with only enough time for each team to make minor repairs to their robots between fights, but otherwise it was an ongoing battle. Blitzcrank made quick work of their quarterfinals opponent, their match being finished in about fifteen minutes. Their semifinals fight was more of a struggle, and Blitzcrank suffered some major damage from the battle. But they won, securing them at least second place in the competition. When it came to preparing for their final fight, Jayce took his leave.

“What?! ” Viktor shouted incredulously. “Jayce, you promised—”

“V, I’m sorry, but—” Jayce tried to plead, but Viktor was having none of it.

“No, absolutely not. There is no excuse Talis,” he continued berating him. “The EMP generator is down, we overused it in the last fight— we need you to fix it!”

“You have my notes, I trust that you guys can figure it out without me!” Jayce was walking towards the door, and that just infuriated Viktor even more.

He surged forward, grabbing the other boy by his sleeve. “We’re a team, Jayce. You are not going to just leave us here. What about the Academy, what about your future—?”

“I am thinking about my future, Viktor.” Golden hazel eyes stared into burning amber ones. Viktor didn’t see it then, but Jayce’s gaze was filled with guilt and confusion; he was too fueled by his own anger to notice it. Jayce’s expression softened, reaching forward to place a hand on Viktor’s shoulder as he always does, but now the comforting gesture just stung at the touch. “I trust you guys. I know you can win this one without me.”

“And how about the hockey team? They can’t win without you?” Viktor spat.

“They need me—”

“We need you!” Viktor couldn’t stop his voice from cracking, from tears threatening to form. “Jayce, you’re my partner…”

Jayce recoiled at the statement, his own words used against him. Since the day they met, Jayce had always called Viktor his partner, had always said they would be inseparable, that they would always work together. But not that day, no. “I’m sorry, Viktor,” was all he could say.

Viktor watched as Jayce turned away, hand reaching for the door and opening it. He tried to reach forward again, thinking he could stop him before he left, but his damned leg lost its footing and he tripped. Luckily, Sky was still standing nearby, close enough to lunge forward and catch her friend before he hit the ground. Jayce froze at the sight of him falling, hesitating between walking out the door and helping Viktor get up. Viktor just glared daggers into Jayce, looking up at him as Sky held his balance. In all their time spent together, this was the first time Viktor ever felt beneath Jayce. 

“Good luck,” was Jayce’s final words, half-hearted and mired with guilt. Jayce walked out the door, and Viktor was briefly able to catch a glance of Mel standing outside, waiting for him. A deep resentment settled within him then.

“So Jayce just left you guys?” Powder said incredulously as Viktor finished recounting this part of their history. “Wow, what a dick.”

“I guess if it’s any consolation, he did wish us luck before he left us by ourselves,” he said darkly. He was getting to the end of his anecdote (minus his troubled emotions surrounding it, of course), wrapping up what was a rather exposition-heavy club meeting. “So all that was left was myself and Ms. Young to fight against the reigning Doom Bots champions, Bandle City with their robot Tristy. It was a long and arduous fight, longer than the previous battle, and it would have been cut short had the EMP generator worked.”

“Yes, despite Jayce leaving us his notes, we just weren’t able to make the repair in time between reading his chicken scratch and fixing Blitz’s fried board,” Sky added on. “But, by some miracle we won, and now that gold trophy sits collecting dust in the lab.”

“I hope that answers your question, Ekko,” Viktor said with a note of finality. “Jayce leaving the club was his choice. He hasn’t come back because it’s his choice.” The room was left stunned by Viktor’s retelling, his last words echoing with bitterness. He sighed one last time, hoping to release any tension he had left. “We can end the meeting here, we can discuss more club matters next week. If you have any further questions or concerns, Ms. Young and I will be available to answer them.”

The other members awkwardly dispersed, each gathering their things and making quiet chatter amongst themselves. Ekko walked up to Viktor and Sky, bag slung over his shoulder and a remorseful look on his face. “Hey, I’m really sorry— I shouldn’t have asked—”

“It’s alright, Ekko. Like I said earlier, you deserve to know what happened,” Viktor replied in a calm tone.

“I know, but—” Ekko hesitated, chewing on the bottom of his lip as he did so. “I guess I thought you guys made up, or something… I mean, you guys were hanging out at my dad’s shop, and we walked in on you guys at Jayce’s house— it just seemed like things were getting better, and I thought maybe Jayce wanted to join the club again.”

“I assure you, if Jayce wanted to come back, he would’ve,” Viktor said matter-of-factly. “Claggor’s here, and he’s on the same hockey team as Jayce.”

“That’s different, and I think you know that, too,” Ekko fired back. “I don’t know, maybe you know Jayce better than I do, but have you ever asked if he wanted to come back?”

Viktor paused; the younger boy was right. He hasn’t asked because he never thought to. “Jayce has different priorities now, and the Robotics Club is just not one of them,” he replied in a grave tone.

“Viktor,” Ekko said with a serious expression on his face, “I know it’s none of my business but… maybe give him a chance? I saw how you guys acted at Book & Cranny, I can see something more there. Jayce is trying to be a better friend, and maybe you should, too.”

With that final statement, Ekko gave him a firm nod and walked out of the lab, leaving Viktor to ruminate on his words. Ekko didn’t know anything, he even said himself that it was none of his business, and yet his words had an effect on Viktor. What did it even mean to be a ‘better friend’ to Jayce at this point? For all he knew, Jayce was just trying to be his friend again to resolve his own personal guilt. 

But then what did that kiss mean? If it was truly to make up for last year, then why did he do that? Nothing was making sense, and Viktor could feel a sharp sting in his temple again. There was no point in lingering in the lab any longer. Viktor bid his farewell to Sky and left, catching his bus back to his apartment.

Viktor tried to pass the time by working on homework, but he found himself distracted. He pulled up his laptop, placing the photo he took at homecoming into the evidence folder of his flash drive. Three photos so far, and Viktor felt like he needed more; three wouldn’t be enough to convince the school of anything.

But maybe he didn’t need to convince the school, maybe he just needed to convince Jayce. 

As if on command, Viktor’s phone buzzed on his desk. He jumped at the sudden sound, then glanced at his screen to see he received a text from Jayce.

Viktor stared at the message, not moving an inch to grab his phone and reply. But then it buzzed again, a few more times as Jayce kept sending text after text.

Viktor paused, hesitating before he reached for his phone and replied.

Chapter Text

Jayce, no matter what he did, couldn’t go to sleep. His mind was running laps, replaying what just happened over and over again. He felt like he needed to get this revelation off his chest, to tell someone what happened, but he didn’t know how or to who. After ruminating on it for a while, Jayce took out his phone and pulled up his contacts, becoming briefly blinded by the bright screen in the darkness of his bedroom.

Should he tell Vi? Probably not, because she would just make fun of him. Caitlyn? No, she’d be supportive but she’d tell Vi, and then Vi would just make fun of him. Mel? Jayce hesitated as he hovered over Mel’s name on his screen. They weren’t actually dating, just strictly friends, so there shouldn’t be any hard feelings if Jayce told Mel what happened. Right? But the doubt he felt was enough for him to reconsider sending her a text.

Then, Jayce’s phone buzzed as he received a message. It was from Sky.

the text read. Jayce stared at the words on the screen, gears turning in his mind. Up until this point, Jayce hadn’t really talked to Sky. They’ve known each other since freshman year, sure, but she seemed more interested in Viktor than him back then. They’d talk every so often, but they didn’t really hang out outside of the Robotics Club. Which meant that Sky was well separated from Jayce’s friend group, so there was no chance that Vi was gonna figure out what happened and make fun of him for it. So reluctantly, Jayce texted her back.

There was a brief pause on Sky’s end, and Jayce worried that she went to sleep. He briefly considered deleting his message and just trying to sleep again, but then he got a message back.

Jayce took a deep breath. He typed, deleted, and retyped the same text over and over again. He realized he was losing time because at any moment, Sky might go to bed. So he just bit the bullet and got straight to the point.

Jayce’s heart started racing as he waited for Sky’s response. He had no idea how she would react, and he could only hope it would be positive.

That wasn’t the reaction Jayce was expecting, but he knew the point about Mel would be brought up soon enough. He sighed, knowing his situation was a bit too complicated to articulate over text.

Jayce chuckled at his screen, slightly amused by Sky’s investment in this conversation. Of course, he was mainly glad that Sky didn’t seem mad at him. In fact, she seemed to be really excited by the prospect.

Jayce stared incredulously at his phone. What did Sky mean by that? ‘She knew it’? Knew what exactly?

Jayce smiled at his phone in disbelief. There was a chance his feelings were reciprocated. He still felt a bit ashamed of pushing himself on Viktor like that, but if there was even a possibility that they could be more than friends… that excited Jayce. 

But he couldn’t get his hopes up. That day after Viktor stood up for him in the school parking lot, Jayce had a stern talking-to from Marcus. It was mostly about his dedication to the hockey team, which Jayce adamantly said he was dedicated to the team and their season. And while there was no direct threat from Salo, Jayce had noticed how much his friends clung to him throughout the school day, refusing him from meeting with his other friends, especially Viktor.

Jayce is in a precarious position in the school’s hierarchy. He had been teetering that line since sophomore year. That year, Jayce was an insufferable, cocky ass. He ruined his friendship with Viktor and lost himself in the process, and he’s been slowly trying to claw that back. Part of him feels like he deserved his fate, and he couldn’t deny how the light felt when it shone on his face, bright and warm; he was practically bathing in it. But now, it burned to the touch.

It wasn’t speculation, it was fact: Jayce left Viktor. He was lucky to have Viktor again as a friend, even luckier to know that he missed his company. But would Viktor welcome him back so readily? Agree to be with Jayce as more than friends? Jayce wasn’t so sure.

Jayce couldn’t sleep at all that night, his mind running wild like gears on overdrive.

He was half-tempted to miss school the following Monday, but he couldn’t come up with a good enough excuse to do so (plus his mom would not have it). Besides, he promised Sky a full explanation, and he didn’t want to leave her hanging. Jayce actually got to school early that day, hoping to catch Sky before their first period. He shot Sky a quick text to meet up behind the gymnasium, hopefully away from prying eyes or ears. Nerves started building up again, and Jayce ran through the several dialogue options he had when it came to explaining his relationship with Mel. Sky is a smart and rather empathetic girl, surely she would understand the whole situation, right? Well, there wasn’t much time to think about his options as Sky rounded the corner and caught up to Jayce.

“If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought you were here to sell me weed,” she said jokingly as she approached.

“Sorry, I just didn’t want people to see us,” Jayce whispered back, earning him a raised eyebrow from Sky.

“Right, because you don’t want people to see the high school’s Golden Boy talking to a Zaunite girl behind her girlfriend’s back…” Sky said in an unamused tone. “Or should I put ‘girlfriend’ in quotation marks? What’s the deal with that anyway? Did you guys break up or something?”

Sky was already off to the races with her questions, so Jayce just sighed and took things one step at a time. “We didn’t break up because we weren’t really dating in the first place,” he said, and Sky gasped dramatically.

“Wait a minute— you guys were fake dating?” she said incredulously. “This is, like, the plot to a YA novel!”

“Listen, I know it seems weird but—” Jayce bit his tongue; where does he even start with this explanation? Should he start at the very beginning, when he met Mel in their AP Government class last year? No, that’s too far back and maybe too much information. He sighed again, because at this point he regretted admitting anything to Sky — or to anyone, really. “Mel’s mom is really strict, I don’t know if you know this but she’s—”

“— a general visiting from Noxus, yes,” Sky interrupted, but she quickly tightened her lip once Jayce fired off an annoyed look in her direction.

“Well, she sets high expectations for Mel, and even if she’s trying to be independent in her own way, she still wants to impress her mother,” Jayce continued. “Somehow, that even applied to her suitors, so Mel was looking for any eligible bachelor in River Pilt High who could fit her mom’s high standards.”

Sky rubbed her chin in thought. “Yeah, that makes sense… I remember people talking about Mel’s new ‘flavor of the week.’ Guys barely lasted a few days with her before she broke their heart.” Then, Sky shot a skeptical look in Jayce’s direction. “Wait, didn’t the varsity hockey captain try to date her, too?”

At that, Jayce scowled briefly. Mel had mentioned how often Marcus tried to court her, but of all the people she’s ‘dated,’ she had always turned him down. “Yeah, but the point is eventually, she got to me.

“I don’t know why she chose me… it’s not like I was that noteworthy outside of the Robotics Club,” Jayce wondered aloud. “And it was different with me, too. She said all the other guys thought they were actually dating, but I was the only one Mel was truthful to. She told me that our relationship was just for optics up front.” 

“Wow, that must suck,” commented Sky as she leaned against the back wall of the gymnasium. “I can’t imagine the most beautiful girl in this school asking you to date her just for show… Did you even like her that way…?” she asked tentatively.

Jayce sighed, his gaze downcast. “I guess I did, a little bit… It’s why I was so eager to take the deal, thought if I proved myself somehow then she would actually like me back…”

Sky frowned. “What made you change your mind?”

Losing Viktor , Jayce wanted to say, but he held his tongue. “I just got over it, I guess,” he lied instead. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Like I said, Mel and I aren’t really together, so…” 

Sky’s mouth then stretched into a wide grin. “So that’s why you kissed Viktor!” she said excitedly. 

Jayce felt his face immediately get heated, bringing his hand to cover it and hopefully hide his embarrassment. “Y-yes, that’s part of it…” Sky squealed and giggled, the sound nearly making Jayce regret his decision to tell her what happened in the first place. When her excitement died down, Jayce took a deep breath, his cheeks still dusted pink. “Sky, you’re his best friend, so maybe you would know… Do you think I could actually… be with Viktor?”

Sky’s smirk slowly turned into a serious expression, her words coming out soft and slow. “Honestly… I don’t know. Viktor— he’s really caught up on what happened last year. He feels really betrayed by what you did, and I honestly can’t blame him. You were a selfish dick.”

Jayce scoffed darkly. “Thanks for not sugar-coating it…”

“I’m serious Jayce— Viktor took it real hard.” Sky crossed her arms, her gaze stern like that of a scolding mother. “I have never seen him so upset by something before. He’s even plotting to—” Sky stopped herself before going any further, piquing Jayce’s interest in her abrupt pause.

“Plotting to what?” he asked further.

Sky just shook her head. “No, nevermind, I’ll just have Viktor explain it to you himself…” she said quietly. “My point is, you need to make it up to him big time if you think you’ll have a shot at dating him, let alone being friends again.” 

Make it up to him? Jayce thought. I’ve been trying to make it up to him, but he won’t let me… “What do you suggest I do then?” he asked.

Sky hummed to herself as she pondered Jayce’s question. “Hmm… Well, he seems pretty concerned with who you used to be, like back in our freshman year,” she eventually said. “Nerdy Jayce Talis, Mr. Know-it-all and captain of the corny joke.”

“H-Hey—!”

“If you could prove to him that you’re still you ,” Sky continued, pressing a pointed finger to Jayce’s chest to punctuate her point, “then I’m sure he’ll be happy to know that you’re still the same person he became friends with, that you're still his partner .”

‘Partner.’ That was a word he hadn’t thought about in a while. Sure, he and Viktor were project partner’s in Mrs. Ramsey’s class, but that was different. When he called him and Viktor ‘partners,’ it meant that they were inseparable, that any challenge they faced they would tackle together. Jayce broke that promise last year, and he hasn’t been Viktor’s partner since.

“Alright,” Jayce said, a new determination filling him. “I’ll show him that I’m still the Jayce he knew.”

Sky beamed. “‘Atta boy, Talis!” she cheered.

But it was easier said than done. Once the first period bell rang and he said his goodbyes to Sky, Jayce found himself unable to start any conversation with Viktor. Hell, he couldn’t even look at him. He’d often catch himself staring at the other boy, but when Viktor would turn to meet his gaze, he’d whip his head the other way (he nearly gave himself whiplash several times).

It didn’t help that Marcus and his other friends were also hounding Jayce all week; it was worse than usual. It felt like Maddie was escorting him to his every class, with Salo hovering somewhere nearby. Almost every day after school, Marcus and Loris would take Jayce to the ice rink with them, running more and more drills despite already having practice at the end of the week. Even Steb was more active than usual, constantly asking Jayce for help on school work during their lunch. Jayce desperately wanted to talk to Viktor and apologize, but he felt stuck between Marcus and his own insecurities. It was like he was caught in a storm, the currents pushing and pulling him in all directions.

Mel was his only saving grace from this hectic week, but he felt bad for relying on her all the time. She would whisk him away from the popular kids whenever she was able, making excuses for Jayce to miss out on hang outs or take him with her during lunch. But Jayce knew he needed to fight his own battles and not have Mel rescue him all the time. He just didn’t know how. It made him feel useless, pathetic even, like a lone ship caught in tumultuous waters. Above it all, he felt guilty , especially since he still hasn’t told her what happened after homecoming. 

By the time the last class of Friday rolled around, Jayce felt battered. He was exhausted, barely listening to whatever Mrs. Ramsey was ranting on about. He was dreading going to practice after school, knowing Marcus was just going to put him through the wringer again, same as last week. He was starting to wonder if he should bring it up to Coach Grayson, but he was pulled away from those thoughts once he heard someone call his name.

“Um, Jayce?” called out a voice behind him, and Jayce barely caught it. Through the haze of his exhaustion, Jayce wondered if he even heard his name. “Ahem, Jayce,” it came louder, and now Jayce flinched because he knew the voice was Viktor’s. “Jayce Talis,” Viktor said a final time, his tone firm. Jayce could barely react, his mind and heart racing, caught in the crossroads of what to say or do.

“Hey prez, I think the Zaunite is trying to talk to you,” said the boy sitting next to him, playfully nudging his elbow into Jayce’s arm, but Jayce was still in a state of shock.

“Uh, r-right…” replied Jayce, hoping to reclaim any kind of composure he had left before turning to Viktor. “Um, h-hey V…”

Immediately upon facing him, Jayce saw the scowl on the other boy’s face. It only made the ache in his chest worsen. Why was he such an idiot? Why did it take him this long to just talk to Viktor? After a few moments of just staring at each other, Viktor just let out a sigh. “The project, Talis. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”

Right, their physics project. They had completed it earlier last week and now their popsicle bridge sat in Jayce’s room. It had slipped his mind that they also had a presentation for it, which they did not prepare for. “No, of course not!” he said defensively, trying to cover his rising panic. There shouldn’t be any need to worry though, as Jayce could just take care of the presentation as usual. It shouldn’t be any different from other public speaking projects he took on. “I, um… we can work on it over the weekend if—”

“Talis!” came a voice from the doorway. The two boys turned to see another boy leaning on the frame, his arm crossed with a smug expression. When Jayce recognized the boy to be Marcus, he felt his stomach drop. “Hockey practice, let’s go,” Marcus said in a stern tone.

Now? That didn’t make any sense… Jayce thought to himself. “Hockey practice? But it doesn’t start for another two hours—” 

“Special meeting,” he replied curtly, “your attendance is mandatory .” Jayce just stared at Marcus, dumbfounded, before realizing that right behind him were the faces of Maddie and Salo, grinning mischievously to each other. That churning, sickly feeling in Jayce’s stomach only got worse.

Jayce turned back to Viktor; he still needed to apologize. He can’t go on with any kind of relationship with him, platonic or otherwise, without saying sorry for everything . For ignoring him, for kissing him, for all that he did last year. But then Jayce felt the gazes of Marcus, Maddie, and Salo boring into his skull. He couldn’t shake the feeling that, if he didn’t go with them now, something bad would happen. “I’m sorry, V, I have to go…” he said remorsefully. “I’ll text you after, is that okay?”

Viktor huffed, his brows creasing further. “Fine. Go enjoy your time with your clique, Talis,” he spat at him, venom in his words.

Jayce frowned, but he expected this. All he could do was feel bad for himself. There was no point in lingering any further, so after an awkward moment of glaring at each other, Jayce got up, grabbed his things, and followed out the door with Marcus and the rest.

“If this is about hockey practice, why are Maddie and Salo here?” Jayce asked once he was within Marcus’s earshot.

“They’re very passionate about our hockey team, obviously,” Marcus said as he sauntered through the halls, not even turning to address Jayce.

“Yeah, Jaycie!” chimed in Maddie, grabbing onto Jayce’s arm as she eagerly led him through the crowd. “We just noticed you’ve been a bit down lately, so Salo and I have a little gift for you! A little ‘pick me up,’ you could say.”

“Now, now, Maddie,” came Salo’s voice, low and cool, “we don’t want to ruin the surprise for our favorite Golden Boy, do we?” Maddie only giggled in response, and for some reason the sound sent a chill down Jayce’s spine.

Eventually, the group led him to the locker rooms, which were void of other students since practice wasn’t due to start for another couple of hours. When they arrived, Loris and Steb were already waiting for them, making idle chatter amongst themselves. The popular kids now fully assembled, they led Jayce further into the lockers and specifically to the board room, the place where the varsity hockey team often met to discuss game plans and other strategies. Jayce noticed that the projector screen on the back wall was pulled down, the projector itself was set up with a laptop attached, and a single seat was placed in the middle of the room. It felt like Jayce was about to get interrogated.

And he was partially correct. “Sit down, Talis,” said Marcus as they arrived at the room.

“Is this some kind of intervention?” Jayce asked, half-joking, but with the serious looks on everyone’s faces, he realized maybe there was a hint of truth to his words. Silently, he took his seat on the lone chair as the rest of the group walked to the front, leaving only Steb behind to stand next to the laptop. “Seriously guys, what is this all about?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound too desperate (or even scared).

“We’re just here to set you back on course,” answered Marcus, ”to remind you who you really are.” 

At this cue, Steb pressed a button on the laptop that made the projector spring to life, plastering a bright image of a grinning Jayce on the screen: his hockey profile photo, he realized. The photo was haphazardly taken a few days after their season ended last year, since Jayce was added to the varsity team last minute. He had on a large, admittedly goofy grin on his face, clearly proud and excited to represent the Automatons. Except now, Jayce could barely feel the same amount of passion.

“Jayce Talis,” Marcus began, the presentation switching slides each time he brought up a new point, “number 7 on the varsity hockey team, speedy on skates and a good shot to boot. All that on top of your academic prowess— you’re a proper hotshot, this high school’s very own wonder boy.” 

Even if Marcus was technically complimenting Jayce, he didn’t feel anything positive about his words. In fact, he spoke with an almost seething tone, like every word hurt his ego to say.

“You brought home the trophy for our team last year, so I suppose I should thank you,” Marcus continued. “Since then, even in the off-season, you’ve proven to Grayson and the team that you’re a valuable asset, a key player in our upcoming season. So, for that reason, you can’t afford to be distracted.”

“W-what do you mean…?” Jayce asked slowly, though he wasn’t really sure if he wanted an answer.

“We need you to stay focused on the season, Talis,” Marcus barreled on, barely addressing his question. “We can’t have you galavanting with normies, least of all Zaunites.”

Jayce then realized what this was about: it was about Viktor, about the other day when he stood up for him against Marcus. “I-I don’t see what the problem is— we’re just friends , we have a project and—”

“It’s about appearances, Jayce,” Salo chimed in, glaring daggers down at Jayce. “People like us don’t talk to people like them , otherwise people start getting ideas…”

“Yeah,” Maddie butted in, “like the other day, a Zaunite girl tried to ask me to homecoming. Me? Go out with someone like her? It’s just not a good look, Jaycie. Not cute.”

“I just don’t see how talking to my friends is bad for the team—” Jayce tried to rebut, but he was swiftly cut off.

“We are your friends, Talis,” said Marcus. “We were the ones who supported you, who were there for you when you left those people behind. We’re just asking you to return the favor: forget those guys and play for the team.” 

“So what, the whole team depends on me ? Only I have to be the one that has to be this concentrated on the season? What about you, or Loris? Anyone else on the team?”

There was an amused, cruel grin on Marcus’s face as he stared at Jayce’s turmoil. “Did you forget that you chose this? These are the consequences of your actions, and I’m just reminding you of your place.” 

His words struck a chord with Jayce, fueling a sentiment he had been holding onto since last year: Everything that has happened to him thus far — losing Viktor, leaving his friends, forgetting himself — it was all a punishment, a sentence he had to fill for his crime of betrayal. Marcus was right, he did choose this. It was his decision to leave Viktor and Sky at the Doom Bots Final, his decision to stop talking to his friends and start acting like an asshole, it was all him. He could say popularity filled his ego all he wanted, but in the end, Jayce did what he did.

And that’s exactly why he’s been trying so hard to make amends, why he conducted a whole Plan to become Viktor’s friend again. He knew he made a mistake, and even if these were repercussions, he was determined to right his wrongs. 

“What if I want to change that?” Jayce challenged. “What if I don’t want this anymore? I don’t have to put up with this—!”

“But you will.” Marcus gave Steb a firm nod, and from the corner of his eye, Jayce could see the other boy hesitate for a moment before he clicked next on the presentation.

When Jayce saw the following images, his heart dropped to the floor. They were two pictures from homecoming, one of Mel dancing with Viktor, and one of Viktor on the floor, covered in punch, with Jayce towering over him. He knew the context of these images, knew that for the most part they were lighthearted and innocent. But in the hands of someone like Salo, the high school informant, these images could mean anything.

“How’s this for a story?” Salo said in a rather cheerful tune, pacing back and forth in front of the screen. “‘Jayce Talis, high school super star, catches a crippled Zaunite boy dancing with his girlfriend Mel Medarda, and in a rage, pushes said boy into the punch bowl.’ You’d be heralded as a hero, praised for defending your girlfriend. Can’t say the school will see the other two in the same light. Mel was caught with a Zaunite, dancing with him behind her boyfriend’s back. And that cripple you care so much for will be seen as a homewrecker, he’ll become a pariah; the school will scorn him.”

Why, just why bring Mel and Viktor into this? Jayce could feel his heart threaten to burst out of his chest. “But that’s not what happened!” Jayce pleaded, his cracking voice echoing in the room.

“Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t,” said Marcus, his tone cool in contrast to Jayce’s desperation. “That’s all up to you, Talis. Your choice.”

Jayce stared wide-eyed at Marcus, who looked down at him in a demeaning manner. He fought hard to steady his breaths, to calm his racing mind, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t let these pictures get out, couldn’t let this story get out. Jayce didn’t want that for Mel or Viktor. 

“Fine… what do you want me to do?” Jayce relented, his voice breaking. He cast his gaze downwards, not daring to look at anyone in the face.

But from the way Marcus spoke, he could tell he was grinning. “You are not to speak to your other ‘friends,’ especially that Zaunite boy. You are not to tell anyone of this conversation, not that anyone would even believe you. And of course, you are to stay focused on hockey and the team. This year is our most important year yet — I will not tolerate failure. If you fail in any of these conditions, these photos will go online and the whole school will know what ‘happened.’ Are we clear?”

Jayce bit his tongue. He knew this was ridiculous, that he would be stupid to lay on his back and let Marcus get away with what he was doing. But the seeds of doubt had been planted, and its roots started digging into his aching chest. Mel and Viktor don’t deserve to get dragged down like this. The team doesn’t deserve to be affected by what’s happening between him and Marcus. And above all else, Jayce still couldn’t help but feel that this was all his fault. 

“Yes, Marcus…” he said quietly.

Marcus stepped forward, leaning over Jayce and glaring down at him. “That’s ‘captain,’ to you,” he spat.

Jayce dared to meet his gaze, brows furrowed. “Yes, captain…”

Marcus scoffed, a satisfied smirk on his face. “Let’s wrap it up before the rest of the team gets here,” he called out to the other kids. Jayce just stayed in his seat, demoralized, as the others took down the projector, tucked the screen away, and packed their things. Soon, Marcus, Maddie, and Salo left the room, leaving only Jayce, Steb, and Loris.

“You guys are gonna let them do this…?” Jayce asked quietly, turning to the other two boys. Steb and Loris glanced at each other remorsefully. Steb didn’t reply, he just quickly packed away the laptop and tucked it under his arm, a guilty look on his face.

Loris, however, walked to Jayce and placed a hand on his shoulder. “One more year, Talis, and Marcus’ll be out of your hair. He’s just determined to win the championship— it’ll be the first time our school has ever won back-to-back. It’s for the team, Talis.”

Jayce just frowned at the response. “Is that what he told you? That it’s all about the championship?”

Loris flinched slightly at his tone, grimacing to himself. “Let’s just head to practice.”

The two boys left the room, and now it was just Jayce by himself to stew in his thoughts. He didn’t even want to get up; how could he go to practice after all this? It was like his whole world was turned upside down. He eventually left once he heard voices spill into the locker room just outside. He joined the rest of his team, getting changed in a robotic fashion as his body followed his movements, but his mind was not in focus. A few of his teammates commented on his strange behavior, but he didn’t have the strength to play up his charisma, not after what just happened.

Just like in the locker room, Jayce was just going through the motions once he got on the ice. Hockey was always a kind of outlet for him, a great way to let out his energy and get his blood pumping. But a new energy was coursing through him, a dark, bitter feeling that settled in his gut. 

After their drills, the team was split into two for a practice match. Jayce was pitted against Marcus as team captains, and for that he was slightly relieved. He didn’t want to be on the same team as Marcus, especially after what he just did, plus a match against Marcus could be just what he needs to get out his frustrations. 

Normally in a game, Jayce can be calm and level-headed. He’d like to think he’s quick on his feet, as it’s easy for him to make split-second decisions in the middle of a match. He has a strong swing, and after years of keeping up with Caitlyn during her ice dance lessons, he’s also agile on skates.

But Jayce was a different beast now. He was barreling down the rink like a train, his movements were ragged and reckless. He was even hogging the puck and trying to make every single score himself. Jayce was usually a teamplayer, but that Jayce wasn’t here right now. To him, the concept of this ‘team’ was so distant and removed. If everything depended on him, then so be it. As he intercepted the puck from the enemy team, Jayce raced down the ice to score his shot, and blocking his way to the goal was none other than Marcus. 

Jayce should’ve moved out of the way. He should’ve skated to the side and avoided him. He could have even passed the puck to someone else. But Jayce was angry, and he couldn’t control himself. So, he charged straight into Marcus, causing the other boy to tumble across the ice. Jayce swung hard to get the puck into the net, but it struck the side with a loud clang, and a whistle from the sidelines halted the whole match.

“Stop the game!” called out Grayson. “Talis, what was that?” she scolded as she skated over to Jayce. Jayce didn’t respond, he just glared at Marcus as Loris and another teammate helped him on his feat. He tore off his gloves and skated off the ice, needing to calm down from what just happened.

He tossed his helmet to the side as he slumped into one of the benches in the locker room, digging his fingers through his hair. This wasn’t like him at all. If Jayce wasn’t sure who he was before, he had no idea who he was now. He heard the door softly open to his side, and as he turned to look at who just entered, he saw Grayon leaning against one of the lockers.

“Is there something I should know about, Talis?” she asked firmly. 

Jayce hesitated. He should just tell her what happened, that Marcus was blackmailing him so he would stop talking to his friends. That would surely get him kicked off the team, but did he really want that? A selfish part of him said yes, of course he would. Marcus has done nothing but make his life a living hell so far, it’s what he deserves. But is that what their team deserves? How would his teammates react to him ousting their captain just before their season started? He hated to admit it, but Marcus is a great hockey player, and while cocky and arrogant, he makes good decisions for the team. It's like what Loris said, he just needed to get through the year, then Marcus will graduate and he won’t have to put up with him anymore, a sacrifice he was willing to make for the team.

“Just not in the right mindset, I guess…” replied Jayce after a short while. 

Grayson sighed before she approached, sitting next to Jayce on the bench. “I can tell it’s much more than that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you act that way on the ice before. Normally, you’d be the one breaking up fights, not starting them.”

When Jayce didn’t respond, she continued. “Y’know, I’ve had my eye on you since your freshman year. You would’ve been one of my starting players on varsity even back then. I was surprised when you turned down my offer to join the team your sophomore year— said you were busy with other clubs. But I was glad you took my offer to sub in for Marcus last minute, even if it took some convincing. You won the championship that year and became our star player.”

Jayce was sure that Grayson was just trying to cheer him up, but all it did was dig up old memories and make him feel guilty. He turned down Grayson’s offer initially since he knew the varsity team would be a big commitment, and back then Jayce wanted to show his dedication to the Robotics Club. But when the opportunity arose to play in the final, to get a chance in the spotlight and prove himself, he jumped at the idea. He hesitated at first, of course, but Mel convinced him to take the chance, said that he would be taking a positive step towards his future if he did. All it took was leaving Viktor and the Robotics Club behind.

“I just feel like I keep making mistakes. No matter what choice I make, I always make the wrong one…” Jayce turned to Grayson, a pitiful expression on his face. “Just… why me, coach? Why pick me to join the team?”

A gentle hand was placed on his shoulder. “I picked you not just for your skills or your passion. I picked you because of your authenticity, your sincerity . Selfless, compassionate to others, a born leader. You have a bright future ahead of you, Jayce. Not just in this team, but in other areas, too. But I can see that you’re shrouded in doubt. A piece of advice: the only person who can stop you from being who you were meant to be is yourself. No one else can take that away from you.”

Jayce was left speechless, Grayon’s words having a great effect on him. It was like a final note on all of the insecurities Jayce had been holding onto so far, his self-doubts and his remorse for his actions. “Thanks, coach,” he said with a breath of relief.

“Take the rest of the day off, Talis,” Grayson said as she stood up. “Clear your head and make sure you’re ready for the match tomorrow. I’ll be needing my best player in the right mindset.” With a firm nod, Grayson left the locker room.

Jayce took a deep breath, centering himself from the hectic week he’d been having. He can think this situation through like he always does. He just had to come up with a plan, something that he’s really good at. Sure, Marcus and his gang could threaten him all they want, but Jayce wasn’t going to let that get in the way of him and his friends. There was the hockey team to think about, too, keeping them in consideration as he formulated his next steps. There was a way for him to get what he wants without implicating anyone else into his problems; Jayce can be very compromising, after all.

Jayce was forbidden from talking to Viktor, sure, but it wasn’t like they would find out, not as long as he was careful. Jayce could still be Viktor’s friend — even more, if Viktor would allow it. Grayson was right, Jayce shouldn’t let himself get walked all over by Marcus. He needed to take action, put matters into his own hands.

But first, he needed to apologize to Viktor. Jayce took out his phone, pulling up Viktor’s name in his contacts, and sent him a text.

There was a short pause and Jayce almost put his phone away until he felt that familiar buzz from the device.

A new determination filled him. Come Sunday, Jayce was going to come clean about everything, tell Viktor about everything. Whether Viktor accepted his plea or not, Jayce knew this would be his first step to fixing the friendship that he broke. And who knows, if Viktor accepts his apology, there could be a chance for something more.

Chapter Text

Viktor shouldn’t be this nervous about meeting up with someone, but he was. At least he had a semi-good reason to. After a week of stonewalling on both sides, Viktor will finally have a chance to talk to Jayce about what happened after homecoming. 

Jayce had told him he would pick him up at around 8 AM, which confused him at first. Why were they meeting up so early in the morning? Jayce hadn’t informed them of their plans beyond the pick up time, so Viktor got ready and awkwardly sat around in his apartment, waiting for a text from Jayce to announce his arrival. He hated to admit it, but he was nervously playing with the fabric of Jayce’s jacket, the one he left at his apartment. It’s been sitting by his bedside since homecoming, and he would be lying to himself if he denied the fact that he would often stare at it, hold it in his hands, and most embarrassingly, wear it. 

He only did it once, but it was still a memory he’d like to forget. The morning after homecoming and after barely getting any sleep from that night, Viktor wore it simply out of curiosity. He stared at himself in the mirror, at how the jacket barely clung to his frame (he looked like a kid wearing adult clothes for fun). The worst part was the jacket still smelled like Jayce, a weird mix between smoke and athletic body spray. 

Viktor felt his face heat up at the memory, so at around 7:57, he decided to just head outside for some fresh air and wait for Jayce by the sidewalk. He tucked the jacket over his arm and left his apartment, and he was surprised to see Jayce already there, his car parked on the curb. He was leaning against the passenger side door, his head low and brows furrowed, clearly deep in thought with his phone in his hands. Viktor had no idea how long he’d been out here, but Jayce must’ve heard the distinct sound of Viktor’s cane hitting the pavement as he approached, as his head immediately swung upwards to meet his gaze.

“V-Viktor—!” Jayce said nervously. “I, um, was just about to text you.”

Viktor took a moment to examine the other boy. His hair was still slicked back, but there wasn’t as much product in it, letting his strands loosely fall across his face. He had on a red flannel, a bit torn on the edges, with a few smudges and unknown, dark stains, and underneath it was a black graphic tee for some kind of media Viktor didn’t know about. Lastly, he had on khaki carpenter pants, similarly frayed as his flannel, and some sneakers. 

All this to say, Viktor hasn’t even seen Jayce dressed so… casually. Sure, there was a brief period of time their freshman year when Jayce wore exclusively hoodies, but after getting into the junior varsity team and slowly gaining more notoriety, Jayce started paying more and more attention to his appearance. It made Viktor wonder where they were going today if he was dressed in such a relaxed manner.

“Oh, here,” Viktor offered Jayce’s jacket back to him. “You left this last week, after you…”

“R-right…” Jayce grabbed the jacket out of Viktor’s grasp, briefly brushing their fingers together as he did so. Viktor hated the way his heart skipped a beat upon contact. “We should head out soon— are you hungry?”

Viktor scoffed, the tiniest bit of a grin on his lips. “You made me wake up early on a weekend. I’m starving, Talis.” Jayce laughed, that soft, gentle laugh that made Viktor’s heart race, before opening the passenger side door for Viktor. Once the boy was settled in, Jayce took his place in the driver’s seat and drove them over the bridge and back to Piltover.

Viktor was certain they were going to Jayce’s place, especially given they had a presentation to work on and Jayce still needed to apologize. It was also a fair assumption since the buildings around the area they were driving in were recognizable as Jayce’s neighborhood, but his actual apartment didn’t seem to be their destination. Instead, they drove further into a part of Piltover that Viktor had never been to before. 

Closer to the docks and on the outskirts of the pearlescent city, these buildings were older and worn down. Viktor saw more concrete or brick buildings, different from the marble and polished stone he was so used to seeing elsewhere. There were tattered posters, scattered graffiti, and the occasional pothole on the road which made Viktor’s knee sore from the way the car jerked whenever they rode over one (Jayce would apologize profusely every time). Viktor noticed that this place was no different from a few of the better places in Zaun, only difference being that they were across the bridge from the Undercity. 

Jayce eventually parked the car in front of a large building with a huge ‘repair’ sign in front. The main storefront had a large glass window from which Viktor could spot several old TVs, radios, and other vintage technologies on display. Attached to the side of the building was a garage, the door open to reveal a few workers dealing with a tire change. Viktor initially wasn’t sure if the car shop was related to the other part of the building, but then Jayce greeted the workers in another language.

“Buenos días, Héctor, Pablo!” shouted Jayce, waving to the two men in the garage.

“Oye, niño!” called out one of the men. “Quién es el que está contigo?”

“Este es mi amigo Viktor!” Jayce turned to address Viktor, who couldn’t help the confused look on his face. “Sorry, they’re just asking who you were,” he said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s Hector and Pablo, they own the car shop next door. They were close friends with my dad.”

Viktor frowned slightly at the mention of Jayce’s dad. “Just where exactly are we, Jayce?”

“I got an anonymous tip that maybe you’d like to see more of the ‘real’ me,” Jayce replied wistfully, “so I thought I’d show you what I’m up to when I’m not busy being the school’s ‘Golden Boy.’”

Jayce led Viktor into the repair shop where they were greeted by a familiar face. “Jayce! Oh, and Viktor, too!” Ximena walked around the counter and hugged the two boys in her arms. “Nice seeing you here, mijo,” she said with a soft smile. “Are you boys hungry? There’s still some breakfast in the back if Hector and Pablo didn’t eat them all.”

“Thanks, mom!” Jayce left a quick kiss on his mother’s cheek, and Viktor bowed his head politely before he was led deeper into the building by the other boy.

Viktor and Jayce eventually found themselves in front of what seemed to be a break room, and Viktor could feel his stomach rumble at the scent of something wonderful wafting from within. Inside the room and displayed on a table was a collection of dishes and plates, each about half-filled with some food. There was a pot full of some kind of stew, a few separate bowls for rice, beans, and hashed potatoes, and a plate of fried eggs with some kind of red sauce on it. Needless to say, the food smelled amazing and Viktor knew it would taste just as good, too.

“Here.” Jayce offered Viktor a paper plate before helping himself to the food, grabbing from each dish by the spoonful. Viktor followed suit but grabbed much less food (he didn’t have quite the voracious appetite as Jayce).

“You still haven’t answered my question,” Viktor started as they sat together to eat their breakfast.

“This is the Talis Repair Shop. It was my dad’s place, and his dad’s before him, and his dad’s before… you get the point,” Jayce explained with a mouthful of food in his mouth (making Viktor frown in disgust). “We fix all sorts of stuff, broken car radios, record players, box TVs… if you can plug it in, we can probably fix it.”

Viktor nodded his head along, only slightly distracted by the absolutely flavorful food he was feasting on. It explained why Jayce was quite skilled when it came to working with hardware, especially if Jayce had been working here as a kid. “I didn’t know your mother was a kind of repairwoman as well.”

Jayce shrugged, shoveling some eggs into his mouth as he did. “She’s better at the analog stuff— watches, clocks, stuff like that. Anything with a circuit board she immediately throws at me,” Jayce chuckled.

“And how long have you been working here?” In the three years he’s known Jayce, Viktor had never heard about this shop before. It made him wonder why he never brought it up, and he was a bit hurt to know he was hiding it from him for whatever reason.

“Since I could hold a hammer in my hand,” Jayce replied with a hint of nostalgia. “I used to go every other day after school, but obviously I got busy since I started playing…” Jayce’s voice faded out, but Viktor knew what he meant. Even in their sophomore year, back when they still considered each other best friends, Viktor barely got to spend any free time with Jayce. “Obviously I couldn’t treat it like a real job, child labor laws and all— My parents would pay me with new books or figurines.”

“‘Figurines?’” Viktor echoed, eyebrows raised in a cocky fashion. He wondered if Jayce was going to lie his way out of this one.

He was surprised when he didn’t. “A-ah, well— Yes, I do collect figurines, among other things… Maybe I could show it to you, if you want…” he said, the tiniest hint of pink on his cheeks. “A-anyways, we should head to work if you’re done eating.”

Viktor chuckled lightly at the change in subject but followed Jayce out of the break room nonetheless, tossing his plate into the trash. He followed Jayce into another room, larger this time with several desks worth of tech and tools scattered about. There were two other people in the room, a tall goat vastayan and a young adult with circular glasses and short, dark hair.

“Hey, we were wondering when you’d get here!” greeted the dark haired person. “Oh, and I see you did bring your friend along. Hi, I’m Tala!” they greeted, reaching out their hand to Viktor.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Viktor,” he said as he shook their hand. 

“Oskar,” greeted the goat vastayan, and Viktor shook his hand as well.

“There’s tons of stuff to work on, so just take your pick.” Tala gestured to the stacks of old computers, TVs, and radios that were scattered around the room. “Oskar was about to head out to fix some lady’s washing machine—”

“It’s Ms. Linden again,” Oskar said mournfully.

“Seriously? This is like, the third time this month!” Jayce replied incredulously.

“I keep trying to tell her not to use fabric softener— it’s clogging the machine up, and I have to clean all the gunk out.” continued Oskar, annoyed. He grabbed a tool bag off the floor and made his way past the two boys. “You three have fun— Oh, and Tala, don’t scare VIktor too much.”

“Eh, he’ll be fine.” The three waved the vastayan farewell. “I’m working on this CD player— client says his CDs get stuck in it all the time. As you can see, I’ve fully dismantled it!” Tala continued, gesturing to the deconstructed device on the desk in front of them. “I still haven’t found the problem with it, though… I suppose once I put it back together, it’ll fix itself.”

“Well, you can handle that then,” said Jayce with a playful smile. He wrapped his arm around Viktor’s back and placed a hand on his shoulder, the sudden contact making Viktor flinch slightly, his cheeks warming up. “Viktor and I’ll take a look at that pile of laptops over there.”

“Ah, those all have motherboard issues— I dug them up from the heap last week. If you can get them running again, I’m sure your mom would love to sell the whole lot!”

“That’s the plan!” Tala left the two boys to their own devices, flicking on some protective eyewear as they set about reconstructing their CD player. Viktor and Jayce, meanwhile, tucked themselves into the opposite end of the room where the pile of laptops were.

“So I’m assuming besides working on repairs for customers, you also do personal repairs?” Viktor mused as Jayce got to work on the laptops.

“Yup, Tala likes finding old electronics in landfills and bringing back whatever they think we could fix. We try to repair them, then we either sell them or donate to places in need.” Jayce took off the screws to their first laptop, prying open the back panel to reveal the exposed motherboard. “Ah, fried charging port,” Jayce commented as he pointed at the darkened spot in the corner of the device. “Dunno if we’ll be able to fix that…”

Viktor glanced down at the device, gears in his head turning as he examined the damage. “Hmm, I think the cowling is just improperly grounded. You could replace it with another piece so it doesn’t catch fire the next time someone plugs it in.”

Jayce glanced up at Viktor, a small grin spreading across his face. “And that’s exactly why I brought you here,” he said. That small amount of acknowledgement was enough to send Viktor’s heart racing.

“Why have you never mentioned this to me before…?” Viktor finally asked, voicing the thoughts he’s been holding onto since they arrived at the repair shop.

Jayce paused briefly, midway through grabbing a soldering kit from a shelf. “I dunno, I just… thought you might think of me differently,” he said quietly. “Part of me thinks it’s lame, I guess. Helping out the family business, I just thought maybe it would be embarrassing to admit…”

Viktor scowled. “How could anyone think this is ‘embarrassing?’” he said incredulously, perhaps a little too loud for comfort (Tala was just across the room, afterall, but they appeared to have earphones in). “I for one think it’s quite noble of you to be helping your parents— helping your community even.”

Jayce smiled softly, laughing to himself in disbelief. “I know, my thought process can be a bit unreasonable at times. Just worried about what people think of me, I guess…”

Viktor didn’t respond, he just watched closely as Jayce continued repair on the laptop, his face a weird mix between melancholy and relief. Viktor understood Jayce more in this moment; he cares deeply about how others perceive him, to the point that he would even downplay his relationship to his work and his family. Viktor wondered how it came to this, wanting to pry open the other boy's head and find out how his gears ticked. But perhaps that was the point of them being here today, he supposed. Jayce mentioned showing Viktor the ‘real’ him, and this was as authentic as Viktor has ever seen him before.

A few hours passed of the three of them fixing whatever device came into the shop that day. Viktor found the work to be quite fun; it was just stimulating enough to keep him entertained but mundane enough that he didn’t feel too stressed out. If he wasn’t already working two other jobs, he might’ve considered working here, too. Oskar eventually returned, and every now and then Ximena would pop by with snacks or words of encouragement.

It was clear from how they worked that this shop was a close-knit family. Tala told many hyperbolic stories that were outrageous to the point of hilarity, and Oskar offered some sage advice to Viktor as someone who previously attended the Academy but had to drop out due to financial reasons. Jayce was clearly the little brother of the group with how often the other two poked fun at him (they kept referring to Viktor as Jayce’s ‘boyfriend’ or ‘crush,’ and it made both the boys fluster). After enough teasing, Jayce announced that he and Viktor would be taking their pile of fixed laptops back to the front of the store. Viktor let out a sigh of relief, because despite growing a bit comfortable around the other two workers, he couldn’t deny how much his face heated up from their comments.

“Oauh, vous travailler là-dessus très vite! ” came the voice of a well-dressed customer, who was leaning against the counter where Jayce’s mom was working.

“Bien sûr! Ce n'était qu'une simple solution,” Ximena replied happily, handing over a small pocket watch back to the customer. 

Viktor raised his eyebrows, his curiosity piqued. “I didn’t know your mother spoke other languages,” he commented in awe.

“Oh yeah, she knows a bunch from around the region,” said Jayce, pride swelling in his voice. “She took multilingual studies in college— it’s where she met my dad.”

Jayce and Viktor placed their pile of devices on a shelf just behind the counter, and the sound was enough to signal their arrival to Ximena, who turned and greeted them with a smile. “Thank you so much, boys,” she said.

“Oh, ce sont vos enfants? ” asked the customer. Now that they were closer, Viktor realized this customer must’ve been some nobleman from a higher tribe in Piltover by the way both his pocket watch and lapel displayed his insignia.

“Non, this is my son Jayce and his friend Viktor,” Ximena introduced, playing pinching Jayce’s cheek in doing so (much to Jayce’s annoyance and Viktor’s amusement).

“Ah, I see— Good to meet you two,” the customer replied in the common tongue, his voice thick with his accent. “Eh bien, êtes-vous libre ce soir, peut-être? Voudriez-vous me rejoindre pour le dîner?” he asked, turning back to address Ximena. By the sultry tone of the man’s voice and the way Jayce scrunched up his nose, Viktor rightfully assumed that the customer was courting Jayce’s own mother in front of him.

“Ah, you are very sweet, Paul, but I will have to decline,” Ximena replied with a polite smile.

“O-of course,” the older man sputtered. “Well then, farewell, madame.” From the corner of his eye, Viktor spotted Jayce sticking his tongue out at the customer as he left out the door.

“Oy, don’t be rude, mijo, or else your face will be stuck like that,” Ximena playfully reprimanded as she gently smacked her son’s head.

Viktor snickered maniacally next to Jayce, earning him a nasty side eye from the other boy. It was probably the first time in weeks since Viktor had had a good laugh, especially around Jayce. It felt like they were back to their old antics again, with Sky nearby to yell at both of them for messing around instead of working. 

Jayce’s pout didn’t last long, his face slowly curling into a soft smile as Viktor’s laughs died down. “There’s one more thing I want to show you.”

Viktor’s interest was piqued as once again Jayce led him further into the repair shop, past the break room and past the main work room, and towards the back of the shop. From his pocket, Jayce pulled out a key that unlocked the door, and as they entered the lights automatically turned on. Viktor’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in the area they had just entered.

“Is this… a forge ?” he muttered in disbelief. They were clearly in some kind of garage, with the large metal door shuddered for now. To the right hand side was a brick furnace that led all the way up to the roof, clearly still being used by the amount of charring it had on the inside. There were several tool benches around and an anvil, and there were a few other machinery and devices that Viktor had no idea what they could be used for. 

Jayce looked at him with trepidation, searching for a response from the other boy. “Yeah, but just a small one. What do you think?”

“I mean— wow .” Viktor was truly speechless. In this day in age, it was quite uncommon to see a forge like this. Viktor ran his hands across the tools that hung on the wall, watching how they swung back and forth and listened to their clanging noise as they hit each other. “I assume this was your father’s as well?”

“Yeah, he turned the back half of the shop into a smithy, which apparently made my mom pretty angry at first,” Jayce replied with a small chuckle.

“Do you actually know how to use this stuff?”

“Of course!” Jayce answered, albeit a bit unconfidently. “I, uh, just make small stuff. Like wrenches and hammers. My dad made all the cool stuff, like this—” From a box that was sitting on one of the tool benches, Jayce pulled out an actual metal sword. He swung it around for flair, but in a manner that was uncoordinated and frankly made Viktor nervous. “Don’t worry, it’s dull,” Jayce reassured.

“So your dad just made swords for fun?” Viktor asked jokingly, but it was clear he struck some sort of nerve for Jayce

“Y-yeah,” Jayce replied, voice cracking. “It’s lame, I know— my dad was really into fantasy and magic stuff, he was a real big nerd and—”

“Jayce,” Viktor interrupted, his voice firm. He felt slightly apologetic; he didn’t mean to get Jayce worked up like this. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that. I think it’s cool that your dad made this,” he said, gesturing to the sword in Jayce’s hands. 

Jayce bit his lip, clearly wanting to say more, but stopping himself for a moment. “Follow me,” he said quietly.

From a side door in the garage, Jayce led Viktor up some stairs where Jayce once again used his key to unlock another door. This time, the key gave them access to the roof of the shop, from which the two boys had an amazing view of the Bridge of Progress, the docks underneath them, and the sun as it set over the River Pilt. It was a view Viktor had never seen before. Jayce sat himself on the ledge and Viktor followed suit next to him, carefully dangling his legs over the side of the building and setting his cane to the side. They weren’t so far up that it was dizzying to look down, but Viktor was cautious nonetheless. In fact, it felt nice to let his legs hang lazily like this after a few hours of sitting and standing from work. 

As they both stared over the horizon, Jayce began to speak. “I’m really sorry for everything. For last year, for this year… all of it.” Viktor stayed quiet, waiting for Jayce to continue. “I don’t want to make excuses… Everything I did was my choice, and I ended up hurting you, the Robotics Club, and my other friends. I fear I’m making the same mistakes again, but…” Jayce hesitated. He looked like he wanted to elaborate, but he closed his eyes and furrowed his brows, shaking away whatever he was going to say next. “The way I act at school is not how I really feel, I just want you to know that.”

What did Jayce want to say there? Viktor thought to himself. With the troubled look on the other boy’s face, Viktor couldn’t help but feel like Jayce was hiding something from him again. But whether Jayce wanted to come clean with it or not was none of his business, at least for now. 

Viktor pursed his lips, sighing before saying his piece. “I can’t deny that I’ve been angry with you, angry with your actions. You just seem so preoccupied with what other people think of you— I wish I could just show you that it didn’t matter—” Viktor didn’t mean to, but his voice started to rise, emotion swelling in his chest. It was all the pent up frustrations coming to surface. “Your actions did hurt me, Jayce, and it’s something that has been hard for me to forgive.”

“Then you don’t have to forgive me,” Jayce pleaded, his hazel eyes glistening with warmth as the setting sun reflected in them. “You don’t have to do that, I just—” Jayce paused, biting his tongue again. “I just want my partner back…”

Viktor’s heart ached at the word. In his mind, he recalled what Ekko told him during their club meeting. ‘Jayce is trying to be a better friend, and maybe you should, too.’ He wanted to listen to Ekko, he did. But there was still something cluttering the edges of his mind, something he needed closure on before he could continue. 

“… Why did you kiss me after homecoming…?”

Jayce hesitated, snapping his gaze away from Viktor and focusing back on the horizon. “I, um, realized that maybe… maybe I care so much about being friends with you again because I—…” Jayce muttered the next few words incoherently.

“Because you what?” Viktor pressed further.

“Because I lik—…” Jayce's voice grew quieter again, which only annoyed Viktor.

“Because you what , Jayce?”

“Because I like you , Viktor!” Jayce yelled, his breaths jagged and face bright red. “Because I like you as more than a friend, V… I only realized it last week, when I kissed you, but my feelings have been there all along. After we fought, I thought about just letting you go, that I should just accept what happened and let us go our separate ways… but then I thought about never seeing you again, never being able to talk to you again or listen to you ramble about your newest ideas, and…” Jayce trailed off, his face now damp as small beads of tears streamed down his cheeks. “I just don’t know if I could live with that— live without you. I only realized it after I already pushed you away— Ugh, I’m just such a big idiot.” 

Jayce buried his face into his hands, and Viktor was left speechless. His heart was racing, and he was holding onto his breath for so long, he was starting to get light headed. Jayce… likes him? For some reason, it wasn’t clicking for Viktor. There was just no way. There was no conceivable notion that Jayce Talis , academic genius, all-star hockey player, and the class president of their high school, would ever like Viktor. Viktor. This just had to be some cruel joke. Jayce had to be playing some kind of prank, because in his mind, there was no way someone as perfect as Jayce would ever want to be with someone like Viktor.

But with the way the boy turmoiled over the confession, with how red his cheeks were and how the tears were already streaming down his face, was there really any reason to doubt Jayce’s feelings…? Was there any amount of self-loathing that could blind Viktor from how Jayce really felt about him…?

Now was not that time for those thoughts. Jayce was an emotional mess, and Viktor was half-worried he would cry himself off the building. “Jayce,” he said quietly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Mm…?” Jayce looked up, eyes red and swollen. It was a pitiful expression yet Viktor couldn’t help but find it cute. 

He smiled softly at the other boy. “You’re right, it might take me some time to forgive you…” he began. “But I… accept your feelings…”

“Y-you do?” Jayce asked between sniffles, a hopeful glint in his eyes. 

Viktor’s heart skipped a beat again. Jayce’s face was just too precious like this. He wasn’t sure why he said what he said; he was still unsure of exactly what he was feeling for Jayce at this point, but he continued. “Y-yes, I’m just really bad at this whole ‘emotions’ thing…” he said with a cruel chuckle.

Jayce wiped away the remaining wetness on his cheeks, the skin there now red from irritation. “What could I do to make it up to you…? You can still be mad at me, but I just want to let you know that I’m really, really sorry for what I did…”

Viktor mused for a moment. What he said earlier was the truth: he desperately wanted to show Jayce that it didn’t matter what other people thought of him, that he shouldn’t be hiding parts of himself because of it. Maybe he could pivot his plan; he no longer had any intention of humiliating Jayce in front of the whole school (especially not after the genuine display the boy offered). But if he could show Jayce who he really is, it could be their little secret. No one else had to know that Jayce was a loser, just them.

“I admire your show of authenticity today, Jayce,” Viktor replied after a while. “I had no idea you were so closed off… I wish you could tell me more about your life or your hobbies. It hurts me to know that perhaps you didn’t trust me enough to know them…”

Jayce hesitated once more, biting his lip. It was clear from the conflicted look on his face that he was still struggling with how others perceive him, even if one of them was Viktor. After a short while, Jayce let out a frustrated groan as he combed a hand through his hair, messing it up further. “Alright then…” he said with a sigh and a tired smile on his face. “You’ll get 100% unrestricted access to all my nerdy tendencies, but you have to promise me you won’t make fun of me or call me cringe.”

“Aw,” Viktor fake-pouted with a teasing smirk, “I can’t make fun of you even a little bit?”

“Viktor, I’m being so serious,” he said with pursed lips, looking at Viktor with eyes like a sad puppy. He huffed, the slightest pink still on his cheeks. “... Okay fine, but only a little.” Viktor giggled at his childish response, and Jayce returned the sound with a small smile. “So, um… what now?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Viktor replied nervously.

“I-I mean— are we, y’know…” Jayce trailed off. It was obvious that he wanted to say something more, but he was too embarrassed to. “Are we… friends again?” he asked, even though Viktor knew he wanted something more than that.

“Yes, we can be friends again,” Viktor said quietly. “Was there anything else?” he prodded, teasing Jayce even further.

Jayce groaned again. “Do I really have to say it…?” 

Viktor let out a cheeky smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jayce. If there’s something else you want, I’d like to hear you say it.”

Jayce let out a final sigh as he hid his face behind his hands, muffling his voice. “Viktor… do you want to go out with me?”

Viktor smiled, but it was equal parts pleased and sad. His feelings of jealousy and admiration were now mixing with… some other feeling Viktor couldn’t quite describe. He only knew what it felt like: it was the feeling of tightness in his chest whenever Jayce smiled at him; it was the feeling of fluttering in his stomach whenever he heard the other boy laugh; it was the feeling of warmth on his cheeks whenever Jayce praised him; and it was the feeling of losing his breath whenever Jayce touched him. He didn’t know what it was, or maybe didn’t want to admit what it was. And despite all this, Viktor still couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t worthy enough to be with Jayce.

“I would like that,” he finally answered, the smallest hint of hesitation in his voice. But it didn’t matter because Jayce didn’t hear it. Instead, the other boy was grinning from ear to ear.

“O-okay! By the way, um, Mel and I aren’t actually dating,” Jayce revealed out of the blue.

“What?” Viktor shot back incredulously.

“It’s a long story— Oh!” Jayce sprung up and by how fast he was moving, Viktor was worried he would topple off the building. “We still need to work on the project— C’mon!” 

Viktor was getting mental and emotional whiplash with how quick Jayce was jumping from one point to another. It was clear that he was riding some kind of high, still smiling like a maniac as he helped Viktor to his feet and offered his cane back to him. Not long after were the two boys off the roof and getting back into Jayce’s car, beating Ximena back to their apartment even when they all left the repair shop at the same time. They began work on their project again, planning what they were going to say and when (even though it was mostly decided that Jayce would do all the talking, he was better at that anyway). The end of the day came by so quickly that Viktor didn’t even realize he was back home until Jayce opened his side of the car door.

“Sorry for the long day,” Jayce apologized as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

“Eh, at least we got a lot of work done, the day felt productive,” Viktor replied.

Jayce walked Viktor to his front door, watching closely as Viktor took out his keys and unlocked it. “Um, thanks for everything, by the way…” he said quietly.

Viktor’s cheeks flushed pink at Jayce’s bashful expression. “R-right, and th-thank you, too…”

“Is it okay if I…?”

Viktor knew what he was asking for, and despite his trepidation, he gave Jayce a small nod.

Slowly, Jayce interlocked his fingers with Viktor’s, his large hands warm in Viktor’s grip. The two boys locked eyes for a moment, before Jayce’s fluttered closed as he leaned in closer. Then, Viktor felt a warmth on his cheek, a tingling sensation that he felt lingering as Jayce pulled away with a small but pleased smile on his face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, V,” said Jayce softly.

Viktor was too dumbstruck to respond, and the other boy had already left the apartment building before he had a chance to reply. He opened the door and let himself into his apartment, leaning his forhead against the wood as he locked the door.

Oh, Viktor was in trouble now.

Chapter Text

The first thing Jayce did that morning was text Marcus, much to his annoyance. He had to explain that he and Viktor were partners for their physics project, and that until their presentation at the end of the day, he might have to talk to Viktor while they were at school. Jayce could feel the frustration boil in his veins as he sent the text, absolutely infuriated that he has to ask permission from Marcus to speak with Viktor, which meant that in this battle, Marcus won. Marcus texted back a simple ‘Fine,’ which was equally infuriating, but Jayce was too young to have this high of a blood pressure.

Jayce wanted to be more excited at the fact that he and Viktor were officially going out, but it was overshadowed by the blackmail placed over his head. And he knew keeping this a secret would be difficult; Jayce’s fatal flaw was wearing his heart on his sleeve, after all. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t even tell Sky about it, because though he didn’t doubt her ability to keep secrets, he thought it would be best if no one else knew that he and Viktor were dating.

Dating. That would still take some time to get used to, but Jayce’s heart raced at the thought. Then his heart sank with the heavy guilt that he still hasn’t told Mel anything. Not about the kiss, not about what happened with Marcus, and not about Viktor. Jayce knew he had to come clean today, which was yet another pressure placed on him on a Monday morning. 

He stood up off his bed and stared at the two shirts he had set aside to wear for school today: yet another plain white t-shirt and a graphic tee of one of his favorite anime. The graphic tee wasn’t too overt (compared a few other tees he had), and it was also of an anime that was pretty much mainstream, so surely he wouldn’t be ridiculed for it, right? Jayce had promised Viktor to be a more authentic version of himself, and yet… Even just the thought of getting caught wearing the shirt while at school was enough to warm his cheeks with embarrassment. Alright, classic white tee it is, Jayce thought to himself as he threw it on paired with his classic varsity jacket.

Jayce got in his car, carefully placing his and Viktor’s popsicle bridge in the passenger seat, and made his way to school. He parked his car like usual, mentally preparing himself for yet another week of fake smiles and dealing with Marcus, when he heard footsteps approach quickly from behind him. Jayce ignored it at first, thinking it was maybe some other student who was power-walking to their first period class for some reason, until he felt an arm roughly wrap around his shoulders, nearly taking him out.

“Oomph—! What the—?”

“Finally caught ya, pretty boy.”

The voice was enough to tip him off, but it didn’t stop his heart from racing anxiously. “Vi, hey—! Ow, ow, ow—!”

Vi tightened her grip on him, now almost putting Jayce in a chokehold. “So how long are ya gonna keep ignoring us, Jay?” she asked aggressively. “You’ve been weird since homecoming, and I’m startin’ to think it’s not because you took your boyfriend home!”

“What are you—? Vi, seriously — I can’t breathe—” pleaded Jayce as he continued to struggle under the girl’s hold, worried not just for his own well-being but for the well-being of the popsicle bridge he was holding in his hands. 

Powder, whom Jayce hadn’t noticed this whole time since Vi was basically strangling him, stuck her tongue out at the boy. “Traitor,” she said with scowl.

Jayce was even more confused now, but he was finally able to slide out of Vi’s grip and catch his breath. “Geez, is this how you greet people?” he asked between gasps.

“Only to punks who avoid their ‘friends,’” Vi replied as she crossed her arms. “So what’s your deal, huh? First, you ditch us to run off with your preppy clique, then you cancel our plans to play more D&D ‘til further notice, and now you’re acting like you don’t even know us!” Vi’s voice was growing louder, only drawing more attention to them as other students passed by in the parking lot. “It’s starting to feel like what you did last year, Talis. I thought you said you were ‘changing your ways,’” she said mockingly.

“Yeah, and Viktor told us what you did to the Robotics Club,” Powder added, crossing her arms in a similar fashion to her sister.

Jayce gulped, a new nervous energy now surging within him as the two sisters cornered him. The truth about the Robotics Club would’ve come out eventually, but it still hurts, especially knowing that Ekko and Powder found out what happened. And Vi was right, Jayce was once again repeating a pattern he promised not to return to. 

When Jayce stopped talking to Viktor, not only did he stop going to the Robotics Club, but he even stopped talking to Caitlyn and Vi. That hurt him the most at the time, since Caitlyn was his closest friend besides Viktor. He only had a chance to mend that relationship in the summer between sophomore and junior year, since Jayce and Caitlyn often met on account of their families still being close.

But what’s going on now is so much more precarious to what happened back then. Last year, Jayce effectively cut ties on his own terms, something he regrets deeply and has been making an effort to repair. Now, he had a whole different demon to fight with Marcus constantly peering over his shoulders at every action he does or word he speaks. 

And as the saying goes, ‘speak of the devil, and he shall appear.’

“Are these Zaunites bothering you, Talis?” came that familiar, arrogant tone that was Marcus’s voice. 

“Great, Daddy Hockey’s here now, too,” Vi commented as she rolled her eyes. “Get lost, bud— this is none of your business. This whole ordeal’s between me and pretty boy over here.”

“Well, I think this is very much my business considering you’re harassing a student on campus grounds, which is a reportable offense,” Marcus threatened.

“What are you, a cop?” Vi mocked, earning a playful snicker from Powder. 

“Vi, please just drop it,” Jayce whispered, but subtly was not his strong suit, so Marcus heard it as well.

“Don’t tell me you’re defending these two, Jayce?” scoffed Marcus. “Do I have to remind you about our deal?”

Jayce wanted so badly to just punch Marcus in the face right now, but that would only spell bad news for all of them. “Don’t drag them into this,” Jayce seethed. “Let’s just head to class, okay?”

Marcus smirked, and even just looking at the expression would be enough to set Jayce off. “You heard them, ladies— let’s just keep it civil and no one has to get in trouble, alright?”

“What the fuck, Jayce?” came Vi’s voice, soft yet angered. Vi was glaring daggers at Jayce as he and Marcus walked out of the parking lot together. All he could do was shoot a mournful look back at the two sisters, before Marcus slung his arm around his shoulders, turning his focus back on him.

“Close call there, Talis,” Marcus began in his belittling tone. “But congrats, you held your ground and kept up your end of the deal. Just remember, you are not to talk to any of those people again, do you understand?”

Jayce sighed. “Yes, captain.” He could feel himself shaking with rage as he said those words, words that meant utterly nothing to him now, as he felt no respect for Marcus as his captain, and any and all affirmations to him felt empty. 

As the school day started, Jayce made any feasible excuse to talk to Viktor while this ‘hold’ was present. Greeting him as they walked into first period together, smiling at him in the halls (and watching him blush in response; it was cute). If he had any power to, he would’ve sat with him and Sky during lunch, too. But there was something he needed to deal with first; he had to talk to Mel.

“Joining us for lunch, Jaycie?” Maddie asked in her sickeningly sweet voice, looking up at Jayce expectantly.

“Ah, not today, Maddie. Mel and I need to work on some stuff in the Leadership room.” Jayce silently smirked to himself when he saw a pout form on the girl’s face, the tiniest bit of satisfaction nestling in his chest. He excused himself, making his way to the aforementioned Leadership room and sending a quick message to Mel.

There were no upcoming events on campus as the school year settled into October, aside from plans for some kind of Halloween rally. This meant that the Leadership room should be empty, and any stragglers could be easily dealt with if both the class presidents asked nicely enough for them to leave. When Jayce arrived, the room was as he thought: empty, and soon after Mel showed up as well. 

“Jayce,” she greeted with a soft, warm tone, a pleasant smile drawing on her face. “Congratulations, by the way, on your game last Saturday. Don’t know what the Automatons would be doing if you weren’t there to score all their points,” she said with a laugh. “I did want to congratulate you afterwards, but you seemed… distracted.”

Jayce flashed an apologetic smile, sitting atop one of the desks in the room and motioning for Mel to sit next to him. “You’re not wrong. I have been distracted and confused lately…”

“Is it Marcus again?” she said immediately, brows furrowed. “Listen, if he’s up to anything, you can tell me and I’ll take care of it—”

“No, no,” Jayce quickly interrupted. “Thank you, Mel, but I need to deal with him on my own. You’ve done a lot for me already…” Jayce wanted to tell Mel everything about the blackmail that’s been placed on him, to get that weight off his chest, but he knew if he did that Mel would just take matters into her own hands. He didn’t want to drag her down with him, didn’t want to drag anyone else into this mess. 

Mel pursed her lips. “If you say so…” she said quietly. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

Jayce just sighed (he was doing a lot of that lately). “I, uh, kissed Viktor after homecoming…” From the corner of his eye, he could see Mel’s face perk up at the statement, but she didn’t say anything and let Jayce continue. “I realized after that I maybe, probably, kinda, definitely, like Viktor… So I asked him to go out with me yesterday.”

Mel chuckled beside him. “This is a far cry from just asking him to be your friend again.” She reached over and held his hand in hers, stroking it gently as she always does. “I’m really happy for you, Jayce.”

“You’re not… mad or anything?” Jayce asked hesitantly.

“Of course not! We’re not even really dating, remember?” The two shared a laugh for a moment before Mel continued, a soft but contemplative look on her face. “I sort of expected this; you and Viktor were— are really close, after all…”

There was something about Mel’s expression that looked troubled, so Jayce pressed her further. “What’s on your mind? You can tell me.” He squeezed her hand, a small gesture that let Mel know he would be there for her.

Mel bit her lip. “Guess I’m sad I missed my chance. My fault, really. I pressured you into this position, played a part in making the ‘Golden Boy’ image… I was the one who told you to go to the hockey final, your falling out with Viktor is blood on my hands…”

“It was still my choice,” Jayce intervened. “You may have told me, but I could’ve chosen to stay. Don’t say it’s your fault.”

“Then at least let me be partially to blame,” bitterness started to swell in Mel’s voice. “I’ve caused you a lot of suffering, all because I wanted to impress my mother… It’s unfair of me to expect any sort of affection back…”

“‘Affection…?’” Jayce whispered softly. His heart ached in his chest because for a time, he too held a longing for Mel. But that feeling faded away, something that couldn’t be said about how he felt for Viktor. “Why have you never told me this…?”

Mel looked up at Jayce with a kind yet pained smile. “You were never mine to begin with. I saw how much you yearned to be Viktor’s friend again, how much you wanted him back. I knew then that I was never meant to have you…” Mel’s eyes glistened with tears, a few falling down across her cheek. “But thank you, Jayce. Thank you for showing me that there’s strength in vulnerability.”

Jayce slowly brought a hand to Mel’s face, wiping away at her tears with the pad of his thumb. Then, he pulled Mel in for a hug, warm and protective. Mel hesitated under his hold at first, but then she buried her face into his shoulder, hands gripping tightly to his back as she sobbed a few more times. Jayce silently rubbed his hand on her back, chest hit with a pang of pain with every ragged breath that Mel drew. Eventually, Mel pulled herself away, rubbing the last few tears off her cheeks.

“And thank you for making me ruin my makeup,” she said with a cruel laugh.

“And thank you for the wet stain on my jacket,” Jayce joked back, and the two shared a light-hearted chuckle. He leaned forward and pressed his lips on Mel’s forehead, catching her by surprise. “I’m still here for you, okay?” Jayce reassured. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be here.”

Mel didn’t reply, she just smiled fondly as she leaned into Jayce’s shoulder. “We should probably go soon or else others might think we’re making out in here.”

Both of them did their best to look presentable; Mel fixed any mishaps in her makeup or appearance, and Jayce took off his jacket and tied it around his waist. The two of them then grabbed the rest of their things (popsicle bridge included), waving each other goodbye as they went their separate ways. 

There was something so final about that moment as they left; they were still close friends, of course, but it felt like the final chapter in the perfectly woven fantasy that was Mel and Jayce. Who knows if they’ll break the news to the school or not, maybe it would be safer for Jayce if everyone still thought they were together (especially as a kind of shield from Marcus). 

Jayce made his way back to the cafeteria. There was still a few minutes left of lunch, so maybe he’ll be granted some grace from the popular kids if he sat with them for the remaining period. But Jayce was taken away from his thoughts when he felt a rough shoulder brush past him.

“Ya can’t get away from us, y’know?” came a voice, and Jayce looked down to see the familiar blue hair of Powder. She put herself in front of Jayce, her half-eaten tray of chicken tenders and potato smiles held tightly in her hands.

“Pow—?” Jayce immediately stopped himself, looking around to see if Marcus or Salo or any of those kids were in the vicinity; they were not. “Powder, I’m really sorry about everything—”

“What’s your deal, pretty boy?” she asked in her best impression of her sister (‘pretty boy’ had always been Vi’s moniker for Jayce). “You’re acting weird, and because of that, my sister’s acting weird, which means I have a bone to pick with you.” She took a step threateningly towards Jayce, who backed away from her on instinct. “You better make it up to Vi and get back to being our dungeon master again!”

“Powder, please keep your voice down,” Jayce tried to ask discreetly. Powder’s voice can be known to get loud easily, the high-pitched bite of her tone easily heard by others in the area. Once again, people started to stare at the two of them as Powder confronted Jayce in the middle of the cafeteria, and the crowd was starting to recognize that Jayce was being yelled at by an Undercity girl.

“Don’t try to back out of this again, Jayce!” shouted Powder, drawing more attention to the scene they were causing. “I know I’m not super close to you — especially after knowing what you did last year —” Powder whispered as an aside to herself, “but you’re close to Vi, and she’s really torn up by how you’re acting. You should be glad I got to you first, because if she was here, Vi would’ve beaten you up right now.”

Powder was right, and for that Jayce had no response. He could just feel that familiar guilt rise in his throat, blocking any form of coherent speech that could get through to Powder. He needed to find a way to deal with Marcus soon, or else his whole blackmail plot was going to absolutely ruin his life. Everything felt like it was falling apart, and all Jayce wanted to do right now was get to sixth period so he could do the damn physics presentation with Viktor.

“You’re right, Powder,” he finally said. “I need to have a conversation with Vi, and Caitlyn, too, but… It’s just a little difficult to explain, because, well—” Jayce stumbled on his words. He had no idea how to even begin his response, and he didn’t even get a chance to. 

In his peripheral vision, he watched as a rogue football flew in the air. He heard someone yell, and before he knew it, some other student lept to catch the ball, knocking himself into Powder’s shoulder. The smaller girl tripped forward, right towards Jayce with her tray of food. Jayce swore he felt time slow down around him, watching as Powder was going to land plainly on the popsicle bridge Jayce was carrying. He could not let this happen, he needed this bridge to survive until the end of the day. So of course, Jayce lifted the bridge high above his head to avoid any damage.

And now his plain, white t-shirt was open to the imminent damage that would be caused by Powder’s tray of food. Time wound back up to normal speeds, and Powder fell onto Jayce with a loud and defining splat. The tray clattered to the floor as the food and sauces comically slid off his torso, leaving behind a trail of ketchup and ranch on his shirt. Jayce looked down at the mess in disbelief, and Powder was staring at him with equal shock.

“Powder—! Are you okay?” Jayce immediately went to check if the younger girl was unharmed, but he couldn’t stop himself from hearing the voices in the crowd, all murmuring to themselves as they watched the scene.

“Oh my god, did you see that?”

“Dude, that chick totally wrecked Talis’s shirt!”

“Ugh, another Zaunite causing trouble…”

“Is a fight going on right now?”

The word ‘fight’ being whispered was enough to get the crowd all worked up, and not long after were the chants starting. The crowd around them grew until Jayce and Powder were both in the center of the ring they had created, cheering on as the two of them stood there, baffled.

“C’mon Zaunite, beat up the Piltie for the Undercity!”

“Let’s go, Talis! Put that sumprat back in her place!”

Jayce was starting to feel light-headed from all the attention, his worst nightmare of having so many eyes on him coming true. But he was doing much better off in this situation than Powder, who had collapsed on the floor, pressing her hands over her ears as she shut her eyes tightly.

“Please make it stop, please make them go away—” she started muttering. Jayce had never seen the girl in such a condition before, and worry started to quickly overcome his rising panic. He rushed to her side, taking a knee next to her as he reached out a hand towards her shoulder.

“Hey Powder, everything’s gonna be fine—” he tried to comfort, but his hand was quickly slapped away as soon as it made contact.

“Get away from me!” Powder yelled, tears streaming down her face. Sickeningly enough, the crowd roared in applause at the small display of physical altercation.

Jayce wanted to be mad — at the crowd, at his situation, at Marcus, everything — but he couldn’t, especially not now. Powder looked terrified. He didn’t know enough about Powder to know what was causing this, nor did he know how to make it better, but he had to try. “Please, Powder, just focus on me— listen to just my voice…”

“I’m not a jinx, I promise—” she sobbed as she clutched at her head tighter. 

Jayce tried one more time to place his hands on her shoulders, and while she did flinch slightly at his touch, she seemed to steady herself as Jayce firmly held her, whispering in as soothing a voice he could muster. “It’s okay, Powder… No one's calling you a jinx, it’ll be fine…”

She sniffled, a moment of clarity slowly dawning on her as she looked up at him with tears in her grey eyes. “J-Jayce…?”

“What is going on here?” came a voice, old and raspy. “Mr. Talis, take your hands off the girl, now.”

The voice clearly belonged to a teacher, so Jayce quickly retracted his hands and stood up to face whoever it was. He had to admit, his stomach dropped a bit at the sight of the tall, gangly figure. “M-Mr. Reveck—!”

Mr. Reveck was probably the most terrifying teacher on campus, teaching the most terrifying class in this whole school: chemistry. He wasn’t mean or even rude per say, he just held himself with such a menacing aura that other students couldn’t help but feel unnerved by him. Not to mention his demanding class material and his harsh grading, making him very much unliked by the student body. Jayce liked to think he got along with all teachers on campus, but he was never sure about Mr. Reveck. He passed his class, was probably even his best student besides Viktor, but whether that meant he was on his good side or not was up to debate. He hoped it was the former.

“Mr. Reveck, I can explain—”

“Causing a commotion in the cafeteria,” Mr. Reveck interrupted, then as if on cue, the school bell rang above them, “and now causing other students to be late with your commotion. Such disruption cannot go unpunished, even for the class president such as yourself, Mr. Talis.”

“I sincerely apologize, sir,” Jayce attempted again. “It was an accident, someone bumped into Powder and—”

“I’ve heard enough. Detention after school for both of you.” Mr. Reveck pulled out a little notepad of yellow slips, scribbling something on them and passing them to Jayce and Powder. “Now move along and head to class.” He waved them off as the rest of the crowd scattered, walking back in the direction of his classroom.

“What…?” mumbled Jayce incredulously. He had never, never gotten in trouble at school before. His mom was definitely gonna kill him when she finds out. Jayce just can’t seem to catch a break.

He helped Powder to her feet as she wiped away her tears before rushing off without another word. Jayce hurriedly ran to the nearest restroom to salvage whatever he could of his ruined shirt, leaving his front entirely soaked in water. Jayce just shrugged the shirt off and threw his jacket back on, buttoning it up all the way. It was embarrassing to walk around the school essentially shirtless, but he figured he’d been embarrassed enough for the day already. He was late for fifth period, and Viktor gave him a long and hard stare as other students whispered around him. Obviously, all they could talk about was that scene during lunch. Jayce barely paid attention to class, and he slumped to his sixth and final period with Viktor. He was so out of it that he completely forgot about their presentation.

By the time he and Viktor got up in front of the class to present their popsicle bridge, Jayce blacked out. He doesn’t remember if he even spoke coherently enough, or if he even remembered the script they prepared the night before. Whatever the presentation was, Viktor was quick to jump in and take over for Jayce. He was thankful for the help, and even more thankful that their bridge didn’t collapse immediately once they started the testing phase. In fact, their bridge lasted the longest out of the whole class. Normally, Jayce would be glowing with pride; it was yet another win for the dynamic duo that was him and Viktor. Except Jayce was living out the rest of his day in third-person, fully dissociated from anything that was happening.

“Jayce, is everything alright?” Viktor whispered with a concerned tone as the final school bell rang. 

“‘M fine,” he replied blandly. He glanced to his side at Viktor, who looked up at him with such a worried expression Jayce had never seen before. There was a soft fondness in his eyes, enough to make Jayce melt in his seat from the sight. He wanted to pull Viktor in, hug him, rant about the horrible day he’s been having, but he couldn’t do that right now.

“Talis,” came Mrs. Ramsey’s voice, “you are to report to detention with Mr. Reveck.” She had her arms crossed, but instead of looking disappointed, she seemed to pity Jayce. “Personally, I don’t think you deserve to be punished like this, but unfortunately rules are rules…”

“Wait, ‘detention?’” Viktor spun around to Jayce. “How did you get detention?”

“I’ll tell you about it later,” Jayce said in a tired voice. He gathered his things and headed for the door, but there was a figure standing in his path.

“Jayce!” It was Caitlyn, fury fueling behind her eyes. “I heard about what happened with Powder— this is completely unfair! Neither of you did anything wrong!”

Jayce half-smiled; as usual, there was something endearing about the girl’s passion for justice. “I know, but I need to head to Mr. Reveck’s class or I’ll be in even more trouble. Sorry, Sprout.” He placed a hand on her head, messing up the hair there a little, before dejectedly walking down the hall towards the chemistry classroom.

When he arrived, Powder was already sitting at one of the desks with some homework in front of her, silently filling out the pages as Mr. Reveck watched from his desk. Jayce was given a nod of acknowledgement from the teacher as he entered the room, and he rushed over to the desk next to Powder. The girl didn’t even look up to greet him as he sat down.

“I’m sure this is your first time in detention, Mr. Talis,” Mr. Reveck began, “though I’m certain you will find this period productive. An hour of silence, working solely on other assignments or projects you have in class. Or, if you find yourself empty-handed, a written two-page essay on the actions that landed you here in the first place. No phones or other technologies.”

Jayce gulped. “Yes, sir.” He quietly took out his notebook and some paper and writing materials, getting to work like Powder was next to him. Despite the deafening silence in the room, it was hard for him to focus on homework. Maybe he should be glad to have a quiet moment like this to gather his thoughts. A lot has happened today, and it felt like every other day at school had him spiraling from the insanity of the events that occurred. 

He took account of his victories: obviously, he’s going out with Viktor now. It’ll be hard to keep that up considering his deal with Marcus, but he’s certain he can work something out with Viktor and make him understand without fully telling him what was going on (he still didn’t want him to get involved, after all). Then, there was Mel; he finally got to tell her what happened with him and Viktor, so it was yet another weight off his shoulders.

His situation with Caitlyn, Vi, and his other friends were next on his list of to-do’s. Marcus stipulated that Jayce wasn’t allowed to talk to them anymore, but obviously there was no way for him to keep track of his actions outside of campus. So like with Viktor, Jayce was certain he can still keep talking to his friends as long as Marcus and his posse weren’t around. He still needed to explain that to them, though, and now would’ve been a great time considering he and Powder were in the same room. Except, Mr. Reveck was still here, peacefully reading a book at the head of the classroom.

Then Jayce had an idea. He took out a sheet of blank lined paper and started writing the first line.

He passed the paper over to Powder as quietly as he could, and luckily Mr. Reveck didn’t look up from his book. Powder looked at the paper, confused, before hesitantly taking it from him. Jayce waited as Powder read what he wrote, before taking out a pen of her own and scribbling something, passing the note back to Jayce.

When Jayce got the paper back, he paused. As much as he is known for talking, Jayce knew he wasn’t very good with words, at least when it came to speaking. Sometimes he would talk too fast, or stumble over his words, but essays and other written work came easy to him (perhaps from years of writing embarrassing original works or fanfictions). Not being able to talk to Powder might be an advantage for him in this case, because he could write out exactly what he wanted to say instead of failing to say it.

Powder stared at the words on the page, her face scrunched up into a frown. Eventually, she passed the note back to him.

Jayce’s chest ached as he read what she wrote. She wasn’t wrong; Jayce broke what was possibly the most important promise he made to Viktor last year, a promise to stay committed to the Robotics Club. And once again, Jayce is trying to make up for his mistakes.

Powder snickered as she read Jayce’s last words. It was the first time he’s seen her smile the whole day. But of course, the sound was enough to tip off Mr. Reveck, who looked up from his book.

“Is something the matter, you two?” he asked in that gravelly voice.

“N-no, sir,” Jayce quickly responded. Powder tucked the paper away in her notebook, hiding any evidence of their communication.

Mr. Reveck wasn’t convinced, but before he could approach the two students, there was a knock on the door. “Pardon me, continue with your work.” He left the room shortly after, at which Powder turned to Jayce with a small grin.

“If Vi gets to beat you up, can I record it at least?” she joked.

Jayce rolled his eyes but returned a similar smile. “Fine, as long as you get my good side.”

The two laughed, that uneasy tension that hung around them now fading away. But Jayce still turned to her, a look of concern on his face. “During lunch… You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“What are you, my therapist?” Powder asked defensively. She leaned forward in her desk, cradling her head in her arms and playing with her braids. “… In middle school, people made fun of me all the time,” she said softly. “Said I always messed things up, that I jinx everything…”

Jayce stayed silent, pressing his lips into a thin line. Her reaction at lunch made more sense now, she was having a traumatic response to all those people jeering at her. “I’m sure Vi was there to put those bullies in their place,” he said light-heartedly.

And Powder chuckled, a faint smile on her lips. “Hell yeah she did.”

They continued working for a while longer, Then Mr. Reveck walked back into the room with a dissatisfied look on his face. “You two may leave early,” he said with a sigh.

“Huh?” Jayce and Powder turned to look at each other with looks of confusion. But they didn’t protest, instead they quickly gathered the rest of their things and left the room. Jayce was surprised to see who was waiting for them outside. “Viktor? Caitlyn?”

“You’re welcome, by the way,” Caitlyn said with a smug expression. “Consider yourselves lucky that Viktor here has a sort of connection to Mr. Reveck.”

Viktor blushed slightly at Caitlyn’s praise, and Jayce smiled fondly at his reaction. “It’s n-nothing, really, you just have to appease Mr. Reveck’s more logical side.”

“What would I do without you, V?” Jayce said, maybe in a little too affectionate a tone considering the company they were with.

Powder and Caitlyn looked between the two of them, dumbstruck. “Is there something going on between you two?” Powder asked disapprovingly.

Jayce and Viktor both turned red from embarrassment. Jayce should probably explain everything to the girls now that he had the chance, but considering they were all still on campus (and the looming threat that was Marcus), it was probably best to take them somewhere else for the time being. 

“Let’s not talk about this here. Ice cream, anyone?”

Chapter Text

Viktor has never felt this nervous coming into school before. Not before the first day of school, not for an important test, nothing. But considering what happened the day before, and knowing he will have to meet up with Jayce at school today, he nearly stayed awake all night.

He woke up earlier than usual, sitting in his bed as he twirled the USB containing the photos he took in his fingers. He contemplated over and over again about his mission to takedown Jayce, which has since been revised as a mission to remind Jayce of who he is. But now, the twisted morality of his plot was starting to dawn on him. He could always keep going, because who knows, his plan might actually work, and Jayce could change his mind about his popularity. And if he still had his doubts, or if the situation were to change, Viktor could just get rid of the flash drive. He clutched the little USB stick tightly in his fist before tucking it back into his bag and sealing it closed.

He got dressed and ready for school, taking the bus across the usual route over the bridge and onto campus. Jayce quietly greeted him in the morning with a small yet soft smile, enough to send Viktor’s stomach into a whirlwind of flips and somersaults. They walked together to their first period, and even if it wasn’t any different from how they walked to class before, it felt different. Almost like Viktor wanted to lean closer to Jayce, or even hold his hand as they walked side-by-side. These thoughts caused Viktor’s pale cheeks to redden instantly, and he slammed his head on his desk in the middle of class, shocking Mr. Wood and the students sitting closest to him.

And these thoughts would continue to plague him throughout the day (again, it was very hard to avoid any kind of imagery of Jayce around campus). Second period rolled along, and there Jayce was, on the static of the box TV giving the morning announcements with Mel. Then there would be those posters of Jayce all over the walls, his smile just oozing with charisma (which used to make him feel sick, but now it just made his heart race). And of course, Jayce often passed Viktor in the halls, waving to him while carrying their damn popsicle bridge from class to class. Jayce seemed to be missing during lunch, and for once Viktor was thankful because he deserved a break from that boy and the feelings he inadvertently imposed on him.

“Hey, are you feeling sick?” came Sky’s concerned voice. “Your face has been red all day, and I can feel that you’re warm.”

“No, I can assure you I’m fine…” Viktor replied with a groan.

Sky pouted, not quite satisfied with the boy’s response. “You told me that you had a talk with Jayce yesterday… how’d it go?” she asked with a glimmer of hope in her tone. Sky had been pushing Viktor to get closer to Jayce since homecoming, even if Viktor was annoyed with him at the time. And out of nervousness for their conversation, Viktor did inform Sky that they would be meeting.

“It went… well enough,” Viktor said sheepishly, but it was a lie Sky completely saw through. He could tell by the look on her face that she caught on to his tone, expression— hell, even his body language as he played with the strands of his hair. 

“You’re blushing,” she said with a disbelieving grin. “I’m assuming it went better than ‘well enough!’”

Viktor cursed his pale skin for making it more obvious when his cheeks turned pink. “Alright. Maybe it did go better than I thought… than I hoped… ”

“I won’t pry,” Sky replied despite the growing smile on her face, now reaching from ear to ear, “but if you need anyone to talk to about it, I’ll be here!” Viktor chuckled fondly at his friend’s enthusiasm, but slowly Sky’s face fell into one of worry. “Are you still on that ‘mission’ of yours?”

Viktor’s stomach dropped. “I mean— I haven’t lost sight of my goals, Ms. Young. It’s still clear that Jayce needs help, and I’m sure if we encourage him to be true to himself—”

“Is that what it is now? I thought you were trying to embarrass him.” Sky rested her chin on her hand, looking at Viktor with an accusatory expression.

Viktor clenched his jaw, a slight ache in his temple now forming. “Plans have changed. Yesterday was a very enlightening experience for me, Sky. Jayce is hiding himself from his peers, a-a-and we have t-to—”

“Have to what, Vik?” Sky pleaded. “Please, just stop this plan of yours. If Jayce figures out what you’re doing — what you’ve been doing, — it’s not gonna go well for you guys.” Sky placed a hand on Viktor’s, a gesture he wasn’t used to coming from her. “You guys are friends again, we can leave it at that.”

Sky was right, this was already more than what Viktor could’ve asked for. He did want to be Jayce’s friend again, and now they’re a little bit more than that. But then flashes of Jayce’s pained, troubled expression would show up in Viktor’s memory. There was still something that the boy was hiding, and that something couldn’t be easily ignored.

‘The way I act at school is not how I really feel, I just want you to know that.’ That’s what Jayce told him, but why? Clearly, the popular kids like Marcus and the like had something to do with this. Something they were doing was preventing Jayce from being who he really is, and Viktor wanted to get to the bottom of it. And even if it was something Viktor couldn’t fix, then surely Jayce could save himself if given the right push. That was what the plan was for.

Right? Or maybe deep down, Viktor didn’t feel he deserved to be with Jayce. And somehow, gathering all this ‘evidence’ would make him feel better about himself. 

He and Jayce are not equals. Jayce is from Piltover, and Viktor is from the Undercity. Jayce is a somebody, and Viktor is a nobody. Jayce is perfect, and Viktor is anything but that. 

Yet these photos are proof that there’s more to Jayce than Viktor realized, that this flawless image he’s curated was nothing but a facade to be taken down and exposed. And Viktor couldn’t lie, there was something about the security that those photos gave him. To him, these photos proved to Viktor that he stood a chance against Jayce, that he was a loser just like him.

It was futile arguing with his own twisted logic. Viktor couldn’t see it any other way. Even when Sky, his closest friend, was telling him he was wrong— even when his own heart, beating in his chest, knew that this wasn’t the way, his stupid brain was telling him he needed to keep going.

“I’ll think about it…” said Viktor coldly, and it was enough to get Sky to drop the subject. 

He set about eating the rest of his food, drowning out the noise of the cafeteria around him. At the other end of the cafeteria, a large crowd had formed— yet another scene caused by the rambunctious actions of River Pilt High students, no doubt. Viktor couldn’t care less. Once the bell rang, he gathered up his things and waved goodbye to Sky, who gave him a mournful expression. He sighed; there was still so much to think about. Viktor and Jayce were… going out now, whatever that meant. Things were so much easier when they were just friends, and now these complicated feelings began to arise in Viktor’s chest. He focused his mind onto one task: get to physics class and do their presentation.

Viktor arrived at fifth period and realized Jayce was nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t until about five minutes later, when class had already begun, that he burst through the door, panting heavily. His jacket was strangely buttoned closed, and suddenly Viktor began hearing whispers coming from the students around him. He had no clue what it meant, and was even more confused when he and Jayce walked to their sixth period class together in silence. Jayce was obviously on edge, for reasons Viktor couldn’t quite surmise. A worry started to settle, because Jayce was acting weird and they were just about to present their popsicle bridge to the class.

“Alright, next up: Jayce and Viktor,” called up Mrs. Ramsey from the front of the room, a checklist in her hands as she watched the two boys take their stand. 

Jayce gingerly placed their popsicle bridge on the table, motioning to Viktor to start their presentation. “Um, b-behold!” Viktor started warily, unsure of himself as he began to speak. He was acutely aware of the stilted way in which he spoke, but he barrelled on, knowing that Jayce would take on the majority of the presentation anyways.  “This is, uh, our presentation. For our popsicle bridge. Ahem, as you can see, we’ve constructed it in a similar manner as the example but with a few extra enhancements to improve strength and build quality. Jayce?”

“Y-yes. Like Viktor said, we’ve developed some techniques that helped us create a light yet durable build.” Jayce took a deep breath, looked on over at the crowd of students, some playing attention and some dozing off, and then… he froze. Viktor started to panic the moment a second had passed and Jayce hadn’t said anything. He gave him a firm elbow to the side, which seemed to reset Jayce back into a working condition. Sort of. 

“We, uh, t-took some of the popsicles sticks and glued them together to make them sturdier— w-well, actually, we cut out small pieces first— okay, basically, we cut small pieces of popsicle sticks and used that to glue to other popsicle sticks and— ah, um, we ended up getting interlocking pieces— those pieces connected together and, um, that’s how we built the bridge…”

Viktor stared at Jayce with his jaw wide open. That was completely off-script, and the energy was so vastly different from the way they practiced it the day before. Jayce is normally really good at presentations— good projection, great eye contact and small hand gestures, and a confident tone. For whatever reason, Jayce was stumbling on his words, mumbling out semi-coherent sentences that even Mrs. Ramsey was scratching her head in confusion. Viktor even heard some of their classmates snicker at Jayce’s performance.

“Um, the interlocking pieces look like this—!” Viktor interrupted, pulling out an example piece they made for this presentation. “As you can see, there are bits on the end of each piece that slide into other pieces…” He continued on with the presentation, developing a boost of courage that surprised him. He hated any sort of public-speaking activity, but weirdly enough with Jayce at his side, it felt like he could do anything. From the corner of his eye, he could see Jayce let out a sigh of relief, weary eyes glancing down at the floor. Did something happen? What was going on with him?

The presentation was over quickly, and Viktor hoped Mrs. Ramsey wouldn’t grade them too harshly for it. They went on to the practical demonstration of the bridges; everyone had their projects suspended with buckets tied and dangling from the center. Little by little, each pair of students poured sand into the buckets to add more weight. Across the room, Viktor could hear the familiar snapping of wood and groans of teens as their bridge collapsed from the weight. They were down to only a few bridges at this point, and luckily theirs survived the longest. Viktor turned to Jayce, beaming with pride at yet another successful endeavor for them as a duo, but Jayce could only muster a tired smile.

“Jayce, is everything alright?” Viktor whispered with a concerned tone as the final school bell rang. 

“‘M fine,” the other boy replied blandly, which made Viktor pout. When Jayce turned to look at him, Viktor could plainly see the conflict in his face. He looked like he was yearning for something, and something from within Viktor wanted badly to give it to him. He wanted to offer comfort, but he didn’t know how, nor did he understand exactly where that pain was coming from.

“Talis,” came Mrs. Ramsey’s voice, approaching the two boys with crossed arms, “you are to report to detention with Mr. Reveck. Personally, I don’t think you deserve to be punished like this, but unfortunately rules are rules…”

Viktor was in disbelief. “Wait, ‘detention?’ How did you get detention?” Detention was so unlike Jayce; he was probably the most goody-two-shoes person Viktor had ever met. He was always hesitant to break any kind of rule, like when they first found that storage room, they’d sneak off to it every lunch period despite Jayce’s protestations about getting caught.

“I’ll tell you about it later,” Jayce said in a tired voice. He gathered his things and headed for the door with Viktor trailing behind him, but they were both stopped by a figure standing in the doorway.

“Jayce!” Viktor had to tiptoe to see over Jayce’s broad shoulders, but he was able to spot the familiar raven-haired Caitlyn, glaring at Jayce with a fiery intensity. “I heard about what happened with Powder— this is completely unfair! Neither of you did anything wrong!”

“Powder…?” Viktor whispered to himself, a new worry now settling in his gut. What happened between Jayce and Powder? Was it somehow related to Jayce getting detention? As troublesome as she is, Powder is a sweet girl who means no harm. Surely there was some kind of misunderstanding.

“I know, but I need to head to Mr. Reveck’s class or I’ll be in even more trouble. Sorry, Sprout.” Jayce placed a hand on Caitlyn’s head and messed it up a little, before dejectedly walking down the hall towards the chemistry classroom.

Both Caitlyn and Viktor stood together in the hallway, baffled as they watched Jayce walk away from them. It was a bit of an awkward moment at first — Viktor hasn’t really talked to Caitlyn since homecoming, — but the girl grabbed him by his wrist and started dragging him down the hall.

“Wha— Ms. Kiramman, what are you doing?” Viktor protested, trying to keep up with Caitlyn despite his bad knee.

“We need to talk some sense into Mr. Reveck— those two do not deserve detention,” she said firmly. 

“Wait a minute—” Viktor managed to finally break himself out of Caitlyn’s grip, and the two paused in the middle of the hallway. “I’m not entirely caught up— could you please explain to me what’s happening?”

“Do you live under a rock?” Caitlyn asked irritably, but then her expression turned into one of guilt at Viktor’s scowl. “S-sorry, I’m just furious at what’s going on… It happened during lunch, but there’s a lot of different versions floating around— some say Jayce pushed Powder on purpose, others say Powder slammed her food into Jayce’s shirt. But according to my sources, it was just a mistake— Powder fell and accidentally got Jayce’s shirt all messed up, then when a crowd started to form begging for a fight, Powder had a panic attack. Jayce was only trying to help her, but they both got detention from Mr. Reveck.”

Viktor rubbed his chin in thought. He knew it was just a misunderstanding, but it was frustrating nonetheless. But luckily enough, Viktor had a personal connection to their chemistry teacher. “I’m sure we can explain the situation to Mr. Reveck— I have a close connection to him, after all,” he said, determined. “Lead the way, Ms. Kiramman.”

Caitlyn smirked. “We’re friends, Viktor. You can just call me Caitlyn.”

Viktor was slightly flustered by the remark. They barely interacted, and yet Caitlyn considered him her friend? But with that smile on her face, he knew she was being sincere. Viktor was convinced at this point that Piltovans were overly friendly (or at least that Jayce and Caitlyn were scarily alike in demeanor).

The two of them carried onward until they made it to the chemistry classroom. Most of the students had dispersed at this point, and from the tiny window in the door, they could plainly see Jayce and Powder sulking with their heads down and Mr. Reveck at the head of the room reading a book. Caitlyn was just about to knock on the door when she hesitated, catching Viktor’s attention.

“Is there something wrong, Ms. Kira— I mean, Caitlyn?” he corrected himself.

“N-no, it’s just…” Caitlyn cast her gaze down, slowly letting her hand fall to her side. “Is it bad that I kind of want Jayce to be in detention?” she said as she chuckled darkly to herself.

The sentiment only confused Viktor; Caitlyn had been so eager to get him out of detention earlier. “I… don’t understand,” he said plainly.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit miffed with him right now,” Caitlyn explained. “He’s been acting distant lately. It’s been making me quite irritable, but it’s made Vi absolutely furious.”

Viktor nodded, following along with Caitlyn’s train of thought. “I didn’t realize your girlfriend was quite so close to Jayce.” It was obvious from homecoming and that time at Jayce’s apartment that he and Vi shared a close relationship, though one wouldn’t normally expect it. 

It wasn’t like a Piltovan and a Zaunite couldn’t be friends, it was just that conflicts and prejudices still existed between the two factions in the wake of Zaun’s independence from Piltover. River Pilt High School, the public school that served both cities, was a breeding ground for this kind of feud; hormonal teenagers are apt to challenge each other based on their shallow understandings of culture and history. It’s why the student body is so divided as it is, the old rivalry somehow perpetuated itself within this campus.

Though Viktor wasn’t one to keep up with school politics, he remembered hearing how controversial it was for Caitlyn Kiramman, daughter of Councillor Cassandra Kiramman of revered House Kiramman, was dating a lowly Zaunite named Violet. Jayce had been so stressed by it at the time; he would often rant to Viktor about the newest challenger to their relationship, worried for their well-being. Idealists like Jayce and Caitlyn were naive at worst, not truly understanding the level of oppression Piltovans did inflict on Zaunites in the past, but they were hopeful at best, always seeking to bridge the gap between the two cities and its peoples.

“They weren’t always so close— Vi hated his guts at first,” Caitlyn laughed. “To her, he was the perfect example of the Piltovan golden standard: painfully optimistic and ultimately superficial. She was only civil with him because he’s my friend. But if there’s one thing I know about Jayce, it’s that when he’s being genuine, it really shows. Even someone as untrusting as Vi couldn’t deny that.” 

Viktor pursed his lips, heart aching as he agreed with Caitlyn; when Jayce was being his authentic self, it was magnetic. “But then you’ve noticed a change in his personality, which is why you two are displeased with him,” VIktor continued.

“He’s acting like he did last year, but it feels worse this time,” Caitlyn said as anger started to rise in her voice. “He’s just pretending like we don’t exist, like he doesn’t want to speak with us. Powder probably confronted Jayce because of how it’s affecting Vi, so really this is all his fault. So yes, I am mad at him, so forgive me for wanting him to suffer in detention for a little bit longer.” Caitlyn crossed her arms in a huff, and the gesture made Viktor chuckle. Caitlyn glared back at him at first before rolling her eyes with a small smirk. Then, her expression turned pensive. “I can’t help but feel something else is at work here— don’t you feel the same?”

Viktor pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment. He already had his suspicions, and perhaps sharing his findings with someone as like-minded as Caitlyn wouldn’t hurt. “I think he’s hiding something from us,” he began. “We had a private conversation yesterday, and throughout it he seemed conflicted, like he wanted to tell me something but he couldn’t.”

“‘Private conversation?’” Caitlyn echoed with an arched brow. “What else did you discuss in this ‘private conversation’ of yours?” she teased.

Viktor blushed immediately. “Let’s stay on task, Ms. Kiramman,” he said, embarrassed. “There’s more to be uncovered here, but let’s see if Talis is willing to share anything with us before we continue. So, shall we rescue him from his woes?”

Caitlyn sighed. “I suppose so, I reckon he’s suffered long enough.” She reached her hand up to the door and gave it a few firm knocks, and from the small window Viktor could see Mr. Reveck stand up and approach them.

The door swung open, and the tall, gangly figure that was their chemistry teacher hung over them. “Viktor,” Mr. Reveck casted a side glance at Caitlyn, who froze under his gaze, before turning back to Viktor, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Despite Caitlyn’s rigidness, Viktor was calm and collected. He had actually known Mr. Reveck since he was a kid, helping him out in a small medical lab in the Undercity. Viktor was a budding intellectual, and Mr. Reveck seemed to enjoy indulging in his many questions. The lab sadly closed due to bankruptcy, but Mr. Reveck was able to pick up a job as a high school teacher due to his credentials as being an Academy graduate (Viktor could vaguely remember a doctorate hanging in the lab, though he wasn’t sure why Mr. Reveck didn’t go by that title anymore). Their connection did win Viktor some favor once he started attending River Pilt High, making him the star pupil of the feared chemistry teacher on campus.

“Mr. Reveck, we’re actually here to see about Jayce and Powder,” Viktor started.

Mr. Reveck raised his brows slightly. “They are currently with me in detention. I am sure you know by now the disturbance they caused in the cafeteria earlier this afternoon.”

“I think this punishment is unwarranted, Mr. Reveck,” Caitlyn chimed in. “They weren’t the ones causing the commotion, it was the crowd!”

“And why was it that the crowd formed in the first place? Was it not because of them?” Mr. Reveck challenged.

Caitlyn was taken aback, trying to find a counterargument but faltering. “They were unwilling participants in the event,” Viktor intervened, “are you to say you would punish them for the actions of other students beyond their control? No real harm was done— Jayce only meant to help Powder.”

Mr. Reveck glared down at Viktor, their eyes locking for a brief moment. Viktor just stared back at him defiantly, not wanting to falter under his gaze. A few moments pass before Mr. Reveck reenters the room, looking over to Jayce and Powder. “You two may leave early,” he said with a sigh.

Viktor and Caitlyn glanced at each other, confused at first that their plan seemingly worked, but then they heard the clattering of desks, and Jayce and Powder suddenly appeared in the doorway. “Viktor? Caitlyn?” came Jayce’s bewildered voice.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” Caitlyn said with a smug expression. “Consider yourselves lucky that Viktor here has a sort of connection to Mr. Reveck.”

Viktor blushed slightly at Caitlyn’s praise. “It’s n-nothing, really, you just have to appease Mr. Reveck’s more logical side.”

Jayce smiled fondly at him, his dejected demeanor from earlier having melted away. “What would I do without you, V?” Jayce said wistfully.

Viktor was all-too aware of how his words sounded, and considering the company they were with, already knew how Powder and Caitlyn might take his meaning. “Is there something going on between you two?” Powder asked disapprovingly.

Jayce and Viktor both turned red from embarrassment. “Let’s not talk about this here,” Jayce said quickly. “Ice cream, anyone?”

There were no objections because frankly, everyone else was still confused, but the four of them walked on over to Jayce’s car and drove off to an ice cream shop nearby. Caitlyn got herself a scoop of vanilla-caramel swirl in a cup and ordered a sickeningly pink-and-blue cone of bubblegum and cotton candy for Powder. Jayce picked out a scoop of double-fudge chocolate for himself but paused when he realized Viktor was still standing by the display.

“Did you want anything?” he asked softly.

Viktor hummed quietly to himself. He was trying to think of the last time he’d been in an ice cream shop, if ever, and realized he hadn’t even had ice cream in a long while. He could barely remember what his favorite flavor would have been and instead stared at the array of flavors presented to him. “I didn’t realize there were so many choices…”

“Well, is there anything that catches your interest? I could order one for you.” Jayce smiled warmly at Viktor, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit of shame. Jayce didn’t have to provide for Viktor all the time, he could provide for himself. And even if he was struggling a bit on money, he still had a few to spend on his own scoop of ice cream.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll decline.” Jayce didn’t argue— in fact, he seemed to realize his mistake and bowed his head slightly. Viktor couldn’t help himself from smiling then; it was hard to not find Jayce’s consideration so endearing. When the shop clerk approached him, Viktor chimed in, “Could I just get a scoop of the strawberry?” He then paid for his ice cream and sat with the rest of them at the corner booth.

They were quiet for a moment, each enjoying their ice cream in relative peace. Caitlyn was delicately eating hers with a spoon, meanwhile Powder was almost trying to shove the whole cone into her face, smearing the pink-and-blue dessert all over herself. Jayce was helping himself to his ice cream in large spoonfuls, and slowly and gingerly, Viktor took a small bite of his strawberry ice cream and brought it to his mouth. The cold dessert sent chills down his spine the instant it hit his tongue, followed by the sweet tartness of the strawberry. He was… pleased by the flavor, eating more and more as he finally got used to the cold. Jayce watched Viktor eat his ice cream with a soft smile on his face, leaving Viktor’s face to turn a warm pink from the attention

Once the four of them were settled, Caitlyn turned to Jayce. “First off…” 

There was a swift movement and a loud crack, then Jayce rubbed at his quickly reddening cheek. “O-ow! What the heck was that for, Sprout?!” Jayce protested.

“That’s for how you’ve been acting!” Caitlyn scolded with Powder snickering beside her. “Seriously, Bramble. You better have a good explanation for this, or else you’re getting another one.” Caitlyn raised her hand up again threateningly, making Jayce flinch.

“Alright, alright—” Jayce shied away from Caitlyn a bit playfully. “Like I said, I’ll explain…” There was a pause as Jayce played with his cup of ice cream for a moment, the dessert now slowly melting in his hands. “There’s… a lot that I’m going through right now, which is why I’ve been so distant.”

“Care to elaborate further?” Caitlyn pressed on, still glaring at Jayce.

Viktor scanned the creases in Jayce’s face as he struggled to find his words; it was the same pained expression he held when they talked the day before. “I would really like to, I do… But this is something I have to deal with. Alone. I don’t want anyone else getting involved in the mess I got myself into…”

“That’s ridiculous,” Caitlyn protested. “This isn’t the time to be acting all ‘manly’ and bear the burden all by yourself— we can help you, Jayce, you just have to let us.”

“It’s not about being ‘manly,’ Cait,” Jayce pleaded. He flashed a quick glance at Viktor, a look he didn’t quite understand at first, before continuing on. “There’s just something I can’t risk. Once this whole mess blows over, I’ll explain everything…”

“... It’s about Marcus, isn’t it?” Caitlyn asked, and at the name, Jayce froze.

His glance at Viktor made more sense now; the way his brows stitched together, the worry that pulled his lips into a frown— Jayce was scared. When the other boy didn’t reply, it confirmed Viktor’s suspicions. There was something that Marcus was doing — maybe something that he was threatening, — that caused Jayce to act the way he is. “I can’t explain any more than that, I’m sorry…” Jayce said quietly.

There was a brief pause before Caitlyn smacked Jayce again, this time saving his face to hit his arm instead. “I told you you’d get another one if your explanation wasn’t satisfactory— which it wasn’t,” she fumed. “But still… Whatever you're going through right now, I hope you figure it out soon. You’re hurting those closest to you, y’know? We’re worried about you, Jayce. And we’re mad at you.”

Jayce chuckled half-heartedly as he rubbed at his arm. The mood between them was now awkward as it settled back into quiet. Most of them were finished with their ice cream by now, and whatever was left was just melting in their cups.

Powder seemed mildly disinterested the whole time, before finally piping up once the tension was getting too much to bear. “So what’s up with you and the robo-guy?”

“H-huh?” Both Viktor and Jayce flinched under the gaze of the younger girl. “Wh-what do you mean by that, Powder?” Jayce asked nervously.

“Well, I mean— you seemed pretty mad with him on Friday,” Powder gestured to Viktor, “but then all of a sudden you two are all buddy-buddy. What gives?”

“Yeah, and Viktor did mention you two had a ‘private conversation’ yesterday,” Caitlyn added with arms crossed, tilting her head back teasingly at the two boys. “Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”

“You told them about that?” Jayce whispered accusingly to Viktor.

“I-I’m just taking Ekko’s advice and trying to be a better, um, friend to Jayce,” Viktor quickly explained. “Yes, that’s it, we’ve just made amends and are back to being partners again— professional partners,” Viktor amended. However, it seemed the more he tried to explain, the less convinced the other two girls were.

“Riiight, whatever you say, you two,” Powder huffed. “Well, thanks for the ice cream, but I better get home or else my sister’ll blow a gasket.” Powder got up from the booth and the other three trailed behind her and out of the ice cream shop.

“Did you need a ride back or—?” Jayce offered, but Powder waved him off.

“I can take the bus, pretty boy, so no thanks,” she said flippantly.

“And I already told my parents to come pick me up here, so I’m fine as well,” Caitlyn added. 

It was an awkward send off, but Viktor got back into Jayce’s car and they both waved goodbye to them as they drove off. The ride back to Viktor's apartment was a bit tense (Viktor could see as much with how hard Jayce was gripping at the steering wheel). Jayce parked by the sidewalk, sighing as they arrived at Viktor’s apartment.

Viktor paused to study Jayce’s expressions once again. It was one of guilt now, and Viktor was tempted to prod it even further. “What exactly are you hiding, Jayce?” Jayce hesitated, and Viktor had to admit he was getting tired of this secrecy. He placed a gentle hand atop Jayce’s, looking firmly to his eyes as he pleaded again. “ Please , you can tell me.”

Jayce heaved a heavy sigh. “Caitlyn’s right, it is about Marcus,” Jayce began. He flipped his hand to lace his fingers with Viktor’s, and the boy was flustered by the sudden gesture. Jayce tightened his grip and rubbed small circles into the back of Viktor’s hand with his thumb. “We have this— deal … He doesn’t want me to talk to you, or Cait, or Vi, or any of my other friends, or else he’ll…” Jayce trailed off.

“Or else he’ll what, Jayce?” Viktor pressed further, mirroring Jayce’s tight grip in anticipation.

“N-no, I can’t say— I’ve said too much already—” Jayce sputtered hurriedly, pulling his hand away from Viktor’s. “It’s like what I said earlier— I need to handle this on my own. I don’t need anyone else to get hurt because of me…”

“Why would anyone else get hurt ?” Viktor said in disbelief, his tone rising in volume. “Jayce—”

“Please, Viktor.” Jayce glanced at Viktor with large, sad eyes. Viktor could tell how much this was eating away at him with that tortured look on his face, and never before did he have such a strong urge to wipe those feelings away. But how could he, if Jayce was so intent on hiding this from him?

“So what, you’re going to try to keep your friendships a secret? Us a secret?” Viktor challenged; he was starting to yell now. “What happens if you get caught? Then your efforts would have been for nothing, which is why you should just tell me—”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Jayce yelled back, and Viktor couldn’t help but flinch away from him. Guilt twisted in his face once more, the creases between his brows deepening. He slammed his head into the steering wheel with a soft thud, making Viktor’s stomach churn with concern. “I’m gonna figure this out,” Jayce said in a strangled voice, “so please, just trust me…”

Trust. The last time Jayce offered his trust, he betrayed Viktor. Viktor had every right to turn him down, to reject whatever feelings he accepted the day before and go back to being strangers who passed each other in the halls. After all, Viktor was starting to sense a pattern in Jayce’s actions; it was deja vu of last year.

But something was different. So, so different. Viktor had feelings for Jayce he couldn’t explain, and there was something about his pleas that were pitiful enough to cause him to throw away all logic and reasoning.

“Fine,” Viktor finally relented. “But please, Jayce, don’t dare to hurt me again.”

Jayce didn’t say anything, he just nodded mournfully. Viktor got out of the car of his own volition this time, not waiting for Jayce to walk around and open the car door for him. The other boy didn’t even walk him to his front door like he did yesterday, and instead he watched from a distance as Viktor got into his apartment.

Viktor slumped into his bed, dizzy with confusion. Even if he did get some answers to Jayce’s odd behavior, he felt he had more questions than before. Little by little, Viktor was peeling away at whatever Jayce was hiding from him. But who was he to judge? He had a burning secret of his own, one sitting at the bottom of his bag. Perhaps he could just see it as a quid pro quo; Jayce can have his secrets, and Viktor could have his. 

He reached into his bag, searching for the USB stick to fiddle with again, when his hand bumped into something unfamiliar. Pulling it out, he immediately realized it was Jayce’s book, the one he lent him more than two weeks ago. Up until now, he still hadn’t read it.

The softcover book was well-loved; the binding was heavily creased by how much it had been opened, and the cover itself was worn and splitting at the edges. The pages were yellowing, and the smell of the aging paper was oddly comforting to Viktor. Curious, he opened the book to the first page, and right underneath the title of the book was a little handwritten note: 

“To my son, may the magic of wonder never leave your eyes, - C.” 

Viktor had never seen this handwriting before, nor did he recognize the initial, but he was smart enough to deduce that Jayce’s father probably gave this to him. Jayce’s attachment to the book made sense now; beyond his nerdy tendencies, his father gave him this book, and it was probably one of the last things he received from him before his passing. With nothing else to do (and not really wanting to fall into a spiral of despair), Viktor turned the pages and started reading the first chapter. Even if he felt conflicted, he was still determined to continue his mission, his secret, and reading this book was the least he could do for now.

Chapter Text

Jayce’s life was turning into a disaster so far, so he has been extra proactive the past few weeks to make amends with all his friends (while also keeping up with Marcus’s deal, as tiring as that was). Maybe Jayce should feel lucky that Marcus is as dense as he looks— the senior boy has been so preoccupied with their hockey season that he wasn’t paying much attention to Jayce as he did when he first introduced their deal. Jayce wasn’t one to push his luck though, so he continued keeping a (friendly) distance from his friends. After school, however, was free game.

Jayce frowned slightly at Caitlyn’s text. Even if they were just words on a screen, he could already hear her disapproving tone.

Jayce’s stomach dropped as he read Vi’s reply. The rest of Jayce’s friends had been receptive to him so far, despite the distance they kept during school hours. However, Vi was the one who’s been adamant at keeping away from Jayce. No matter how much he would try to text her, she would always just ignore it. He felt incredibly guilty; he didn’t realize how much this whole situation affected Vi. He’d understand if it was coming from someone like Caitlyn, who was probably his closest friend outside of Viktor, but perhaps it’s from the long years of knowing each other that Caitlyn was willing to put up with Jayce’s nonsense. Vi was not a similar case.

Jayce and Vi had a turbulent beginning to their friendship, which he perfectly understood. Vi was already untrusting of Piltovans despite dating someone like Caitlyn. But because she was dating who was essentially his little sister, Jayce was eager to get to know Vi better. There were many, many bouts of roughhousing, and Jayce may have lost a few brain cells, but he and Vi grew pretty close. Because of Vi, Jayce wasn’t so straight-laced and uptight; he really learned to relax and take things easy from her.

So it was a stab to the chest to see Vi push herself away from him, but who could blame her? It was yet another reminder that Jayce needed to sort out things with Marcus sooner rather than later.

Things with Viktor were getting better as well. After the disaster that was the ride back from the ice cream shop, Jayce apologized profusely to the other boy. And while Viktor was (rightfully) annoyed with him and whatever he’s got going on with this ‘deal,’ he was surprisingly understanding. Jayce was thankful for it, thankful for everything that had to do with Viktor. The fact they were dating was still something Jayce couldn’t wrap his head around, but it was his only sense of comfort these days. 

Of course, he still needed to keep on with his promise to Viktor, his promise to be his more authentic self for him. October was coming to a close, and waiting for him at the end of the month was an event he had been dying to go to (and no, it wasn’t Halloween). 

On Friday, he sent a quick text to Viktor, asking him if he’d like to come over to his place tomorrow. After a short while, Viktor texted back ‘Sure,’ and for some reason just that single word was enough to fill Jayce with enough energy to push through his upcoming hockey practice. Their team didn’t have a game that Saturday, which was a rare free day in their packed season. Naturally, Loris had already asked about half the student body to come over to his place for a Halloween party, and Jayce politely declined. This event was something he had been preparing for since the summer, and he wouldn’t want to miss it for some stuffy house party. He’s been to enough and already knows the amount of pleasantries, sweaty bodies, and lukewarm beer would be enough to deter him.

When Saturday came, Jayce felt his heart racing as he picked up Viktor and drove back to his house. Viktor asked about what their plans were for today, but Jayce was trying to be vague about it to keep a surprise. It was similar to that Sunday at the Talis Repair Shop, except now was more nerve wracking for two reasons: one, Jayce worked very hard for this upcoming event and wanted things to go smoothly; and two, Jayce had no idea how Viktor would react to the event, and he wasn’t going to lie, if Viktor reacted poorly, Jayce just might want to disappear off the face of the earth.

“Alright, you do remember the promise you made, right?” Jayce asked as he anxiously approached his bedroom, resting his hand on the handle.

“Hmmm, the promise that you’ll try to be more genuine around me?” Viktor responded playfully.

Jayce blushed a deep red; he hated how much Viktor’s condescending smile made him fluster so easily. “Well, yes, but your other promise— the one not to make fun of me?”

“Aw, I thought we said I could do it a little bit?” Viktor teased further.

Jayce’s heart started to beat faster. He loved this kind of banter he had with Viktor, but he was being dead serious; no one — and he really means no one , not even Caitlyn — has been in his room before (except his mom, obviously). His bedroom was his sanctuary, his little safe space for all of his nerdy tendencies and hobbies. Jayce flashed a pout at Viktor, no words, just his brows stitched together and face pulled into a small frown.

Even just the look by itself got Viktor to falter, immediately flushing pink. “A-alright, fine. I promise I won’t make fun of you. This time.”

Jayce’s expression quickly switched to a wide smirk. Works every time, he thought to himself. “Thanks, V.” Still, Jayce was nervous to show Viktor his room, but he had to do it if he were to stay true to his promise. And so, Jayce turned the handle and slowly pushed the door open.

Covering almost every inch of his walls were posters and other memorabilia from all of his favorite pieces of media: anime, cartoons, TV shows, movies, comic books— hell, even his childhood posters of magicians were still hung up in the corner (Jayce had a very, very embarrassing close-up magic phase). On one side of the room were towering bookcases, each filled with equal amounts of thick novels and figurines. Of course, there was his desk that was still covered in smaller figurines and playthings, aside from the usual mess of homework and notes. And though it wasn’t much, his trusty old gaming PC was displayed right next to his desk. There was barely enough free space in the room, the last corner taken by the twin-sized bed that Jayce was rapidly outgrowing.

Viktor stared around the room, a mixture of awe and surprise on his face. “W-woah… I didn’t think it’d be so—” Jayce froze, anxiously anticipating Viktor’s next words. Viktor must’ve noticed his nervousness, because he quickly smiled in his direction. “I didn’t think it’d be so you. This is the kind of organized chaos I would’ve expected from Jayce Talis.”

Jayce chuckled nervously, slightly flattered by what Viktor had to say. “Guess you finally made it into my bedroom, huh?”

Jayce had no idea why he made the joke because he regretted it immediately, and both boys instantly flushed pink.  “Anyways, um—” Viktor tried to change the subject, his eyes falling on something that was propped up on Jayce’s bed. “Do you actually know how to play?”

Jayce followed his gaze to the acoustic guitar that leaned against Jayce’s bed frame. “No actually, I just have it here for display,” he quipped, and the resounding chuckle from Viktor made all of his corny jokes worth it. Eager to impress, Jayce took a seat on his bed and placed the guitar on his lap, strumming each string to make sure it was tuned properly before he began to play. 

♫ Gira la rueda y ve donde cae ♫

♫ Únete al circo ponte a bailar ♫

♫ Y cuando el final llegue ya no tendrás que luchar ♫

♫ Con tus amigos marchar ♫

♫ Un día mas ♫

The music of plucked strings filled the room, and Jayce was about to keep playing when he remembered that Viktor was still standing there, watching him intently. He cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed that he got a bit carried away, and placed his guitar back against the bed. “So, uh, yeah— I play a little bit…” he said as he sheepishly rubbed his neck.

“That sounded wonderful, Jayce,” Viktor said with the softest voice and fondest smile Jayce had ever seen. He wished he could take a picture and just hold onto it forever. Maybe he should play guitar for Viktor more often. “How long have you been playing?”

“Since I was a kid, probably. My dad taught me. He and my mom would perform together — she would sing and he would play guitar, — and they were amazing!” Jayce said proudly, the memories of the beautiful music his parents would make flooding his mind and his heart.

“It seems your father taught you a lot,” Viktor remarked quietly, almost like he didn’t want to bring it up. “Repairs, smithing, playing guitar…”

Jayce hesitated slightly. He would often refrain from talking about family or parent stuff around Viktor, knowing the kind of family situation he had growing up. It was a subject he treaded lightly, even if he would love to tell Viktor all about his dad. 

“Yeah, he did,” he said with an air of sadness. Viktor seemed a bit taken aback by the finality in Jayce’s words— did he want to talk more about this topic? Jayce didn’t want to dwell on it any further, so he just pressed on with their plans for today. “Anyways, now that you’ve been exposed to the real Jayce Talis, I guess I should tell you what we’re doing today.”

“Yes, I’ve been dying to know what adventure you’re dragging us off to now,” Viktor said sarcastically, crossing his arms with a smirk.

“We are going to…” Jayce paused for dramatic effect (and also because he was nervous), “... a cosplay convention.”

“... A what?”

Jayce felt his face heat up as it turned red. That was definitely not the reaction he was expecting. “Do you not know what a convention is…?” he asked cautiously.

“No— I know what a cosplay convention is, Jayce, I’m not an idiot,” Viktor scolded, then he took a deep breath. “I guess I just wasn’t… I didn’t really see you as a ‘cosplay’ kind of person,” he reasoned.

“Really? You’ve come into my room and seen all my things, and you don’t think I’d be into cosplay?” Jayce replied, deadpan. 

“Eh, well— not every person with nerdy hobbies is into cosplay, Jayce,” Viktor said defensively. “I guess you didn’t really… seem the type?

“And what type am I exactly?” Jayce asked with an arched brow. Viktor kept trying to explain himself, but his words faltered into sputtering nonsense. Jayce just laughed, not expecting the other boy to get so flustered. “I’m just teasing, V. I know, ‘academic genius and star hockey player’ doesn’t really read as ‘geeky cosplayer’ to most either. But it’s something that I’ve been interested in for a while now.”

“Did you actually have a cosplay prepared?” Viktor asked, now calming down from Jayce’s interrogation.

A nervous energy eased into Jayce as a small smile crept on his face. “Yeah, just give me a sec—” He walked over to his closet door and slid it open, pulling out a red cloak studded with gold and leather, some matching armored shoulder pieces and gauntlets, as well as a large prop gun. “So, uh, this is my cosplay of—”

“Graves,” Viktor finished for him. Jayce was surprised, not knowing how Viktor knew that at first, but grinning either way.

“Y-yeah! How did you—?”

“I finally finished that book you gave me,” Viktor answered. “It was quite the interesting read, so I got ahead of myself and looked into the other books as well.”

Jayce swore his heart could explode out of his chest. Viktor actually read the book he lent him? He truly never expected him to, thinking maybe the fantasy novel wouldn’t be intellectual enough for him. But Jayce was so happy, so giddy to know he actually read the book. “I can’t believe you— You seriously read— I mean, you really didn’t have to—” Jayce couldn’t even finish his sentences with how overjoyed he was.

“Yes, yes, Jayce, calm down,” Viktor chuckled. “I can see why the book is so popular. The author truly does wonders with the worldbuilding, and all the character relationships were in-depth and interesting. So, why Graves? He barely showed up in this book, and I haven’t seen much based on the meager search I did on the sequels.”

Jayce grinned; he could talk about the Ruined King series all day. “He becomes a bigger part in the sequels. Actually, The Ruined King was supposed to be a one-off novel, but then it sparked the whole Ruination series. We’re actually on book three right now, Rise of the Sentinels , and—”

“Jayce, Jayce,” Viktor called out, placing gentle hands on his shoulders. “Alright, I get it. Perhaps I should continue reading the series to see why you decided to cosplay as this character, hm?”

“I would love nothing more than that,” Jayce beamed. He and Viktor were so close now, and Jayce could feel that same magnetism he felt that night after homecoming. He leaned closer slightly, but he pulled himself away; he wasn’t going to make the same mistake and kiss Viktor when he wasn’t ready. He turned his focus back on their plans. “I actually had something for you, too.”

“Me?” Viktor questioned. From his closet, Jayce pulled out another cosplay. This time it was a long black trench coat, a red vest, and a brimmed hat with a playing card tucked into its band. Viktor examined the cosplay, bringing the fabric into his hands and playing with it. “Did you buy these or did you make them?”

“My mom helped me make them,” Jayce replied. “She did most of the sewing, but I drafted the designs for her and helped with a few of the stitches. My hands have suffered one too many needle pokes,” he chuckled.

“This is amazing work, it’s almost professional.” Viktor took the coat and the rest of the accessories, eyeing them curiously. “And which character is this?”

“He’s another character from the sequels, but he plays a minor part. He’s, um—” Jayce hesitated for a moment, and he hoped Viktor hadn’t caught it. “He’s Graves’s best friend, Twisted Fate.”

“‘Twisted Fate…’” Viktor echoed. “Do I… have to wear this?” he asked. He didn’t sound disgusted or anything like how Jayce worried, instead he seemed genuine in his question.

“Ah, you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Jayce replied, slightly embarrassed. “I just had an extra one since I couldn’t decide who I wanted to be. You can definitely just come in your regular clothes, it’s just…”

Viktor smiled softly at Jayce. “You would feel a lot more comfortable if I participated with you,” he surmised. And he guessed correctly.

“Yes,” Jayce said with an air of relief. “I would love it if you cosplayed with me.”

The two boys got themselves ready into their respective characters. A few of the accessories for Viktor’s cosplay were a bit too big for him (since it was originally intended for Jayce to wear), so he opted to wear just the coat and the hat. Jayce put on most of the outfit for Graves, saving the large prop gun and red cloak for later once they arrived at the convention. They left Jayce’s room and started heading outside when Ximena stopped them for a moment.

“Ah, look at you two!” she beamed, bringing in the two boys for a hug.

“The cosplays look great, mom,” Jayce complimented.

“Yes, and the quality of the craftsmanship is remarkable. You should be proud of yourself, Mrs. Talis,” Viktor added on.

“Aw, thank you. Oh, wait—!” Ximena rushed to the other room and came back with her phone in her hands. “Let me take a quick picture of you two— c’mon now, smile!”

Jayce and Viktor awkwardly looked at each other before leaning in closer to pose for the picture. There were a few clumsy seconds of Ximena fiddling with her phone to get the camera working like she’d like it to, but finally she took several photos of the two of them in cosplay (with a few photos with flash, temporarily blinding Jayce and Viktor). 

“Stay safe and have fun!” cheered Ximena as Jayce and Viktor walked out the door.

Piltover FanCon was a small fan convention held every year at Piltover, and Jayce had always wanted to go. He and his family went a few times when he was younger, but then his dad’s health started deteriorating and he hasn’t been back since. But after scrounging enough money to buy a ticket for himself (and working double-time at the repair shop to get a ticket for Viktor), Jayce would finally be returning to the convention. 

Since parking near the Piltover Convention Center was going to be hellish and expensive, Jayce suggested they just take the bus to the event. Other attendees had the same idea, so there were people on the bus in cosplay as well. Nerves and excitement often made Jayce very chatty, causing him to (perhaps over-enthusiastically) compliment just about anyone who boarded the bus with a cosplay on. They would often compliment them back, which made both the boys fluster. All Jayce hoped for was for Viktor to have fun, and most importantly feel comfortable. He noticed how the other boy fidgeted in place from all the stares he was getting.

“Are you doing okay?” Jayce checked in as more and more people started to crowd the bus, most on the way over to the convention center. Jayce opted to stand and gave Viktor a seat to rest his knee; he already warned that there would be quite some walking today.

“Could be better I guess,” Viktor admitted with a shrug. “I don’t, um, do well with crowds… Or people staring at me…”

Jayce internally started to panic, because unfortunately fan conventions were both those things. “I-if you’re feeling uncomfortable, you could always change out of your cosplay— o-or we could go home early—”

“Jayce,” Viktor reached up and grabbed him by his sleeve. “I’ll be okay. If things start to feel uncomfortable, ehhh, I’ll let you know.” Viktor flashed another quick smile, which eased Jayce’s nerves a bit. “You talk a lot when you’re nervous,” he jabbed, a small but teasing smirk on his lips.

Jayce chuckled, smiling wide and sheepishly. “I know.”

They finally arrived at the convention center, the crowd pouring into the halls of the building. First, Jayce and Viktor headed over to the registration area to grab their passes and a few free goodies, and once they were all settled, it was free reign. The halls were filled with people in costumes and cosplays of various intensities; most had a recognizable hat or shirt from their favorite pieces of media, but the dedicated ones had full scale props, elaborate outfits, and perfectly tuned makeup.

“So where do we start?” Vitkor asked, shouting over the crowd just so Jayce could hear him.

“Well, the main hall has all the booths where we can buy things, but honestly I didn’t bring that much money with me,” Jayce explained. “Or we could check out some panels— there should be a schedule listed in that booklet we got. Oh, and there’s also the Artist’s Alley, where people can sell their handmade art and other crafts. It’s probably my favorite place to look around.”

“Let’s start with that then,” Viktor replied, allowing Jayce to lead him through the sea of people and into the main hall.

Beneath the blinding fluorescent lights were large booths featuring popular brands and companies, from production studios to toy manufacturers, it was a true plethora of nerdom. Jayce was pointing out just about every piece of media he could recognize, explaining whatever he could to Viktor. The other boy seemed interested enough, asking Jayce more questions whenever he had any. Jayce was always happy to answer them, though he did check-in with Viktor several times to make sure he wasn’t talking too much (Viktor assured him that he enjoyed listening to him ramble about his hobbies, and Jayce felt his heart flutter at his words). 

“Ah, I see. So that means that— Wait a minute, is that Teemo?” Viktor suddenly stopped in the middle of one of the aisles, causing Jayce to bump into him slightly.

“S-sorry, V— Hm?” Jayce gazed over at whatever Viktor was pointing at, and sure enough, it was someone in a Teemo mascot cosplay. It was large and bulbous, waddling around the aisles with his cheeky grin and iconic green hat and red goggles perched atop his head. Behind him were a gaggle of fans, each pointing to the cosplay and giggling to themselves, taking pictures of the amazing furball. “Yeah, it is! Their cosplay looks amazing— Did you watch Teemo growing up, too?”

“I did, a lot actually,” Viktor said with a small laugh. “It was the only thing they would play for the kids at the orphanage.”

Jayce drew his lips tight for a moment, feeling slight apprehension at the mention of Viktor’s childhood— a touchy subject. But Viktor didn’t seem to care, instead bounding over to the mascot with a childlike grin on his face. “E-excuse me—” Viktor tried to greet, but Teemo didn’t seem to notice him at first.

“Viktor, you might wanna speak louder,” Jayce whispered once he finally caught up to him. “It might be hard for them to hear you underneath their cosplay, might be hard to see you, too,” he advised. Viktor looked back at him, nervous and embarrassed, but Jayce flashed him two thumbs-up and a bright smile.

Viktor took a deep breath, straightening his back as best he could as he walked over to the Teemo cosplayer. “Excuse me,” Viktor announced, a bit louder this time. Teemo finally noticed him, jumping backwards in cartoonish surprise before scooting closer to Viktor. “Um, is it okay if I take a picture of your cosplay? It looks really good, by the way…” he trailed off.

Jayce wasn’t sure if he’s ever seen Viktor this embarrassed before. Normally, Viktor portrayed himself as very confident and independent, something Jayce had always admired about him. Despite what happened to him growing up, or how he’s been treated by others, Viktor always held his head up high and kept pushing forward. Jayce was certain he didn’t even amount to half of the strength Viktor had, and it was something he was secretly jealous of. So to see Viktor so flustered, in front of a Teemo cosplayer no less, was something humanizing for Jayce. Viktor just looked stupidly cute.

Viktor took several pictures of Teemo, before turning to Jayce with the sweetest face he’s ever seen. “Um, Jayce, could you—?”

“Of course!” Jayce stepped forward and reached for Viktor’s phone. He was about to take it from his hand, when he noticed Viktor hesitate all of the sudden. His grip on the phone tightened and a strange, pained look fell on his face. “Viktor…?”

“Um, r-right…” Viktor eventually relented, handing the phone over to Jayce. By the way Viktor reacted, Jayce wasn’t so sure if he was just embarrassed.

Jayce shook those thoughts away, smiling brightly as he always does despite his true feelings. “Alright, smile!”

Viktor awkwardly posed next to Teemo, barely mustering a small smile. Jayce snapped a few photos when someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Did you guys want me to take a picture of you two?” asked a kind-faced girl.

“Uh, s-sure!” Jayce replied nervously. He handed the phone over to the girl and ran over to stand opposite Viktor, on the other side of the Teemo cosplayer. A few more quick shots later, the two boys thanked the girl and Teemo before they all went their separate ways. They continued making their way towards the Artist’s Alley, and Jayce noticed Viktor staring at the pictures on his phone. “I had no idea you were such a big Teemo fan,” he commented.

Viktor flinched slightly, bringing his phone close to him to hide the screen. Maybe out of embarrassment, Jayce wondered. Or hoped. “W-well, like I said, it was one of the few things I watched growing up. Plus, their cosplay was very well-made, and I wanted to let them know I appreciated it.” 

Viktor tucked his phone back into his pocket, and Jayce couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on the device. Something uncomfortable was starting to form in the pit of his stomach. For some reason, Jayce was reminded of that time at his apartment, when Jayce caught Viktor taking a picture of him, and how he pretended like it never happened. Maybe Jayce was just overthinking things, like he always does. 

He was pulled away from his doubts once they finally arrived at the Artist’s Alley. The whole area was just aisles upon aisles of smaller booths, each decorated with posters, prints, keychains, and many other small tokens. It made the Alley look brighter, much more colorful, and much more friendly than the blaringly loud displays of the branded booths on the main floor. Jayce felt a tingle of excitement in his chest as he looked at all the wonderful art and crafts that were on display.

“So these were all created by these artists?” Viktor asked as they started walking through the aisles. 

“Yup! Most are handmade or their own art— most of the posters in my room are fanmade actually!” Jayce beamed. He was always eager to support local artists as much as he could afford to. He considered himself a craftsman as well, so he’d jump at any chance to give back to the arts and crafts community. “Actually, I was really excited to attend this con since one of my favorite artists is boothing today.”

“Really? I’m eager to see their work then,” Viktor replied with an excited smile. 

Jayce led the way through the crowd, making sure Viktor was close behind him. It was a busy hour, and bodies were packed tightly around the aisles. Jayce was worried he would lose Viktor to the sea of people, so he reached over and grabbed his hand. He just hoped his hands weren’t too clammy. “Still doing okay?” he asked as he looked at Viktor.

“Y-yes, thank you,” Viktor blushed, his hand fidgeting underneath Jayce’s grip. “But I may need a break in a bit, my brace is—”

“R-right, of course!” Jayce felt slightly guilty dragging Viktor around the convention hall, but their journey came to an end as they arrived at the booth they were looking for. “Uh, h-hi!” Jayce greeted awkwardly. “Um, you’re KeenaDraws, right?”

The artist behind the booth perked her ears. Looking up at them was a brown-furred yordle. She had her hair dyed a bright fiery red, and her large floppy ears were decorated with many piercings. She seemed to be in the middle of drawing something on her tablet before gazing up at the two boys with large purple eyes framed behind her glasses. 

“Oh yeah, that’s me!” she greeted with a toothy grin. The yordle then gasped loudly as she noticed what the two were wearing. “Oh my gosh, you guys are dressed as Graves and Twisted Fate! Hold on—” She ducked behind her booth, reaching for something underneath the table, and pulled out two stickers. “Here you guys go!”

Keena offered the two stickers to Jayce and Viktor, who took it with slight hesitation. Jayce received a cute little sticker of Graves, and similarly Viktor received one of Twisted Fate. “Wow, thanks so much! Do we have to pay for this?” Jayce asked.

“No, of course not!” Keena said brightly. “The quality of your guys’ outfits are amazing! Ugh, I love a good couples cosplay!” she squealed, squishing her cheeks with her hands. 

Jayce stilled at her words, and Viktor seemed stunned. “‘Couples cosplay…?’” he echoed, confused. “I thought they were best friends?”

“Oh yeah!” Keena eagerly intervened before Jayce could even get a word in. “They’re best friends, partners in crime, but most importantly—!” She sighed heavily, swooning as she said her next words. “They are lovers!”

Jayce felt his face heat up and turn a deep red, and Viktor next to him blushed as well. “Jayce, did you know about this?” he whispered, seething with embarrassment.

“Um, maybe…?” Jayce answered back.

“Agh, you guys are so cute!” Keena jumped in again, her smile having stayed on her face this whole time. “Could I actually take a picture of you guys for my page? I could tag you guys, too, if you want!”

“Oh, g-go ahead!” Jayce smiled hesitantly, not wanting to turn down his idol. 

Jayce and Viktor shuffled awkwardly in front of the booth, posing with the stickers they received from Keena. Keena took tons of photos, constantly gushing about their cosplays and the effort put into the design. “It’s cool if I post this right? Did you guys want me to tag you?” Keena asked, already drafting up a post for her social media.

“Um, I don’t really use social media…” Viktor said shyly.

“Oh, no worries! Good for you honestly, I feel like I use it way too much,” Keena laughed. “And you?” she turned, addressing Jayce.

Jayce could feel his heart racing in his chest; KeenaDraws was an account he had been following a while, back when she still had a smaller community. She’s since blown up when a few of her pieces went viral, most notably her art for the Ruination novels. In fact, there were rumors going around that she might get hired to design for an upcoming comic series based on the books, something Jayce had been eagerly anticipating. The fact that his idol was so close to him, asking for his social media tag, made him so nervous yet so excited.

“Y-yeah! It’s, um—” Jayce flushed, slightly self-conscious of the words he would say next. “I’m MercuryDefender…” he said, the name felt like a foreign object escaping his mouth. Viktor shot him a curious side glance. “It’s a name I picked out when I was a kid, okay?” he explained with a chuckle.

“Oh, I found you!” Keena said as she punched in his username into her app. “Wait a minute, I recognize your account! You’ve entered a few of my art contests, right?”

“Um, yeah, I did…!” Jayce answered, rubbing his neck sheepishly. “I didn’t think you would recognize me…”

“I didn’t know you did art, Jayce,” Viktor commented, again his tone wasn’t judgemental but instead genuinely curious.

“Seriously, you guys are dating and you didn’t know?” Keena barked a laugh, but when she noticed the grim expression on both of their faces, she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry— Are you guys not dating? I just thought, since you guys were dressed as TwistedGraves, that maybe you two were together— and you guys were blushing when I mentioned the couples cosplay—!”

“No, no,” Jayce tried to explain. “We, um, we are dating.” It felt so weird to admit out loud, Jayce never realized he’s never said it before. But now it was out there, he spoke it out into the world; he was dating Viktor.

Keena was more observant than she seemed, because she knowingly smiled at the two boys. “Aw, I love young couples!” Then, she gasped loudly again. “Oh my gosh, I’ve been pestering you guys too much,” Keena scolded herself. “Here, if you guys wanna buy anything, I’ll give you guys a special discount!”

Keena showed off her wares, which included but were not limited to: art prints, keychains, pins, and bookmarks. Jayce bought a new print for the Rise of the Sentinels novel, and even Viktor bought a little Graves and Twisted Fate bookmark for himself. After making some more small talk with Keena, the boys finally bid their farewell as they exited the hall. 

They made their way to a designated resting area, where Viktor slumped into the next available chair with a heavy sigh. Jayce meanwhile searched for an extra chair, not for him to sit on, but for him to offer to Viktor so he could properly rest his bad knee. He arrived with the chair in his arms, and Viktor pouted softly at him.

“You didn’t have to do this, Jayce,” he said begrudgingly. 

“I’m just here to make sure you’re comfortable,” he said with a small smile. 

Viktor just frowned again, his cheeks turning a slight pink. “Well, you could also sit down at least. You’ve been walking around, too.”

“I don’t mind actually—”

“Sit, Jayce.” At his command, Jayce took his seat in the chair, and very gingerly, Viktor lifted up his leg and rested it on Jayce’s lap. Jayce sat still and as stiff as a board, not wanting to move in any way that would be uncomfortable for Viktor. “Could you help me remove my brace?” he asked tentatively.

“S-sure!” Jayce fumbled with the buckles and straps to Viktor’s leg brace, loosening the bands until the thing fell limp off his leg.

Viktor breathed a sigh of relief. “Díky bohu, finally, some rest…”

“Sorry for all the walking, by the way…” Jayce apologized, feeling guilty for the agony he’d put Viktor through. 

“Eh, I’ll live,” the other boy replied nonchalantly. “So, a couples cosplay, huh?” he began, arching a brow in Jayce’s direction. 

“About that…” Jayce chuckled nervously, but he had no further explanation.

“You could’ve just told me,” Viktor said bluntly.

“Really?” Jayce asked incredulously. “I mean, I didn't think you’d— I just thought that, maybe if you knew, you wouldn’t agree…”

“So then you decided to lie to me and tell me they were ‘best friends?’” Viktor prodded further, causing Jayce to squirm in discomfort.

“I didn’t technically lie— they are best friends,” he said defensively. “Like Keena said, they’re partners, kinda like—”

“Us?” Viktor finished. 

Jayce froze. He realized that, outside of them being literal partners for their physics project, Jayce hadn’t called Viktor his partner in a long time. That word was always reserved for the two of them; they were always more than best friends, they were partners . They did everything together, the inseparable power duo that was Jayce and Viktor. And then of course, the hockey finals happened, and Jayce and Viktor broke off their partnership. And even if they were technically dating now, they hadn’t put any kind of label to their relationship. And in that sense, calling Viktor his partner meant something a little different.

“I’m sorry for lying to you,” Jayce eventually apologized, head hanging low. “I guess I was worried about what you’d think of me if you knew that these characters were technically dating in the books. It’s dumb, I know—”

“It’s not dumb, Jayce,” Viktor reassured. Slowly, he lifted his leg off of Jayce's lap, scooting their chairs closer together to close the distance between them. “I want to thank you, actually. I’ve never really been to a convention before, though I have been curious to attend one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy or excited before.” Viktor chuckled softly, and the worry in Jayce’s gut melted away. “You’re keeping your end of the promise. You’re being… you. And it’s good to see.”

There was a slight hesitation at first, but then Viktor reached forward and placed Jayce’s hands in his. His hands were a lot smaller than Jayce’s, barely covering the surface of his skin as he clasped them together. But his grip was warm and comforting, and Viktor usually wasn’t one to initiate contact like this. Jayce looked into Viktor’s bright, amber eyes. There was a softness there, fond and sweet. But there was the way his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and the way his lips became taut, barely forming a noticeably frown. Viktor was holding back on something, that much Jayce could tell from the conflicted look on his face.

And for some reason, Jayce’s thoughts drifted back to Viktor’s phone.

“Did you have a good time?” Jayce asked instead. He didn’t want to ruin the first good day he’s had in a while.

“Yes,” Viktor replied with a smile. “I very much enjoyed today, Jayce. Though, I am interested in seeing more of this art of yours.”

Viktor always knew how to turn a tender moment into yet another jab at Jayce. “Hey, let’s take things one at a time!” he joked back.

After a few more moments of rest, Jayce helped Viktor with getting his brace back on, and they explored the rest convention hall. They sat in on some panels, and even attended a cosplay contest where, unsurprisingly, the Teemo cosplayer from earlier won. The day eventually ended, and Jayce and Viktor made the harrowing trudge over to the bus stop. 

As soon as they were able to board, the two of them sank into their seats, tired from a long day. Viktor dozed off on the ride back, and the slight sway of the bus caused the other boy to gently rest his head against Jayce’s shoulder. Jayce became rigid under Viktor’s weight, again not wanting to move lest he disturb him. But Jayce couldn’t help himself from listening to Viktor’s steady breaths, or admiring the way his mess of brown hair jostled slightly at every exhale. He found himself counting the moles on Viktor’s face, deciding that the one underneath his right eye was his favorite. Jayce couldn’t deny it now, he was helplessly in love with the boy.

Which meant that whatever inkling of doubt he had been feeling needed to be addressed soon. He worried that the unease he felt would eat away at him, especially knowing how he tends to overthink things. And more pressingly, he needed to deal with that damn blackmail in some way. Jayce wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Viktor— not Marcus, nor Salo, and especially not himself. Not again.

They finally arrived back at the bus stop near Jayce’s apartment, and Jayce had to drag a groggy Viktor all the way back to his car (fatigue and soreness caught up with Viktor, and he wasn’t sure if he could make the climb back up to Jayce’s apartment). Jayce was just happy to assist, and he swiftly drove them back to Viktor’s apartment by the time the sun settled past the horizon. He helped Viktor up to his front door, but this time, Viktor actually allowed him inside.

“I’ll get changed then give your cosplay back to you— just make sure you remember to bring it home this time,” Viktor teased, tiredness now invading his tone of voice.

“No worries, I’ll be out here.” 

Viktor gestured for him to sit on his daybed while he waited, and Jayce reluctantly took a seat. And as soon as he sat on the plush fabric, a wave of exhaustion came over him. It was probably from all the walking, especially considering he was lugging around his large prop gun. But it was also an emotional exhaustion from how nervous he’d been all day. Jayce wasn’t sure how long it would take for Viktor to get changed, but surely it wouldn’t take long, right? He could just lie down real quick and get back up before Viktor would come back out.

But the moment Jayce’s head rested on Viktor’s pillows, it was lights out.

From the haze of his mind, Jayce faintly heard the bathroom door open. He felt the ghostly touch of Viktor’s hand on his shoulder, urging him awake to no avail. Jayce just groaned, thinking he was communicating with his words but instead he was just grunting back at the other boy. Eventually, Viktor gave up, and Jayce felt something warm crawl up against his chest.

They both fell asleep, the rhythm of their breaths evening out as they shared this tiny little daybed together.

Chapter Text

October came to a close, and even November came and went. November is a busy month for the sister cities; Progress Day was a time-honored tradition for Piltovans, which fell on the 13th of November, and across the bridge, Zaunites celebrated their independence a week later on November 20th. Schools from each city have then implemented a week-long break from classes between these two holidays, thus dubbed ‘Progress Week.’

Progress Week was but a small reprieve from school work, because students understand well enough that once they come back from their break, they would be thrust into finals before getting released again to their winter break. Nevertheless, Jayce wanted to savor whatever he could of Progress Week, so he planned a whole day session for his D&D group. It would be non-stop, full eight hours (or more) of exploring Jayce’s made-up world, all while snacking on food. Jayce thought his friends deserved it, especially since he had cancelled on them so many times.

And they were being dead serious about this day. The group wasn’t able to celebrate Halloween together, so Caitlyn suggested that for this very special session, they should all dress up as their characters. Powder was extremely excited, and her excitement naturally carried over to Ekko. Jayce was also down for the idea, but he was hesitant with how far he should go for his costume (maybe he wouldn’t go cosplay-levels of detail this time). Vi, sadly, was still not interested in playing, even if all of them were begging her to come back. Jayce knew at that point that he had to make it up to Vi as soon as he could.

Caitlyn, being the overzealous girl that she is, also offered to use her house for the session instead of Jayce’s cramped apartment. They would be playing in one of the Kiramman estate’s large war rooms, which Jayce thought was total overkill (but couldn’t deny he was hyped to play on a table much bigger than the one in his dining room). In exchange for all the Kiramman’s generosity and hospitality to their nerdy cause, the rest of the players were tasked with bringing their own food. They were making a potluck out of it. 

Jayce was so excited. He had planned the perfect session for this day, something long and fun enough to last the whole night. And he had a bit of an extra surprise for the rest of the group, too. Little did the rest of them know that Jayce would be inviting over a few special guests to their event, and he was stoked for the reveal.

The Wednesday of Progress Week finally arrived, and right around 12 PM, Jayce and his special guests arrived at the Kiramman estate, waiting to be let in past the gates and into the manor.

“I know Caitlyn’s mother is quite influential, but I guess I didn’t expect this level of grandeur from their home,” came the smooth voice of Guest #1. “And I thought my house was gaudy.”

“Are you kidding me? I bet this whole place could fit over a dozen families from Zaun,” replied the bright voice that was Guest #2. “S-sorry, no disrespect.”

“None taken, I’m sure you both are quite astonished by the sight of this mansion,” said Guest #1 as she crossed her arms. 

“Eh, ‘astonished’ is definitely a word for it…” muttered Guest #3 in response.

“Hey,” Jayce gently grabbed at Guest #3’s hand, squeezing it lightly, “we’re just here to play a fun game. If you— o-or you— ” Jayce then turned over to Guest #2, slightly embarrassed, “ ever feel uncomfortable, just let me know, okay?” Jayce smiled softly at Guest #3, which made Guest #2 squeal from excitement, and Guest #1 smiled fondly at both boys.

Eventually, the four of them were led into the estate by one of the Kirammans’ retainers, guiding them through a labyrinth of fancy halls decorated to the nines with the most ornate furnishings one could think of. They finally arrived at the room they would be playing in, to which the retainer also kindly informed them that the bathroom was just down the hall. As they entered, Jayce swore the room was just as big as his entire apartment, with walls filled with stacked bookshelves (if not already occupied by some large painting of the Piltovan landscape). Caitlyn, Powder, and Ekko were already present and waiting, all three shocked by who arrived with Jayce.

“Viktor?!” came Caitlyn’s voice, flabbergasted. “A-and Mel—! And—?”

“Sky!” Sky introduced with a small wave. “I’m co-captain of the Robotics Club,” she said as she nodded over to Powder and Ekko, who both held surprised yet smiling faces. “Oh, and I’m also Vik’s best friend,” she grinned. 

“Wait a minute— Are all you guys joining us for the game?” Ekko asked incredulously.

“If you don’t mind,” Mel replied. “Jayce has done his best to teach us in the short time we had, so we apologize if we’re, well, noobs .”

“ Pfft ,” snickered Powder beside Ekko. “Never thought I’d hear a rich Piltie like Medarda say the word ‘noob.’”

“Don’t worry, we’ll just blame Jayce for any of your shortcomings,” Caitlyn said with a teasing grin.

“Hey!” Jayce scolded, fake-offended. “At least we all came dressed up! And you guys look amazing , by the way.”

Everyone did the best they could with the clothes they had to dress as fantasy-like as possible. Caitlyn, who must’ve been waiting for this opportunity considering how prepared she was compared to everyone else, was wearing a long, dark cloak paired with leather straps, belts, and arm bracers. She even had those fake, rubber elf ears hooked around her real ones. Powder and Ekko’s were a bit more thrown together. Powder seemed to throw whatever belts she had in her wardrobe and fashioned it in various ways: hanging off her shoulders, strapped around her legs, and so on. She also wrapped bandages around her limbs and wore a pair of work goggles on her head. Ekko had a similar idea (Powder probably told him what she was doing: outfit composed mostly of belts), but he also had a large green jacket and some owl-looking mask.

For his three guests, Jayce had to step in and help since they were on such short notice. Mel was a bit simpler in her approach; she just wore one of her long, silk dresses and used some gold acrylic paint to embellish her skin in cool-looking patterns and runes. Sky wore a silvery-grey jean jacket and, with some assistance from Jayce, spray painted some knee pads and wrist guards silver to appear more like armor. Viktor admittedly didn’t have much to work with, so he borrowed a long, billowy cloak from Jayce, and Mel also helped by painting similar gold marks on his pale skin. Finally, Jayce got some of his old hockey gear and also painted it silver, mimicking the plate armor that one of his characters wore.

After a few more pleasantries, the seven of them gathered all their things and prepared for their hours-long session. Jayce was vibrating in his seat; he had never led a game with this many people before, and he was just a newbie dungeon master. But after reading some advice and taking some inspiration from his favorite D&D content creators, he felt prepared enough to tackle whatever his players threw at him. All they needed to do was start.

— — —

As blossoming heroes of the Rift, tales of your adventures across the region have started spreading among the local towns and villages. Many disregard your efforts, claiming your group to be yet another glory-seeking gaggle of hopefuls. Worse yet, rivaling adventuring parties are keen to spread more rumors about your shortcomings—

“What the hell! Can we beat those guys up?!” Powder yelled.

No , Powder— Well, maybe later. Anyways— 

“Don’t interrupt Jayce’s opening monologue…” Caitlyn whispered, seething from across the table.

Sprout . You’re doing it too.

“... S-sorry,” she replied as she sank back in her chair.

As I was saying — Despite all the word that’s abuzz about your group, an urgent letter has arrived to the city you are currently boarding in. A postman is frantically searching every inn and hotel in the Iron’s Stronghold, asking around for any member of your group who might receive this missive. So tell me, what are your characters up to this morning?

“Um, I’m probably already awake and scoping the area, keeping tabs on any of the rumors being spread about us,” pipes in Ekko.

Alright Ekko, why don’t you give me an Investigation check?

“Okay— Uh, 22.”

“Jeez, is that even a number on the dice?” Sky asked in disbelief.

Rogues, man (Jayce shrugged). Ekko— Your character, Zero, has been awake since the sun started peering over the horizon. Even as your eyes first open, your natural instincts already know that something is being said about your friends. Since you rolled so high, you would know that rumours about your party’s incompetencies have severely tampered with your reputation, and it seems many of the townsfolk aren’t eager to hire for your services. 

“Could I go speak to one of these guys talking shit about us?”

Sure! You’re currently seated in a corner table of one the many taverns in the Stronghold, and you overhear a particularly rowdy dwarven man — who’s already this plastered so early in the morning — spouting lies and nonsense about your party. 

“Alright, I’ll walk up to him and go—”

“Hey man,” (says Zero in a gruff voice, looking down at the seated dwarf), “where did you hear about this group?”

The dwarf looks up at you — kind of groggy, like he doesn’t fully recognize that you’re talking to him — before going, “‘Is none of your business, elf .”

“ Half -elf actually. I think it would best suit you to tell me where you’ve heard this information.”

“Then, I want to sneakily press a dagger against his back,” said Ekko with a devious smirk.

“Let’s go, Little Man!” cheered Powder, earning her a small blush from Ekko.

Ooh, alright! Give me a Stealth check with advantage since this guy’s a bit drunk.

“Cool! Let’s see… that one’s an 18 and the other is a 25.”

Jeez, why did I even make you roll? Anyways— You press the cold steel of your dagger to the dwarf’s back, and even in his drunken haze, he recognizes your threat immediately. He stills in your grasp, sputtering out his next few words.

“G-Galan, from the storehouse. H-he’s been mouthing ‘bout you lot all day—!” (the dwarf mumbles nervously, flinching as Zero presses the dagger further but not enough to pierce skin).

“Thank you,” (Zero says solemnly, dropping his dagger and giving the dwarf a moment of reprieve).

As you’re about to leave the tavern, you notice a tiefling burst through the door, panting heavily. “I-is anyone here registered with the Heroes’ Guild? Or knows an elf named Calwyn?” he breathes.

“I-I do,” (Zero speaks up). The tiefling turns to you, and from the look of his garb, you can tell that he’s a postman, and he’s gripping a letter tightly in his hand.

“Oh, thank gods,” (he sighs, rushing over to Zero). “I’ve been looking bloody everywhere for you. Could you please hand this missive to Mistrex Calwyn? I was to deliver this letter to them urgently under the request of its sender.”

“And who’s this letter from?” (Zero questions as he takes the letter in his hands).

“I’m afraid I cannot answer that, good sir. Please just see to it that this letter arrives to Mistrex Calwyn.” The postman gives you a curt bow before exiting the tavern, and you kind of stare off as he leaves.

“I guess I’ll go look for Calwyn and give this message to them,” said Ekko, taking the actual physical letter Jayce has made.

Alright, you head back to the hotel where you and your party are staying— Caitlyn, what’s Calwyn up to right now?

“O-oh, um,” Caitlyn staggered, not fully prepared when Jayce addresses her. “Well, I think Calwyn is just getting ready for the day. Maybe they’re downstairs and drinking tea.”

“Yeah, and I think Jinx is with ‘em eating breakfast or something,” Powder added.

Cool! So as you guys are lounging in the dining hall of this hotel, you see as Zero arrives with a letter in his hands.

“Calwyn,” (Zero calls out, slightly annoyed), “someone has a letter for you.”

“For me?” (Calwyn takes the letter, ripping the envelope open and reading its contents). 

“Dearest Calwyn, 

It is with deepest apologies that I ask for your assistance after not speaking with you for quite some time. As you may know, the Halone Manor has been left abandoned by my family for many years, but as the new Lady of the House, I’ve been trying to reclaim our old estate. However, I have heard rumors that the manor is infested with crooks and robbers, and I request your aid in clearing them out before I am set to move in. I know this is a lot to ask of you, old friend, I assure you and your friends will be properly compensated for this endeavor. 

From yours truly, Lady Francesca Halone.”

“Do you know this ‘Francesca’ lady?” (Jinx asks, crossing her arms in suspicion).

“Yes, she and I grew up together. But like the letter says, her family left the Halone Manor after some… circumstances I’m not privy to,” (Calwyn says with an air of worry). “Still, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t help her. After all, the manor is not too far from the outskirts of the Stronghold. I’m sure it’ll be a simple venture.”

“You seriously don’t think it’s suspicious that her family just left their house all willy-nilly?” (Jinx protests, much to the high elf’s dismay).

Caitlyn hummed to herself, looking at the letter in her hands. “Is there any way for me to determine if this letter is legitimate?” she asked.

Sure! Why don’t you give me either an Investigation or Insight check?

Caitlyn rolled the dice in her tray, wincing as she looked at the results. “Um, I rolled an 11 on Insight…?

Hmm… (Jayce mused to himself, rubbing his chin in thought). Well, the insignia on the envelope is most certainly that of House Halone, and the writing itself looks to be Francesca’s script, though you two haven’t corresponded to each other since you left your clan.

“ Oooh ,” remarked Powder, earning her a stiff elbow from Ekko.

“Even if I’m not sure why they left their old house, if my friend is eager to move back in to reclaim her seat as Lady, then we should try to help her,” (says Calwyn firmly). “Besides, Francesca and House Halone are very wealthy, and I’m sure we’ll be paid our due like the letter says.”

“If you say so…” (Jinx says begrudgingly).

“It’s probably better this way, since some bad rumors are spreading around about us,” (informs Zero).

“ Seriously? Ugh, I bet it’s just some other groups who are jealous of us,” (huffs Jinx). “Y’know what, let’s deal with those suckers at that manor and take the prize money! Then we’ll see who’s laughing now…”

As your group gathers the rest of your things from your hotel room, you set off outside the walls of the Iron’s Stronghold and towards the abandoned Halone Manor…

— — — 

Jayce continued leading the party in the day’s session, their travel towards their destination interrupted by a few encounters with bandits and monsters. He wanted to make sure that the three newcomers to the table were comfortable with how Jayce and the rest of the group played, especially since all of them had never played D&D before. Mel was surprisingly enraptured, listening attentively to every conversation the other players were having and reacting where appropriate. Sky had a lot of questions to ask, and she would politely whisper over to Jayce or Caitlyn for answers. She was also dutifully taking notes the whole session, clarifying for any spellings on names or having Jayce explain certain plot points again to jot down in her journal. 

Viktor was just as engaged as he was last time. He would jump in for a clever quip, or help advise the players on what to do. It was clear he had done some research on the game, since he seemed well-acquainted with some of the rules. It made Jayce smile, watching as Viktor laughed alongside the rest of the table. And the best part was: Jayce did not feel nervous at all. Introducing Viktor to his hobbies was one thing, but Mel and Sky? Even if he and Mel were ‘dating’ for a time, and Mel recognized Jayce’s nerdy interests, he was still hesitant to share any of that with her (much to his guilt). Then there was Sky, who he wasn’t necessarily close to but felt he could trust, especially considering her closeness to Viktor. It was truly a gathering of friends, and Jayce was more than happy.

If only Vi could be here to play with them, too.

The group took a quick break for food and bathroom trips, snacking on the food that they brought in for their hangout. Powder brought mostly chips, and Ekko came along with bottles of soda. Jayce grilled some seasoned chicken with help from his mom, and it paired nicely with the spiced rice Mel had brought from home. Finally, Sky informed the group that she and Viktor had baked some cookies together while he was over at her house. 

Jayce eagerly took a few of the cookies, anticipating the sweetness that would come from a treat Viktor made. He bit into the dessert, crumbling into a soft, fudgy texture in his mouth; it tasted amazing . Doubly so, knowing that Viktor made it. He noticed that the other boy was actually staring at him as he ate the cookie, and Jayce made it well-known to him that it tasted great.

Stomachs filled and bladders emptied, the group settled back at the table as they reentered their game. Jayce had the party enter the abandoned manor, where the group finally united with Mel, Sky, and Viktor’s characters. Mel was playing a human draconic sorcerer, acting as the main leader of their group. Sky played as a tiefling cleric, aiding her warforged friend, who was played by Viktor. Much to Jayce’s surprise, Viktor actually opted to multi-class his character, which normally Jayce would only recommend to more advanced players. But Viktor seemed to have read up much more than Jayce realized, and he came up with an artificer-warlock build that had an interesting backstory.

The two groups, Caitlyn’s and Mel’s, were adversarial at first, which led to a very quick but highly engaging player versus player combat sequence. Caitlyn’s party was more experienced with the game, but Mel’s put up a good fight. Eventually, the groups realized they were being set up as sacrifices to a demon lord trapped in the manor (very normal D&D things), and they had to work together to defeat the demon. It was a long and arduous battle that had the players go down a few times (Jayce had to start fudging his rolls or else he would’ve actually killed their characters), but with a few clutch healing spells from Sky’s cleric and an amazing critical hit on a sneak attack with Ekko’s rogue, the party felled the demon.

“Phew, almost lost there!” Caitlyn said languidly as she stretched her long limbs. “That was a close one, huh, Bramble?”

“Haha, yeah…” Jayce chuckled nervously, scrambling to gather his notes where he scrawled the many, many times the party almost died. “Hope you guys enjoyed the session— especially you three!” he said excitedly as he turned over to Mel, Sky, and Viktor.

“It was plenty of fun, Jayce. Thank you again for inviting us!” Mel smiled, and Jayce felt his chest bloom with warmth and pride.

“Ah man, I didn’t even realize how late it was already!” groaned Sky. “It’s already way past 10 PM— my dads are gonna kill me!”

“Are you guys gonna play with us again next time?” Ekko asked, eyes shining brightly with hope. “You guys did great, and it would be awesome to play with you guys again!”

“I might be a bit busy because of college applications,” Mel replied solemnly. “But maybe I can try to hop in every now and then?” she asked as she turned to Jayce.

“Of course! You’re always welcome to play with us when you can,” he returned with a smile. “How’s applications going for you, by the way?”

Mel’s expression lifted with muted excitement. “My application to the Academy has been received, so I’m just waiting for a notification of acceptance in a few months.”

“Here’s to hoping you get in!” Jayce replied fondly, and the two of them shared a quiet moment of sincerity. He truly wished the best for Mel, and he brought her in close for a friendly hug.

“I wish you the best of luck as well, Ms. Medarda,” chimed in Viktor, shyly butting into their conversation.

Mel chuckled sweetly. “Oh, sorry— didn’t mean to take him away from you,” she teased, causing both the boys to blush slightly. “I hope I’ll see both of you at the Academy as well, once you both graduate.” 

“Eh, you’ll probably see me, but I’m not too sure about Talis over here,” Viktor joked back, earning him a hearty laugh for Mel.

“Wait, we should all take a picture in our outfits before you guys leave!” Caitlyn called out, urging everyone to gather at the front of the table. She also called over one of the house retainers, handing them her phone as all the teens squeezed together for a picture. 

Jayce was pressed right in the middle of the photo, flanked on either side of him by Viktor and Caitlyn, then there was a flash of bright light as the photo was taken. Caitlyn took her phone back and quickly sent the picture to everyone, and as Jayce received the image on his phone, he couldn’t help but smile at it.

Off to the side, Jayce couldn’t help but notice Viktor stare at his own copy of the picture, a strangely pained expression on his face.

The teens all bid each other farewell, and Jayce corralled Mel, Sky, and Viktor back into his car to bring them home. Viktor was the last to be dropped off, and the two were rather silent on the way back. On Jayce’s part, it was because he was tired from a whole day of playing; his voice was hoarse from the amount of shouting and totally embarrassing accents he had to do, though he wouldn’t want it any other way. On Viktor’s part… despite seemingly enjoying himself all day, he was strangely quiet on the ride back.

“Thanks again, V,” Jayce greeted as he opened the passenger side door for Viktor. “Y’know, you really impressed me back there… I’d love to have you as a regular in our games, if you’d like.”

“O-oh, um…” Viktor hesitated, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, “I really appreciate the offer, Jayce. I’ll, uh, think about it…”

Jayce reached forward to help Viktor out of the car, but he was still dissatisfied with the boy’s response. “C’mon, V! You did amazing , and I can tell you had a lot of fun, too.”

“I did have a lot of fun, but…” Viktor paused, his eyes downcast as he stared at the concrete sidewalk below them. 

Jayce furrowed his brows and placed a comforting hand on Viktor’s arm, rubbing gently as he spoke. “You can tell me, V. Is there… something wrong?”

Viktor bit his lip before sighing heavily, still avoiding eye contact with Jayce. “J-Jayce, there’s something I need to tell you… I, um— I’ve been—” He shot his gaze upwards, looking up at Jayce as amber eyes met hazel ones. He looked tortured, his mouth agape as he struggled to find his next words. Jayce just waited patiently, eagerly anticipating Viktor’s reply as he continued to comfort him. “I’ve been worried that maybe I don’t fit in with your friends…” he finally said with a long exhale.

“Really?” Jayce replied incredulously (and maybe a bit untactfully). “Is that all you’re worried about?”

Viktor hesitated for a split second. “Y-yes, that’s it…”

Jayce simply smiled at the boy. Hoping to assuage any of his doubts with his own kind words. “Viktor, I think you fit in perfectly fine with my friends. We’re all just a bunch of nerds and dorks, right?” he said with a playful chuckle.

“A-ah, right…” Viktor tried to return the chuckle, but it felt forced.

Jayce pouted. He felt a bit bad for not anticipating these worries from Viktor; it would make sense for him to feel overwhelmed with talking to all the people in Jayce’s life, but he wanted so badly for him to be a part of it. Jayce wanted Viktor to get along with his friends, but more than anything, he wanted to make sure Viktor was comfortable as well.

“I won’t force you to hang out with them if you don’t want to,” Jayce began, “but if there’s anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable with them, just let me know.”

“I do want to hang out with them more often,” Viktor replied. “... Are you certain they would welcome me in?”

“Of course,” Jayce reassured. “And if not, then they’ll have to answer to me.”

The vague threat was enough to make Viktor chuckle, and it was noise Jayce was happy to hear. “Sounding like a tough guy doesn’t really suit you, Talis,” Viktor jabbed.

“Eh, it was worth a shot,” Jayce shrugged. There was a lull in their conversation, and Viktor was just about to walk up to his front door, when Jayce suddenly called out to him. “Is there… anything else bothering you?”

Viktor stopped in his tracks. Not turning to look back at Jayce, he simply said, “N-no, there’s nothing else.”

Viktor’s tone and posture did not strike confidence in Jayce. Instead, it left him with that familiar dark feeling in his gut. Was Viktor hiding something from him? Why did Jayce feel like he was lying? He felt guilty for those thoughts, thinking it disrespectful to assume Viktor would be untrustworthy for whatever reason. But why couldn’t Jayce let it go?

“Okay then,” Jayce tried to say cheerily, but it felt insincere. “Hope you enjoy the rest of the break, V. Good night!”

Viktor waved farewell to the boy, and Jayce drove himself home.

✧✧✧

Viktor had never left the cities of Zaun or Piltover in his whole 16 years of living, but he supposed he’d go to great lengths for Jayce if it meant advancing his own hidden agenda. After returning from Progress Week break to an intensive finals grind, the students of River Pilt High were finally released to their long-awaited winter break. Viktor never usually had plans for winter break, besides joining Sky’s family for dinner on Snowdown, but now that he and Jayce were firmly back to being friends again, the other boy was keen to invite him to every possible event he could join. Such as the one he was going to now.

After hours of driving, their group finally arrived at a cozy lodge cabin in the mountains, tucked away in the evergreen forests of Mount Spire. The mountain was always a lovely backdrop to the city of Piltover, but Viktor had never imagined actually going to it. He should thank the circumstances that got him into this situation in the first place, as he placed his bags into one of the rooms he would be sharing with Jayce. Oh, and Caitlyn and Vi, too.

On the Friday of their last day of school before break, Viktor received a very frantic text from Jayce.

Viktor had stared at his phone, dumbfounded. After extracting some much needed information from Jayce, he learned that the Talis and Kiramman families went to the mountains on a joint family trip every year. Only difference is this year, Jayce’s mom can’t make it, and Vi has been invited by Caitlyn. This normally wouldn’t be a problem — the three teens were quite close after all, — but Jayce was still on thin ice with Vi. So to help make the trip a little less awkward, Jayce begged Viktor to join him for this trip.

And that’s how Viktor ended up in the mountains with the Kirammans. He didn’t own much winter clothing since it was uncommon for snow to fall in Zaun, so he had to borrow a few clothes from Caitlyn’s closet (who knew he had the same build as a 15-year old girl). Snow had already fallen on the mountain, leaving the surface covered in soft, sparkling layers of snow. He couldn’t deny that he was excited; again, he’d never thought he would ever see snow in the mountains up close. 

“Alright kids, once you guys get all settled in, we can hit the slopes!” called out the cheerful voice of Tobias Kiramman, Caitlyn’s dad.

“Yes, father!” responded Caitlyn.

“I call top bunk,” Vi said bluntly, tossing her backpack up on the bed.

The aptly named ‘kids room’ consisted of two bunk beds on opposite ends of the room and a connecting door to a bathroom, as well as a closet where all four of them haphazardly threw in their things. Since Vi called the top bunk on one of the beds, Caitlyn took the bottom bunk. Jayce turned to Viktor, a sweet smile on his face.

“I’ll take the top bunk, too,” he said fondly.

“Well, yes, obviously Jayce,” replied Viktor with a roll of his eyes, tapping on his leg brace with his cane.

“R-right, I mean—” he sputtered, and Viktor got a good laugh at flustering Jayce like this.

“I’m so glad you’re joining us for the trip, Viktor!” said Caitlyn brightly, a wide smile on her face. “Did you want to join us on the slopes?”

“I mean, no use in joining your family if I don’t partake in your activities,” Viktor said dryly. “Though I’m not sure how fun I’ll be.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you and I can find some stuff to do together,” Jayce reassured, patting Viktor with large hands that left the smaller boy a bit rattled.

“Wait, you’re not gonna go snowboarding with us?” Caitlyn asked.

Hand still on his shoulder, Viktor could feel Jayce physically freeze in place. He peered over to his face, which was taut with hesitation. “N-no, probably not this year, Sprout,” Jayce replied with a strained smile.

“O-okay,” Caitlyn shied away. Viktor and Vi both shot confused looks at each other, a small hint of solidarity between the two Zaunites.

“Well, I’ve never been snowboarding before, so you’ll have to teach me, Cupcake,” Vi quickly said to change the subject.

“I’m actually going to be skiing, unless you want to do that with me?” Caitlyn asked.

“ Hell no , skiing looks dorky as fuck,” Vi sneered, and Caitlyn (lovingly) smacked her girlfriend’s arm.

The group ate a quick lunch before they got back in their minivan and drove off to the ski resort. There were plenty of other people here, all dressed and equipped for the weather and whatever sport they would partake in. A quick trip to the rental later, and Vi and Caitlyn were off to the races at the nearest bunny hill. Jayce meanwhile, returned to Viktor with two large rubber tubes in his hands.

“Uh, what are those for, Jayce?” Viktor asked skeptically.

“It’s for the tubing hill!” the other boy grinned. “I thought we could go check it out— It’ll probably be more comfortable for you than sledding.”

Viktor frowned slightly. “And how much do we have to pay for this?”

“Oh, about that,” Jayce leaned in closer, his warm breath grazing Viktor’s skin and making him blush, “Cait’s parents have partial ownership over the lodge here, so as long as we put everything under the Kiramman name, it’s all free.”

“Ugh, Piltovans,” Viktor said as he rolled his eyes.

“Hey!” Jayce called out, fake-offended. “I may be a Piltie, but I don’t really come from money either. I’ve learned after years of spending time with the Kirammans: it is totally fine to mooch off of their wealth.”

Viktor smirked. “Then we best take advantage and order the best meals from the lodge.”

“Of course!”

Viktor and Jayce trudged their way towards the tubing hill. Viktor had never walked through snow before, and it was a lot to get used to. Though he did prefer the soft crunch of snow beneath his feet compared to the rough impact of concrete. Still, the high elevation plus the extra effort to walk in the cold weather was already wearing him out. Finally they arrived at the hill and took the lift up to the top. It was a bit embarrassing at first, but Jayce was so gracious and gentle when it came to helping Viktor into the tube, leaving his cane with one of the workers at the bottom. Once both were properly nestled into the rubber devices, some workers assisted with pushing them down the hill.

The chill winter air nipped at Viktor’s face as he slid down the hill. They weren’t going all that fast, and they weren’t even sliding that far down, but Viktor was filled with a thrill he’d never experienced before. The giddy feeling in his chest bubbled into a loud whoop, cheering with laughter as he picked up speed. Jayce was just in the track next to him, the biggest and goofiest grin plastered all over his face. 

But while Viktor’s ride down the hill was smooth and comfortable, Jayce wasn’t so lucky. A slight bump in his track caused him to fly upwards, and Jayce’s clumsy self tried to regain balance as he landed to no avail. He planted face first into the powder, tumbling the rest of the way down the hill in comical fashion. Viktor’s tube managed to slow down once it reached the flat bottom of the hill, but he couldn’t quite get out of the tube without any assistance. He just propped himself on his elbows and watched as workers hurriedly rushed over to Jayce’s limp body in the snow. But like the dork he was, Jayce quickly lifted his head up with a loud laugh.

“Holy shit,” he cackled, “that was so fun, V!”

Jayce got up and dusted himself off before rushing over to help Viktor get on his feet. He heaved with a strong yank, nearly lifting Viktor off of the ground. Jayce’s pull was a little too forceful, however, and Viktor fell face-first in Jayce’s chest. He quickly pushed himself off, face warm despite the cold air, but Jayce just smiled fondly at him. Normally, he’d feel patronized by all the help Jayce offered, but there was just no way he could be mad at the boy when he was being so sincere and genuine (plus, something about Jayce specifically picking up Viktor like that — it made him feel unnecessarily flustered).

They returned to some benches so that Viktor could rest his leg, and eventually Caitlyn and Vi came back from the hill. Vi looked a bit more disheveled than Caitlyn, snow dusting her clothes in all sorts of places. “Jeez, how do people make this shit look easy?” Vi complained.

“I wish I could be of more help—” Then, Caitlyn’s eyes widened as if having an epiphany, turning to look over at the two boys. “Jayce, why don’t you teach Vi how to snowboard?”

“What?!” “W-what?!” the two shouted simultaneously.

“No, I am not letting Mr. Kiss-Ass over here teach me anything,” Vi huffed.

“And I should probably stay here with Viktor anyways…” Jayce said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

“Nonsense, I can stay here with Viktor. You two go enjoy the slopes together.” Caitlyn waved them off, clearly not taking ‘no’ as an answer from either of them. And it worked, because both Vi and Jayce begrudgingly left to the rental shop to grab a board for Jayce, before riding to the top of the slope together on the lift.

“You’re awfully commanding,” Viktor joked. 

“It’s because they love me,” Caitlyn said with a satisfied sigh. She took a seat next to Viktor on the bench, stretching out her legs with a groan. “Enjoying the trip so far?” she asked.

“I wasn’t sure what I expected, but… yes , I am having fun,” Viktor replied with a small smile. 

“Glad to hear it,” Caitlyn returned a grin. 

From the bench they were sitting on, it was pretty easy to see Jayce and Vi slowly make their way down the hill. Vi had on this maroon puffer jacket that stood out against the snow, meanwhile Jayce was a sky blue dot that was weaving around her. Viktor had been to a few of Jayce’s hockey games back in their sophomore year, and he was impressed with his skills on the ice. The same could be said about right now, with how effortlessly Jayce seemed to snowboard down the slope.

“I didn’t know Jayce knew how to snowboard,” Viktor commented after a short while. “Is there anything that boy can’t do?”

Caitlyn chuckled beside him. “He and I used to race each other down the hill, but he was always faster than me. Didn’t matter though, since I’m better at ice skating than he is.”

Viktor then remembered the way Jayce went stiff earlier, at the mention of snowboarding. It was an odd reaction that Viktor had yet to internalize. Sitting next to Caitlyn, who also had a strange response to Jayce’s rigidness, Viktor wondered if now was an opportune time to find out what it meant. “Jayce, he seemed… distant when you mentioned snowboarding to him earlier.”

Caitlyn tightened her lips, gaze still locked on Jayce and Vi on the hill. “A few years ago, he got in a bad accident while snowboarding.”

Viktor flinched slightly at her words. “Did he fall or something?”

“No, Jayce knows how to properly break his fall while snowboarding.” Caitlyn shifted her gaze downwards as she took a deep breath. “Jayce is pretty good at snowboarding. He loved doing tricks to impress me or his mum— his dad, too, when he was still around. But a few years ago, there was a bad storm. It happened so suddenly, and all of us were still on the slopes when it happened. Jayce had just returned to the top of the hill, and his mum worried that they hadn’t informed those at the top about the storm. So she rushed ahead of us while my mom called a rescue team. Somehow, Jayce and his mum got stranded up there— I was deathly worried that I would lose them both, after having just lost his father the year prior…”

Caitlyn paused, eyes misty with tears. Viktor didn’t want the poor girl to go on any further; it was clear she still had a lot to process about the event. Again, this was another thing about Jayce that Viktor didn’t know about, but he understood. Trauma like that isn’t so easy to share. Viktor did know that Ximena had prosthetic fingers, but he never asked what happened to her out of respect. Now, Viktor could put two and two together— if Jayce and Ximena got stranded in the storm, then it’s possible Ximena lost those fingers to frostbite.

“Jayce didn’t come back to the mountains with us the year after, obviously,” Caitlyn continued after wiping away a few tears. “And even though he’s been coming with us for this trip every year, he hasn’t snowboarded since then.” 

Caitlyn returned her focus to the slope where she and Viktor spotted both Vi and Jayce gliding down together, before landing at the foot of the hill. Vi tumbled forward, her brake not quite as smooth as Jayce’s, who easily came to a halt at the bottom. Vi grinned wide at Jayce, looking proud of herself, and the two shared a high-five before shedding off their equipment.

“I wanted Vi and Jayce to make up again, even though Jayce does have a lot to answer for. It’s why I said he should help Vi with snowboarding. But also… I wanted to let him know it’s okay,” Caitlyn said firmly. “It’s scary, when something you once enjoyed suddenly fills you with dread… And maybe it’s selfish of me to think this, but I don’t want Jayce to give up on snowboarding, or any of his hobbies, because he’s scared. He just needs to know that we’re here to support him.” Caitlyn took Viktor’s hand in hers and squeezed it. “He needs to know that you’re here to support him.” 

Viktor looked up at the stern look that the other girl gave him, quiet determination plainly shown on her face. There was a hint of protectiveness there, but also a sign of acceptance, like she was acknowledging the importance Viktor held for Jayce. It was a look so sincere that Viktor would be heartless to turn it down.

“Whew—! Did you see that, Cupcake?” cheered Vi as she approached the two teens, Jayce following behind her. “I absolutely killed that hill!”

“You were amazing, Vi,” Caitly said as she stood up, giving Vi a small peck on the cheek. “I’m assuming it’s all thanks to your teacher?”

Vi rolled her eyes, but Viktor could still see a small yet satisfied grin on her face. “Eh, he just wanted to show off.”

“I was a bit rusty,” Jayce cut in, “but Vi’s a pretty fast learner— if she would actually listen to me.”

“Listen here, pretty boy—”

“H-hey—!” Vi jumped and latched around Jayce’s shoulders, threatening to choke him out. Caitlyn and Viktor just shared a laugh at the other boy’s expense.

Eventually, the group of teens headed back to their lodge. They decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood before the sunset (and mostly before it dropped below freezing temperatures). They built a crude snowman on the side of the road, threw a few snowballs at each by the park, and Viktor got to experience what it’s like to make a snow angel for the first time. Maybe it was sad to admit, but this was probably the happiest Viktor had ever felt in his life. Growing up, no one wanted to be friends with the prodigious cripple. His only two friends were Sky and the shady medical worker Mr. Reveck. But thanks to Jayce, Viktor was able to experience a typical teenage friendship. 

After returning from their walk, the teens ate a quick dinner with Caitlyn’s parents before cozying up in the living room to play some board games. Their game of UNO was starting to get real heated, with Vi spouting near-profanities and Caitlyn almost beating her mom for the first win. The end of the game was just Vi and Jayce slamming +4 cards on each other until they each basically had the whole deck in their hands. Viktor just watched the chaos ensue, eyes glancing briefly at the window to see a pitch-black sky.

“Seems like a storm’s passing through tonight,” Cassandra observed as she looked out the window as well.

“It’s a good thing we’re already holed up in our lodge. Who knows how we’d be if we were stuck out there,” Tobias commented nonchalantly. Both Cassandra and Caitlyn gave the man a pointed look (and Viktor found it eerie how much the mother and daughter looked alike). Tobias realized the mistake in his words and flinched under their gaze.

On the living room floor and still finishing out the game of UNO, Jayce paused and also turned to look outside. There was a solemn expression on his face, eyes looking almost glazed over as he continued to stare. Vi similarly went quiet, slowly dropping her cards to the floor and scooping the game’s contents into the box. An awkward silence filled the lodge now, and Viktor couldn’t help but shift in his seat. The only sound that filled the air was the shuffling of feet on hardwood as everyone started to clean up and head back to their rooms, and the howling of cold wind outside.

Viktor tried his best to go to sleep that night, but it was hard to do so when Vi in the bunk across from him was loudly snoring (opposite that, Caitlyn slept still as a corpse beneath Vi on the bottom bunk). This meant that Viktor was wide awake when, in the middle of the night, the creaking of the bedframe signalled Jayce’s descent from the top bunk. In the darkness of the bedroom, where very little light shone past the storm outside, Viktor watched Jayce grab a coat and walk out. After a few moments, Viktor got up and followed the boy outside.

Viktor found Jayce perched on a bench by a window in the living room, knees tucked close to his chest and staring intently out into the storm. Viktor tried to approach quietly, but the old floorboards gave him away, and Jayce quickly whipped his head over to the other boy.

“O-oh! Sorry, did I wake you up?” Jayce whispered.

“No, I was already awake actually,” Viktor replied, walking closer to join Jayce by the window. “Vi snores like an old man with sleep apnea.”

Jayce chuckled softly. “You learn to drown it out eventually.”

Viktor sat across from Jayce on the bench, lifting his bad leg to rest on some decorative pillows. He watched intently as the other boy leaned his head on the window, eyes not daring to look away from the storm. “Caitlyn told me about what happened…” Viktor began slowly. “Are you okay?”

Jayce didn’t answer for a while, and Viktor would’ve been content to just sit with Jayce in silence. Then, the boy closed his eyes and breathed a sharp inhale through his nose. “It was my fault it happened…” he whispered with a sigh. “I took the ski lift back up the highest slope for one last run. It was freezing — more so than usual, — and people were even shouting  for us to stay put at the top, but I ignored them. When I started heading down the mountain, I could barely see because of the wind, and the powder was so soft and fresh that I lost balance. I ended up falling somewhere off-track, about half-way down the mountain. The wind was so strong at this point, and I don’t know how but my mom found me. I was so, so cold— I lost my gloves when I fell so my mom had to give me hers…”

“Jayce, you don’t have to keep going…” Viktor quietly protested, seeing how visibly shaken Jayce was as he recounted the story, but he was ignored.

“We couldn’t see anything — had no idea how to get back to the slope… We decided to just stay where we were, hoping someone would come find us. But then my mom fell, and she couldn’t get up… I had no idea how long we were up there for— it felt like hours . It was freezing — I’d never felt so cold in my life, — and my mom… I couldn’t lose my mom, too, not so soon after my dad…” Jayce trailed off, voice breaking and brows furrowed. “We were lucky, though. A rescue team found us eventually, and we weren’t the only ones stuck up there because of the storm. We were in the hospital for a few days— my mom even longer because of frostbite… But we’re okay now, I guess…” He ended his story with a cruel chuckle, eyes downcast.

Viktor didn’t know what to say at first— how could he? Jayce had a near-death experience a few years ago, and he’s back to the origin point of his trauma. Despite his discomfort, Jayce still joined the Kirammans on their family trip for reasons unknown to Viktor; perhaps he didn’t want to disappoint his friend or her family. 

Instead of speaking, Viktor did something he normally wouldn’t consider. He inched across the bench over to Jayce, leaning back until he was properly cradled by Jayce’s body. The other boy was speechless, not moving as Viktor adjusted himself and rested his back against Jayce’s chest. Sitting so close together like this, Viktor could feel the gentle rise and fall of Jayce’s breaths, and he could feel his own heart beating fast yet steady in his ribcage. It was warm within their shared body heat. 

“You’re very brave, Jayce,” VIktor eventually said. “You should be proud of yourself, for coming back here despite what happened…”

Jayce’s arms were still hovering wide around Viktor, not daring to move any closer. “But even still, I…” he looked out the window once more into the storm. “I’m still scared , V…”

Viktor remembered Caitlyn’s words from earlier, echoing in his mind as he tilted his head up to look at Jayce’s face. “He needs to know that you’re here to support him.” 

“Even if you are scared, I’ll be here…” he said softly, not really sure if his words would hold any importance to Jayce.

But it did.

Jayce looked down at the boy, a stunned expression on his face. Yet slowly, his face melted into one of fondness, and he awkwardly wrapped his arms around Viktor, pulling him close. Viktor slightly flinched at the contact despite him initiating the position first, but he let himself relax in the warm embrace. Jayce nestled his face into the mess of Viktor’s hair, his breath trailing goosebumps down Viktor’s neck.

“Thank you, V.”

✧✧✧

Jayce scrambled around his apartment, checking every nook and cranny for any mess, arranging and rearranging decorations frantically. Ximena just smiled at her son as she stirred a large pot of stew that was sitting on the stove. The air in the apartment smelled of fragrant spices and cinnamon, and all around the small yet cozy space was fitted with wreaths and red ribbons. He was wearing a red knit sweater himself, with a white button-up underneath (and he was also fussing about his outfit), while his mother wore a beautiful red dress that matched the pattern of the season. It was Snowdown Eve, and Jayce was trying his best to make sure tonight was perfect.

“ Cálmate, mijo, ” came Ximena’s soothing voice from the kitchen as Jayce continued to pace around the living room. “You running around the house isn’t going to make anything better. Now, come taste this for me.”

Jayce let out an exaggerated groan before walking over to Ximena. She rolled her eyes affectionately before handing her son a spoon to taste the stew with. Jayce carefully brought it to his tongue, wincing slightly from the heat as it was taken straight out of the pot, but after blowing on it for a few seconds, he took a full bite and mused on the flavor. “Maybe a bit more pepper,” he commented.

Ximena hummed a note of approval when a knock came from the front door. Jayce rushed over and answered it, opening the door wide to reveal the portly figure of Benzo with Ekko behind him.

“Happy Snowdown, my boy!” said Benzo with a boisterous laugh, his large arms scooping Jayce up into a spine-crushing hug.

“Oof—! Happy Snowdown to you, too, Benzo!” he wheezed. Once he was finally released, he and Ekko shared a similar greeting. 

Benzo turned over to a little side table by the door, which displayed a framed portrait of a man with a wide grin on his face, carrying a young Jayce in one arm and wrapping his other around a young Ximena’s waist. Benzo tapped the table gently, a soft smile on his face. “Happy Snowdown to you, too, Caesar.”

Ekko had a large dish wrapped in tin foil in his hands, and Jayce gestured over to their kitchen. “You can just put that on the kitchen counter.”

“Alright— Hey Mrs. Talis, Happy Snowdown!” Ekko heaved as he brought the dish over. Ximena greeted him back with a smile, and the younger boy took a big whiff as he entered the kitchen. “Smells delicious, I always get excited to eat your stew every year.”

“And I made sure to cook extra this time,” Ximena replied, a wide and warm smile on her face.

The two boys helped set the dining table as the adults finished dinner preparations when another knock came at the door. Jayce opened their door and let their next guests pour in: Oskar and Tala from the repair shop, and Hector and Pablo from the car shop next door. As they entered, they also greeted the portrait of Caesar Talis that sat near the entrance. The four had brought tidings of their own, namely some champagne and another tray of what looked like tamales (which made Jayce’s mouth water). Dinner was just about ready to commence, with everyone taking their seats at the cramped dining table. Jayce was the only one still standing, nervously anticipating the arrival of a few more guests.

Banter was lively in the house, but like a keen-eared dog, Jayce heard a knock on the door and rushed over immediately. There were a few scattered laughs from the dining (most obviously from Tala, who might’ve drank a bit before even coming here), but Jayce didn’t mind. He couldn’t even stop himself from grinning as he opened the door and his eyes fell on who arrived.

“Hey you guys!” he cheered, a bright and wide smile on his face. He didn’t even stop himself from bringing the three figures into the biggest hug he could muster.

“Unf— Bramble, let go!” choked out Caitlyn, who fruitlessly pounded against Jayce’s chest. 

Mel, who was on the other side of Caitlyn, just laughed. “Jayce, I think Viktor is suffocating over here!”

Viktor, who was caught between the two girls in Jayce bear hug, muffled something unintelligible into Jayce’s chest, causing the taller boy to feel his voice rumble into his torso. Jayce finally released his grip, causing Viktor to gasp for air dramatically. “Maybe give a warning before you attempt to kill me, Talis,” he breathed.

But Jayce just started laughing. “C’mon guys, we’re just about to start!”

After a quick say of grace, everyone dug into the delicious meals that were prepared for that evening. The teens were sectioned off to their own end of the table while the more rowdy adults were on the other end, talking loudly about the woes of adult life. The kids’ table also had their fair share of small talk, mostly about school, their D&D campaign, and what they were planning to do for the rest of break.

“Well, my family’s going to be attending the Piltover Snowdown Ball tomorrow, which is just gonna be a bunch of rich oligarchs stroking their own egos the whole night…” Caitlyn complained before taking a bite out of the roast turkey Benzo and Ekko had brought.

“My mother’s going to that one as well,” chimed in Mel. “Perhaps we can try to find each other and ditch the party, what do you say? I’m sure my older brother wouldn’t mind finding us something much more fun to do.”

Caitlyn’s eyes brightened in surprise. “Yeah, that doesn’t sound quite bad actually. Y’know, I’m quite glad you’ve joined us, Mel. You seemed distant at best when you and Jayce were still dating, so it’s nice to see you hanging out with us more often.”

“‘Still dating?’” Ekko asked with a confused expression. “Wait a minute— since when did you break up with Jayce?”

Mel and Jayce shot concerned looks at each other; they actually hadn’t told anyone they broke up at all. Jayce wasn’t even sure how Caitlyn found out they weren’t dating anymore, but he knew better than to underestimate that clever girl.

“Well, actually, we’re still—” Mel tried to recover, but she couldn’t quite find the words to fully explain or cover up the situation.

Jayce just sighed— there was really no point in hiding it anymore; his friends would find out sooner than later. “We actually broke up about a month ago,” Jayce answered, much to Mel’s surprise. “It was on good terms, though— after all, I wouldn’t have invited Mel over to dinner otherwise.”

“Huh, so then—?” Ekko gestured a fork between Jayce and Viktor, his eyebrow quirked but not fully finishing his sentence. 

“Oh, n-no, we’re just—”

“Jayce and I are just partners— friends , Ekko,” Viktor said defensively. “Ehe, I’m just, um, following your advice and being a better friend to Jayce.”

“Uh huh,” Ekko replied, not at all convinced. Jayce and Viktor just squirmed in their seats , meanwhile Caitlyn and Mel were off giggling with each other.

With dinner finished, the guests dispersed to partake in some activities: Benzo, Tala, and Oskar headed outside on the balcony for a few drinks; Mel, Ekko, and Caitlyn were engrossed in a game of Jenga; and Ximena, Hector, and Pablo were trying to set up a karaoke machine in the living room. Jayce, meanwhile, brought Viktor back over to his bedroom while everyone else was distracted. From one of his many bookshelves, he pulled out a few old sketchbooks and handed them over to Viktor.

“I said we would take things one at a time, so here,” Jayce said as he offered Viktor one of the sketchbooks. “You asked what my art looked like, so…”

“Wow,” Viktor said in awe, flipping through pages of Jayce’s drawings. 

Jayce held his breath as he watched, that familiar itch of nerves making him sweat underneath his red sweater. He was silently cringing at every page Viktor flipped to; this sketchbook was an older one filled with half-finished drawings of various characters or action scenes. Without much of another word, Viktor put down the sketchbook to pick up another one from the pile, a more recent one, and started going through that one as well.

“It’s good to see your art improve,” Viktor commented, a hint of admiration in his voice. Just the sound of Viktor’s approval made Jayce feel all giddy inside.

“Th-thanks— I mean, I just draw when I can, I don’t really take lessons or anything,” he said as he rubbed his neck sheepishly.

“I like it. Your art has a certain… charm to it,” Viktor said softly, a light pink dusting on his cheeks. Then, his eyes widened in surprise when he flipped to the next page. “Um, Jayce, is this—?”

Jayce looked down at what was on the page and his heart stopped. He quickly reached forward, grabbing the sketchbook out of Viktor’s hands and closing it shut immediately. “Th-that’s—! I-I can explain—”

Viktor had stumbled upon a few sketches that Jayce drew of him . They were drawings he made their freshman year, back when Jayce and Viktor first met each other. Jayce had been so… entranced by Viktor at the time, and he had no idea why but he felt compelled to draw him. And it wasn’t just in sketchbooks, either. Sometimes Jayce would draw him into the margins of his notes, just little doodles he’d make when Viktor didn’t notice. It was still embarrassing then, but even more so now that Jayce realized perhaps he’d been harboring feelings for Viktor for a long time.

Their conversation was halted when the sound of muffled music started playing from down the hallway. Jayce got up to investigate (and foolishly left Viktor behind with all his sketchbooks). He left his bedroom to hear music playing in the living room, the cheesy instrumentals of a ballad playing as a rich and beautiful singing voice filled the air.

♫ 'Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight ♫

♫ 'Til tomorrow ♫

♫ I'll be holding you tight ♫

♫ And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be ♫

♫ Than here in my room ♫

♫ Dreaming about you and me ♫

There was a loud applause as the first chorus came to an end, and Jayce couldn’t help himself from leaning against a wall and proudly smiling at his mom. Everyone else was similarly cheering on as Ximena continued to sing, and eventually Viktor joined him in the living room.

“Your mother has a fantastic voice,” Viktor commented. 

“She does, doesn’t she?” Jayce replied in admiration. “Did you wanna sing anything?”

Viktor’s pale skin flushed bright red. “N-no, absolutely not,” he protested.

“C’mon, what kind of music do you listen to?” Jayce prodded.

“Eh, not normally the kind of music you would sing to.”

“Lemme guess, is it something like classical music?”

Viktor scoffed. “I fear my appetite for music is much stronger than that.” Then, there was a bright glint in Viktor’s eyes as his lips quirked into a grin. “Actually, you’ve been so generous in inviting me to all these events— why don’t you join me for one on New Year’s Eve?”

“R-really?” Jayce said incredulously, a hint of excitement rising in his chest. While it was true that Jayce was often the one inviting Viktor to everything, he mostly attributed it to having a more outgoing nature compared to the other boy. But having Viktor ask him out to one of his activities made Jayce very happy. “I would love to join you, V.”

“Hey, Jayce!” called over the drunken slur of Tala. “Show off those Talis pipes of yours, dude!” It seemed that the song Ximena was singing came to an end.

“Woo, let’s go Bramble!” Caitlyn cheered, with Mel clapping alongside her.

All eyes were on Jayce, and he wasn’t going to lie to himself— he severely disliked this part of their Snowdown dinners. It filled him with a sense of dread and anxiety, and it was only exacerbated by the cheers and pressures to actually get up to the mic and perform. He would do it anyway, of course, not wanting to be one to disappoint, but it never made it any less nerve wracking.

But then Jayce looked over to his side at Viktor, who looked back up at him with a small smile. “Were you going to sing anything?” he asked innocently.

That small smile was enough to make him melt. He was still nervous, sure, but something about Viktor being by his side bolstered his confidence. “S-sure,” he hesitated, before strutting over to the karaoke machine and punching in the song he wanted to sing. The soft piano chords started to play as the machine booted up the slow ballad Jayce had chosen.

♫ Come up to meet you, tell ya I'm sorry ♫

♫ You don't know how lovely you are ♫

♫ I had to find you, tell ya I need you ♫

♫ Tell you I set you apart ♫

With the crowd of onlookers settled, Jayce glanced over at Viktor as he sang. It was cheesy, yes, but Jayce thought of Viktor in the lyrics, which might have caused him to be a bit emotional. It was better than being nervous, he reasoned. He turned his attention back to the song, trying to do his best to give a performance of a lifetime, and by the time of the song’s conclusion, the whole apartment erupted in applause. Embarrassment started to sink in again, and Jayce quickly bowed as he returned to his spot by the wall with Viktor. 

“You seemed rather engrossed in that song,” Viktor remarked jokingly.

“Yeah, I probably looked pretty awkward up there, didn’t I?” Jayce replied with a self-pitying chuckle.

“Jayce,” whispered Viktor, subtly wrapping a hand into his, “you were great up there.”

The party lasted well into the night until eventually it got late enough for folks to start leaving. Everyone helped in cleaning before they departed, making the work much easier on Ximena and Jayce, and once all the guests cleared out, all that was left were the Talises and Viktor, who stayed behind to finish cleaning.

“Thank you so much, Viktor,” said Ximena as she stowed away the last of the dishes on the drying rack. “I appreciate you staying so long, are you sure you don’t want to stay over tonight? It is getting a bit late.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Talis, I don’t want to intrude,” Viktor replied politely.

“Ah, don’t worry about it! You can stay as long as you’d like. Here, let me go grab you some spare blankets and pillows.” There seemed to be no point in protesting, as Ximena wandered off to a closet to gather a few things for Viktor. 

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to,” Jayce said as his mother stepped away. “I think my mom just doesn’t want me driving out so late— I’m sure if we ask, she can drive you home.”

“I don’t want to ask too much from her, she’s worked so hard today already,” Viktor surrendered, sinking himself into the living room couch. “Besides, your couch is quite comfortable.” 

Jayce chuckled as he took a seat next to Viktor. His face did warm up at the thought of Viktor spending the night; they were really close to doing so the night after they went to Piltover FanCon, but Jayce had woken up in shock and scrambled out the door with an incoherent apology. Now felt a bit more appropriate, since it was late and Jayce’s mom was actually allowing it (plus, Viktor would be sleeping on the couch this time, instead of sharing a bed with Jayce).

Viktor turned to the front door, eyes landing on the little table that had Jayce’s dad's picture on it. A solemn expression fell on his face. “Is that your dad?” he asked quietly.

Jayce didn’t need to follow Viktor’s gaze to know what he was talking about. A small lump started to form in Jayce’s throat. “Yeah, it is.”

“You look a lot like him,” Viktor observed. 

“Heh, I get that a lot,” Jayce laughed. “That song my mom sang earlier, that was their song. My dad isn’t much of a singer, but he was pretty good at guitar. He always said I got my singing skills from my mom.”

Viktor was quiet for a moment, like he was hesitating to approach the subject even further, but finally he continued again. “Why have you never talked about your dad to me?”

It was Jayce’s turn to hesitate. “Well, I just don’t want to be that guy that only talks about his dad,” he said with a cruel chuckle. “Plus, I don’t want to be insensitive, I guess, since you, well…”

“Just because I’m an orphan doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to talk about your parents, Jayce,” Viktor replied with that familiar condescending (yet loving) tone. But that look of superiority that Jayce found so endearing faded away for a moment, leaving behind an awkward expression on Viktor’s face. “So, um, what was he like?”

Oh man, where to begin , Jayce thought as he smiled to himself. “Well, he’s like most dads: a complete dork. He had big dreams of being an engineer and getting into the Academy. But when that didn’t work out, he went to Valoran University and met my mom instead, so maybe I should be happy he didn’t make it, or else I wouldn’t be here.”

Viktor laughed. “And the world is so much better in your presence,” he said sarcastically.

“ Ha ha ,” Jayce joked back. “But anyways… He was a loving father, and a big nerd. He always encouraged my dumb interests, like how I was obsessed with magicians for like a year. He even hired a magician for my birthday, and looking back, that was so embarrassing. He was really into board games, which is why Caitlyn and I know how to play D&D.”

“He would play with you guys?”

“Yup, he would be our dungeon master, and Cait and I would play with my mom, too. Fantasy and magic was a big thing with him, he was the one who got me to read the Ruined King series, actually.”

“Yeah, I saw the note he left for you in your book,” Viktor said with a fond smile.

“O-oh right, I forgot about that,” Jayce rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. 

There was a small pause for a moment before VIktor spoke up again. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did he pass away…?”

Jayce’s heart ached in his chest. It was a question he always expected to answer at some point, but it didn’t take away the pain. “It was a few years ago, I was just twelve years old. My dad was always battling some kind of sickness— we thought it was a chronic illness at first, but when I was about eleven we found out it was actually cancer.” 

“Jayce…” Viktor said softly, but he let the boy continue.

“We got him as much treatment as we could, but we inevitably couldn’t afford it anymore, nor could we afford surgery to take out the tumour. Plus, it had gone on for too long without it getting handled properly, so there wasn’t much more we could do…” 

Jayce got quiet, thinking back to the cold silence that was his dad’s hospital room, the sound of beeps being the only noise that echoed between the walls. He remembered how, even on his deathbed, his dad reached over to take Jayce’s hand in his, rubbing comforting circles into his skin. “You’ll be okay, Jayce,” he had said, weak and weary. “You’ll do great things, I just know it. Remember, keep that magic in your heart.”

Those were his dad’s last words to him. Jayce was old enough to know that magic isn’t real, but in that moment, he wished for nothing more than for the magic in his books to come and bring his dad back.

“I’ve been determined to get into the Academy, not just to accomplish my dad’s dream, but also so I could find a way to help other people as much as I can,” Jayce said with resolve brimming in his voice. “I want to help in cancer research, or be a biomedical engineer so that I can help make treatments more affordable for people— anything so that I could help make people’s lives easier.”

Viktor smiled up at the other boy. “That is a very noble dream, Jayce. And I’m sure as someone with all your genius and charisma, you’ll be able to accomplish it.”

“Hey, it’s not just my dream— it’s your dream, too,” said Jayce as he nudged Viktor’s side. “I remember that being the first thing you told me when we first met— you wanted to get into the Academy because you dreamed of helping people, too.”

“Eh, I was younger and more naive back then,” Viktor replied with a shy laugh.

“But do you still want that?” Jayce asked sincerely.

“Of course I do,” said Viktor, a similarly determined look on his face.

“Ah, here you go, Viktor!” came in Ximena’s bright voice; Jayce didn’t even realize his mom had been gone for a while (and he wondered if she heard what they were talking about). “Please, make yourself comfortable, okay?”

“A-ah, thank you, Mrs. Talis,” muttered Viktor nervously as he took the pillows and blankets from Ximena.

“Well, I’ll be heading to bed now, you two.” She waved one last goodbye to the two boys. “Good night!”

“Good night!” Jayce and Viktor called back. “Well, we should head to sleep soon, too,” Jayce said as he got up from the couch.

“Jayce, wait—!” Viktor reached forward and grabbed Jayce by the sleeve of his sweater. “Um, I just wanted to say thank you, for everything. I, uh…” He paused, fidgeting with the fabric of Jayce’s sweater between his fingers. “I’m sure your dad is proud of you.”

Warmth blossomed in Jayce’s chest as he smiled back at Viktor. “Thanks, V. My dad would’ve loved to meet you.”

✧✧✧

Viktor couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he dragged Jayce towards the Last Drop. The other boy was trembling like a cold chihuahua, eyes darting around nervously as they approached the bar.

“Are you sure we’re allowed to be here? Don’t we need a parental guardian or something?” Jayce asked, his voice uneasy.

“We’re in the Undercity, Jayce. Frankly, people don’t care that kids are hanging around a bar,” Viktor said plainly.

“R-right, it’s just—”

“Jayce,” Viktor stopped, his voice firm. “Your Piltie side is showing. The Undercity is not as dangerous as you topsiders think it is. You’ll be fine.”

Jayce sighed, straightening his back to appear more confident instead of skulking around the Lanes like he was earlier. “You’re right, I’m sorry about that,” he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

The two boys got in line as other guests were trying to enter the Last Drop. All of them were mostly older, and Viktor surmised they would probably be the youngest guests in attendance— not that it mattered. In fact, a few of the older attendees were cheering on the two teens, happy to see the younger generation getting involved in the band they were going to see.

Though he wasn’t as nervous about it as Jayce was, Viktor also had an event he was looking forward to. His favorite heavy metal band was set to perform a New Year’s Eve show at the most popular bar in Zaun, the Last Drop. He’d already bought his ticket a few months prior, so it was a bit of a struggle to get another ticket for Jayce since they had just planned on going together after Snowdown (but that was no problem for Viktor, he had his connections). 

They finally made it to the front of the line, and the ticket taker merely glanced at their passes before letting them in, not even bothering to check pockets or even IDs. They entered the venue, a dimly lit space with ambient lighting being the only source of brightness. Further into the building was the bar, and off to the side was a stage that had been set up for the upcoming performance. The attendees were mostly standing around, some on the main floor and others on the balcony overlooking the whole bar, so Viktor and Jayce tried to find a spot for themselves somewhere in the space. 

Jayce glanced over at the bar, and Viktor contemplated joking about how no one would bat an eye if a kid grabbed a beer, but he decided not to as Jayce’s eyebrows lifted in mild surprise, his eyes falling on the bartender behind the counter. “Isn’t that VI’s dad?” he asked.

Viktor followed Jayce’s gaze to see the familiar sight of a large, bearded man who manned the bar. “That’s Vander, yes,” he replied, “though I’m not too sure if that would be Violet’s father or not.”

Jayce gasped. “It totally is! Vi did mention that her dad owned a bar, I didn’t think it was this one.”

“Did you want to go introduce yourself?”

“Um, maybe not,” Jayce winced. “I’ve met him before, and I don’t know how he’d react if he saw me hanging out at a bar.”

Viktor playfully rolled his eyes. “Like I said, Talis, no one cares that a 16 year old is at a bar. We’re in the Undercity, have some fun.”

Jayce smiled in disbelief at the other boy. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so relaxed before.”

Viktor raised an eyebrow at Jayce. “What do you mean? Am I not the picture-perfect example of Zaunite confidence?” he said sarcastically.

“It’s not that,” said Jayce defensively. “I guess I’m so used to seeing you focused on school work and class. It’s nice to see you loosen up— it’s a good look on you.”

Viktor smirked, nudging Jayce at his side. “And you should loosen up, too. We’re here to have a good time, right?”

Jayce laughed, and Viktor swore the sound would make better music than even that of the band he was so excited to see. “You’re always right, V.”

There was a ringing sound of feedback playing on the speakers, which drew everyone’s attention over to the stage. A few performers were up there, not the band members that Viktor recognized, but they seemed to be the opening act. They introduced themselves as HEARTSTEEL, and soon the hard beats of electronic drums started to play. Viktor and Jayce nodded along to the music, and though it wasn’t something Viktor would normally listen to, he did appreciate the talent that was on display. Though, Viktor did take note of a few fans in the audience who were swooning every time one of the band members reached out to the crowd.

But after the band played a couple of songs, it was finally time for the main event. Viktor could feel his heart racing in his chest as the iconic five members of the upcoming band took the stage. The lead singer took the mic, his face painted to make him look like a skeleton, and his raspy voice started to echo throughout the bar as he spoke.

“Are you guys ready to rock?!” he yelled with a growl in his voice, and the whole crowd cheered in response. “It is time… for PENTAKILL!”

Heavy rock started to blare from the speakers, and Viktor could feel the bass rattling in his bones. They weren’t even standing too close to the stage, but still the music was loud and ringing in his ears. He was nodding his head aggressively to the music, then he turned to Jayce to make sure he was enjoying it, too. And he was, the other boy similarly excited and letting loose to the music. The band played several sets, and for almost every one of them, the middle of the main floor split open to allow for attendees to jump in and mosh. Viktor kept himself a safe distance, though he had to admit he felt a bit jealous. Due to his disability, he feared he wouldn’t be able to safely participate in what was a staple for heavy metal concerts.

But when people started getting lifted up to crowd surf, Jayce turned to him with a glint in his eye. “Did you want to join in?” he shouted over the noise.

“What?” Viktor yelled back, not because he didn’t hear him, but because he thought the idea was ridiculous. “N-no, I couldn't—”

“It’ll be fun! Let loose, remember?” Jayce replied. “I can tell you wanna do it, you’re staring.”

Without even much time to protest, Viktor felt himself lose his footing as he was lifted up off the ground. Jayce managed to hoist Viktor up, careful with his bad leg, and the ever-excited crowd took notice and started to whisk Viktor away. 

“Wha— Jayce!” Viktor yelled back, but he was already being supported by the strength of others in the crowd.

“Hey, careful with his leg!” Jayce warned, and the crowd was nice enough to notice and be gentle with Viktor.

Even the band noticed him, and Viktor truly felt he could die from embarrassment at that moment. Karthus, the lead singer and Viktor’s idol, turned over to see him lifted up in the air. “Hey kid, this is your Mortal Reminder,” he growled, pointing a skeletal finger at him. Then the band started singing the song of the same name, the sound of drums beating in his chest as a guitar riff threatened to melt his face off. Sure, Viktor was embarrassed at first, but he was then overtaken by the guiles of heavy metal rock, and now he couldn’t care less.

Viktor was eventually settled back down to the ground, and Jayce rushed over to meet him. “Dude, that was so sick!” Jayce cheered.

But then Viktor remembered he was mad, so he playfully hit Jayce’s arm. “That was terrifying, and embarrassing,” Viktor scolded.

Jayce pouted. “But did you have fun at least?”

Viktor flushed pink, looking away from Jayce sheepishly. “Y-yes, it was a lot of fun,” he conceded.

The two teens returned to the main floor and jammed out to the remaining sets. Viktor already knew that he would have the time of his life at this concert, but being able to spend it with Jayce made the night even better. As PENTAKILL played their final song, VIktor was screaming himself hoarse to the lyrics, and he couldn’t help but feel Jayce’s loving gaze on him. 

“Thank you, and good night Zaun!” Karthus roared, and the crowd let out their final shouts and screams of exclamation, cheering loudly as the band exited the stage. 

Viktor and Jayce took a quick stop to the merch booth, where Viktor and Jayce both bought themselves matching concert shirts (for some reason, Viktor felt his heart race at the idea of wearing the same shirt as Jayce). Jayce soon took both of them back to Viktor’s apartment in his car, where Viktor invited him in for a bit before Jayce would have to drive back home.

“Agh, my ears are ringing, but that was awesome,” said Jayce. “Thanks for inviting me, V! That was a ton of fun.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Viktor replied, his voice raspy from singing along to each of the songs. 

Both Jayce and Viktor sat back down on Viktor’s daybed, and Viktor couldn’t help but think back to that time after the convention, when the two had tiredly shared the same bed (and Viktor’s face immediately burned up at the thought). But somehow the mood felt different, as Jayce turned to Viktor with a solemn look on his face.

“Y’know, I’ve been thinking a lot over the break…” he began slowly. Viktor looked back at him in concern but didn’t interrupt. “I feel like I’m the happiest I’ve been since, well, ever , actually. I don’t have to worry about what other people think of me… In fact, I feel the most free I’ve ever been— I guess that’s what happens when it doesn’t feel like Marcus is breathing down my throat.”

Viktor winced at the mention of Marcus’s name. It wasn’t that long ago that Jayce revealed that the older boy had some kind of mark on him, one that he wasn’t willing to share. “But once school starts again, you’re gonna have to go back into hiding,” Viktor replied mournfully.

“I don’t think I want to do that anymore,” Jayce replied, his voice stern and face determined. “I’m sick of letting Marcus get away with what he wants, tired of letting him walk all over me. This break helped me realize, I don’t need Marcus, or the hockey team, or really anyone from that group.” Jayce turned to Viktor, his hardened face melting away into something softer. “Not when I have you guys.”

Viktor smiled at Jayce. “I’m glad you’re finally growing a backbone, Talis,” he teased, and luckily Jayce didn’t take it too harshly as the other boy laughed in  response.

“It’s long overdue,” he joked back. Jayce bit his lip, absentmindedly playing with his hands as he spoke. “I was always kind of insecure about the stuff I liked… Outside of my family and Caitlyn, other kids would make fun of me for liking ‘weird’ stuff, like fantasy books, manga, anime… I only knew that kind of teasing would get worse once I was in high school. And then that whole thing happened last year, and all of a sudden I was the star of campus. Everywhere I went, it felt like people were watching me. Sure, there were lots of people who admired me, but there were also people who were judging me, silently…

“I know I sound paranoid,” Jayce chuckled darkly. “Besides, I’m probably way better off compared to what you might have gone through.” Jayce turned to Viktor with a look of sadness and sympathy.

Viktor would be wrong to deny him; superficial judgements on one’s interests were incomparable to the kinds of struggles Viktor went through as a disabled person, but they were struggles nonetheless. “We all have our own battles to fight, ” Viktor responded with sincerity. “Though our battles are different, it doesn’t make it any less noble to fight them.”

Jayce laughed, his tone brighter now and sounding like music in Viktor’s ears. “You’re always right, V…” Jayce slowly fell backwards, his back now resting on the plush daybed. “When I met you, I thought you were so cool. I still do, actually.”

Viktor flushed at the sudden compliment, not really sure what to make of it. “Um, wh-what do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re this genius from the Undercity—” Jayce said with a toothy grin. “Despite how other people treated you, despite how life may have treated you, you didn’t give a single shit . You did what needed to be done, you proved everyone wrong— you’re just so badass .” Viktor was glad that Jayce was just staring up at the ceiling of Viktor’s apartment, because it meant he couldn’t possibly see the beet-red face that he had. “Despite what others may think, you’re still… you . It’s something that I’ve always admired about you, Viktor. And maybe I’m a little jealous of it, too.”

“Jealous? Of me?” Viktor laughed in disbelief. The notion just didn’t make sense to him; if anything, he should be jealous of Jayce, not the other way around.

“Well, y-yeah,” Jayce stuttered. “People don’t have to tell you who to be. You’re just yourself, unashamedly you. That’s something I couldn’t be…” Jayce's voice lowered, speaking now like in a whisper. “I thought I built this whole ‘Golden Boy’ image for myself, until I realized that was something other people put on me. And I tried so hard to fit into that mold for them that I… forgot who I really was.” Then, Jayce reached over to grab Viktor’s hand, a gesture that the other boy was not expecting and made his face feel warm once again. “This whole time, I thought I was trying to impress the school, but instead, I was trying to impress you…”

Viktor looked down at Jayce, a fond smile inching across his lips. Before he could reply, a soft buzz vibrated in his pocket. He took out his phone to find a message from Sky, wishing him a happy new year. He glanced at the time, seeing that it was now a minute past 12 AM, meaning they had just entered the first day of January.

“Happy New Year, Jayce,” Viktor said softly.

Jayce got up, his eyes locking with Viktor’s. “Happy New Year, V.”

The two were sitting so close, and Viktor’s hand was still held tightly in Jayce’s grip. Jayce’s eyes flashed down to Viktor’s lips, and he knew what he wanted. Because Viktor wanted it, too. Kissing on New Year’s Eve was a tradition Viktor found silly; just because two people shared a kiss as they entered the new year didn’t mean that they would be together forever. And yet, at this moment, Viktor wanted to believe that. He’d been denying himself from it for so long, but it felt like his heart was starting to unravel. Maybe he did like Jayce, or he’d always had, for all this time, and he just didn’t want to admit it. Slowly, Viktor leaned forward, his heart racing in his chest. And slowly, Viktor’s lips met with Jayce’s, and instead of tearing away from embarrassment, the two held together like this for a few seconds longer.

They shyly broke off, both looking away from each other as their faces turned bright red. But Viktor’s hand was still in Jayce’s, and the other boy was gently thumbing his skin there. “I should get going soon, don’t want my mom to worry,” Jayce said sheepishly.

“Y-yeah, of course.” Viktor helped gather the rest of Jayce’s things and ushered him out the door.

But Jayce stopped in the doorway, turning for a moment to Viktor. “I love you, Viktor,” he said with an affectionate expression on his face. When Viktor hesitated to say anything back, he just smiled politely. “It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything right now. I just wanted to let you know.” Jayce didn’t seem disappointed at Viktor’s lack of response, instead he was understanding, which still made Viktor’s chest ache. He bowed his head in farewell before closing the door behind him.

Viktor traced his fingers along his lips, trying to feel the warmth that was once there. A sadness started to pool in his gut. He walked over to his desk, turned on his laptop, and plugged in his USB stick. There, pulling up in the folder that just appeared on his screen, were the photos Viktor had gathered throughout the weeks he and Jayce were together. He got more than he could ask for, all thanks to the many activities and events Jayce brought him along with. 

There was the photo from the convention, where Viktor had carefully cropped himself out of the photo to only have Jayce in his cosplay; there was that group photo they took at their D&D session, where again Viktor edited to only focus on Jayce; and then a photo from inside Jayce’s bedroom, where all of his posters and figurines were clear as day in the picture. Besides those, Viktor had taken many other sneaky photos, capturing rather unflattering shots of Jayce in any context that could be seen as cringe: at the convention, while they were playing D&D, and even while he sang karaoke during the Snowdown dinner. Past Viktor would’ve looked at these photos with a joyful evil, but now Viktor couldn’t help but feel an immense amount of guilt at all the ‘evidence’ he had collected.

All ‘evidence’ that was now useless, because Jayce really did find himself without any need for some embarrassing photos. And Jayce just said that he loved him.

How could he be so cruel? How could Viktor continue to hold on to these photos with good intent? He sighed, clicking into the folder to create a new text document. Viktor felt he needed to spell out exactly how he was feeling, because maybe it would make more sense on paper than it did in his own head.

Jayce,

From the moment I laid eyes on you, I thought I would hate you. You were that flavor of topsider enthusiasm that always rubbed me the wrong way. Egotistical, shallow, and ignorant to the struggles of those from the Undercity. I wanted to think you were different, especially in our freshman year. You were kind, understanding, and smart. I viewed us as equals, co-founders of the Robotics Club, partners in crime. There was nothing we couldn’t do as long as we did it together. You never made me feel less than. It was what drew me to you. 

But when you betrayed us our sophomore year, I started to resent you. It was like the whole year prior was a lie, that you were just like every other Piltie who wanted fame and attention. You became unrecognizable. You became everything I hated. But you still had that kind smile, and it drove me insane. Attention couldn’t take away your genius, so now you were just popular and smart. People treated you differently, they idolized you, made you the icon of campus. I saw us as equals, but then the rift grew wider, and I knew that that wasn’t the case anymore. You and I are from different worlds.

And I wanted to drag you back down to mine. When I saw you that night at Book & Cranny, I saw a version of yourself that you were hiding from others. And I wanted to exploit that. I wanted to show everyone your pathetic, cringey interests, just so people could ridicule you the same way they had ridiculed me for who I am and where I’m from. I wanted to get close to you again, just so I can drag you back down with me. I wanted you to feel like dirt. I wanted everyone to see that you are a loser. And I thought that maybe, just maybe, you’d realize that popularity is superficial and unnecessary, and that you’d come back to us, back to me, where you belonged.

Viktor felt his chest ache as he looked over the words in his letter. The pent up rage he felt the first few months after Jayce’s betrayal started to bubble up again, but it quickly went away. It was eaten up by guilt, then by acceptance. He could be mad at Jayce for what he did, but he could still forgive him and move on. People make mistakes, and Jayce isn’t as perfect as Viktor viewed him to be. He was flawed, and that was everything that made Viktor like him. For all his quirky habits, his nerdy interests, all of it— Viktor was in love with Jayce for all that he is.

Love.

How could he do something so cruel to someone he loved?

I felt like I didn’t deserve you. For all your kindness and understanding, I didn’t know why you wanted to be with me. I’m poor, crippled, an orphan. And yet you’ve showered me with so much affection— I couldn’t understand it. I was untrusting, insecure, and vengeful. But you don’t deserve that, Jayce. And I’m still not quite sure if you deserve me.

Viktor closed the document, tears silently rolling down his face. He quickly unplugged the USB, shut off his laptop, and slumped into his bed. Revenge was not worth the bond he had rekindled with Jayce. Viktor just wanted to move on and pretend like this never happened. He was going to get rid of this thing, get rid of his whole plan.

He couldn’t risk losing Jayce again.

Chapter Text

Coming back to school after winter break was always a slog. Everyone’s energy at school was miserable; they were all just some zombified teens walking around the halls to every class. As was typical, the teachers either shared their annoyed sentiment or tried to be optimistic about school work (but really, who was excited to come back to form and routine after two weeks of freedom?). 

It was hard to believe it was already January. September felt like weeks ago, but in the whirlwind that was his junior year, Jayce felt a strange lull in his life. Since his ‘deal’ was introduced back in October, he’d been precariously balancing the two aspects of his social life: the one he had as one of the most popular kids at school, and the other he had with his real friends. He’d argue that he’s done a good job; Marcus and his lackeys have yet to suspect him of anything, and his friends (while still rightfully annoyed at being ignored while on campus) were content with hanging out with Jayce outside of school hours. Hell, Jayce had even managed to help Sky and Viktor out with the Robotics Club as much as he could, offering some tips and ideas to the two co-captains.

But Jayce couldn’t keep teetering like this forever. He had a new mission now: he was gonna stand up to Marcus. 

He still wasn’t sure what he would do exactly; with the pace their hockey team was going at, there was no doubt they would qualify for the regional finals in February, so ousting Marcus off the team might be a bad idea (as much as it pained Jayce to admit). And while there were still those homecoming photos that Marcus was holding over Jayce’s head, for some reason he didn’t care anymore. Jayce had grown closer to Mel and Viktor over the past few weeks, closer than he’d ever thought would be possible. Though he loved them both dearly, he knew that they wouldn’t let anything as trivial as a few photos totally undermine their lives. Jayce realized that his fears were all in his head, fueled by insecurity and his desire to protect those he loved from what he perceived to be a threat. But Marcus was not a threat.

They were a few days back from break, and when Jayce left his apartment that Thursday morning, he looked up at the notably gloomy sky. It made sense since it was winter after all, and he should have a spare umbrella in his car. But as he descended the staircase towards his trusty vehicle, he noticed that a beat-up SUV was idling in the middle of the road. Jayce tried to pay it no mind, thinking that maybe one of his neighbors just left their car real quick, but then a familiar mop of pink hair got out of the driver’s seat and walked towards Jayce.

“Vi?!” Jayce called out incredulously. “Wha— What are you doing here?”

“I’m kidnapping you, genius,” Vi said matter-of-factly, “so get in.”

Jayce was dumbfounded but didn’t protest, entering the passenger side of the SUV with a confused expression. “Do you even have a driver’s license?” he asked.

“Pfft, of course not. Vander doesn’t even know I took the car,” she replied nonchalantly. 

Jayce gulped nervously, but he was already buckled in and the car started moving. “Uh, thanks for the ride to school, I guess?”

Vi barked a loud laugh. “That’s cute, you think we’re actually going to school today! Well, sucks to suck, pretty boy, but we’re ditching.”

“What?!” Jayce yelled. “Vi—”

“Ah ah! Nope, not listening, Talis,” Vi interrupted. She then floored the gas as soon as they got to a major street, causing the whole car to jerk forward. 

Jayce scrambled for a grab handle, holding onto it for dear life. “Violet—! We’re gonna get caught if you keep driving like that!”

“Not once we get in Zaun!”

“We are still in Piltover!”

Jayce had no idea where they were going, but it didn’t matter— he was too preoccupied with getting to their destination alive. Vi was bobbing and weaving through the streets with little to no regard for other cars or even pedestrians; Jayce was certain she broke several laws (he was surprised they avoided any cops, maybe they had the day off). Crossing the bridge to Zaun made things worse, with Vi barreling down the road with even less caution. Jayce swore this girl would be the reason for his first grey hairs at the ripe age of 16. When they finally arrived at whatever place Vi dragged them to, Jayce let go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He exited the car, vision going wobbly as he felt himself almost expel his breakfast all over the ground, but he managed to tough it out.

“Oh, don’t be dramatic, Jay,” Vi said harshly as she slammed the car door shut.

Once Jayce was finally able to gather his bearings, he looked up at the building Vi had brought them to. It looked abandoned, with shutters covering the windows and an iron gate blocking the front door. Above the entrance was a large, broken neon sign that read ‘Arcade.’ In fact, Jayce noticed that not a lot of people were hanging around the area they were in, which was also filled with similarly closed establishments and buildings. Before he could question anything, Vi started walking towards the entrance and pushed aside the iron fencing with ease, as if she’d done this a million times before. Again, there was no point in arguing with the girl once she’s made up her mind, so Jayce reluctantly followed her into the abandoned building.

The air in the arcade was musty, as if Jayce was inhaling years worth of dust with every breath. He was careful not to step on any broken glass, or trip on scattered machinery, following Vi deeper and deeper down the room. Jayce took a moment to observe his surroundings: old, broken arcade machines, torn tickets, and rusted tokens were littered all over the floor, with graffiti spray painted all over the walls. If he had to guess, this place has probably been run down for several years, broken into by vandals or bored teens— he and Vi were probably the latter, in this case.

“Powder and I used to go here all the time, same with Mylo and Claggor,” Vi began as they entered what Jayce assumed to be the main floor of the arcade. “Before it shut down, obviously. Owner couldn’t afford to pay rent anymore, so this place closed its neon gates forever. But that didn’t stop us from coming here. I always told Powder, if she was ever in trouble or needed to hide, she could run here, and I’d find her. No bad guy’s gonna get her while she was here.” 

Vi paused in the middle of the room. To their right, Jayce saw what looked like a shooting range, complete with flimsy cardboard cutouts one could shoot down with a fake firearm. On their left hand side was a large stained glass window, except it was broken and missing pieces, and then boarded up poorly. Finally, pushed up to the back of the room, was some kind of large machine. Even in the dim light, Jayce could make out the piston hydraulics on each side, as well as the thick, worn pads in its center and on what Jayce could only describe as its ‘arms.’ If he had to guess, it looked like some kind of boxing machine.

As curiosity began to take over him, thinking about the mechanics of such a device, he was suddenly thrust back to reality with a loud smack as he tumbled to the ground. He rubbed at his cheek, feeling the warmth and soreness there, before looking up at Vi with a flash of anger. “What the hell was that, Violet?!” 

“That’s what you get for being a piece of shit,” she spat, clenching tightly at her fist. She didn’t threaten to move any closer, so Jayce took that as his cue to get up from the dusty floor. “Do you seriously think I was gonna let you keep being a dick to me and my sister? She got into trouble because of you!”

“I-I didn’t mean to—! Those other kids bumped into her and wanted us to fight, but I obviously didn’t want that— I would never do that!” yelled Jayce defensively.

“Well, she wouldn’t have been botherin’ you in the first place if you weren’t acting like such a weirdo, Talis,” she retorted. “I don’t know what kind of games you’re playing, so you better fess up, or else—” Vi lifted up her fists, getting into a familiar stance Jayce had seen when attending a few of her boxing sessions.

“Vi, I really don’t want to do this,” Jayce said, not wanting to entertain Vi’s aggression.

“Why, scared ya can’t handle it?” Vi taunted. “C’mon, pretty boy.” She beckoned Jayce forward, and all he could do was raise up his fists as well, though his form was not as top-notch as hers. 

Jayce was nervous— was he seriously going to fight Vi right now? He was athletic, sure, but Vi’s dad used to be a professional boxer, and Jayce was certain they’d been training together since Vi could walk. He was limp noodle compared to the younger girl, who glared at him with such ferocity, Jayce wished he was a turtle just so he could have a shell to retreat into. Then, Vi surged forward so fast that Jayce couldn’t help but flinch, clenching his eyes shut and bracing himself for impact. But it never came.

“Pfft, you should see the look on your face,” Vi chuckled. That was enough of a signal for Jayce to pry his eyes back open, only to see Vi had backed off and trailed her way over to the boxing machine. “Like I told Powder, no bad guy’s gonna get us here. So, whatever you’re going through…” Vi looked over at Jayce with a sincerity he’d never seen before. “You can tell me, Jayce.”

Jayce couldn’t help it, but his jaw dropped in surprise. Vi could get emotional, but those emotions normally teetered between aggressively disinterested and burning passion. Maybe it wasn’t emotionality that Jayce was seeing, but sentimentality instead. Caitlyn always mentioned that Vi did in fact have a soft spot, though it was something Jayce never expected to experience. For the most part, their friendship consisted of Jayce being Vi’s emotional and physical punching bag. Seeing Vi this way was… different. Good, but different.

Jayce sighed deeply. “Y’know that guy, Marcus?” he asked tentatively.

“Yeah, Daddy Hockey? Thinks he’s a cop or something?” Vi answered as she crossed her arms. “Aren’t you buddy-buddy with that guy?”

“Ugh, maybe at first, I guess?” he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But then he became such a controlling jerk— I just can’t stand him.”

Vi scoffed. “You’re only realizing this now?”

Jayce couldn’t give a witty retort back. “Well, while we were at homecoming, apparently he — or his goons, or whatever — took photos of Mel and Viktor dancing, and of Viktor falling into the punch bowl. He’s planning to use those photos to frame some sort of cheating scandal, debasing both Mel and Viktor for my sake. All because I…” Jayce paused. He was about to say this whole ordeal was because Jayce was ‘distracted’ and ‘not focused enough on their hockey season,’ but it felt like a lie.

“Because what, Jay?” questioned Vi. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” Jayce replied in disbelief. “I didn’t do anything. Marcus just hates my guts.”

Vi grimaced. “There has to be more than that. People don’t just plan psycho takedowns for no reason.” Jayce watched as Vi stepped onto the platform where the boxing machine was stationed. “This thing’s pretty useful for breaking a sweat and for taking out your feelings,” she said as she patted the device. “It’s a little busted, though— I always have to have Powder fix it. C’mon, Jay, use that noggin of yours and get this thing up and running again.”

“Why?” Jayce asked, but he still walked forward to join Vi by the machine.

“Because, genius, you’re gonna use this as a bit of physical therapy,” she grinned.

“Vi, that’s not what physical therapy is,” Jayce deadpanned.

“Ugh, I know, Jay! I’m not an idiot— just get to fixin’!”

Vi crossed her arms and leaned against the ropes that surrounded the arena, watching intently as Jayce circled the boxing machine. She wasn’t totally wrong— this machine was a bit more than just ‘a little’ busted. Jayce traced his eyes around the machinery, following the metal beams and pipes that made up the bare skeleton of the device. It was all rusted and worn, but Jayce did manage to find the main issue: the exposed circuit panel in the back had a few fuses popped out of place. Once he carefully aligned each fuse back in position, the machine instantly whirred to life, causing Jayce to recoil backwards.

“Hell yeah,” Vi chuckled, slowly applauding as the lights surrounding the arena lit up as well.

“Are you sure about this?” Jayce asked hesitantly as he watched the boxing machine warm up, its jerky movements oddly reminiscent of old school animatronics. “I’m not a trained boxer like you, Vi.”

“You don’t need to be— Powder uses it just fine.” Vi gestured over to the wall where a split flap scoreboard was hanging. The scores clearly showed Vi in almost all the spaces, with Powder’s scores listed at the bottom. “Besides, it doesn’t even hit that hard. Not as hard as me, anyway— that’s why I punched you earlier, just to give you a taste.”

“Thanks for that, by the way…” Jayce spat back, slightly annoyed. 

He positioned himself right in front of the machine, slightly intimidated by how it clearly overshadowed his frame. Was this seriously going to make him feel better? Punching stuff was Vi’s thing, not Jayce’s— he’d much rather mope around his room and vent to himself in his journal. But if Vi insisted, he’d better follow through. Once Jayce readied himself, he noticed Vi press a button on a panel off to the side. The chime of a ringing bell sounded off, signaling the start of the match.

“Any tips?” Jayce called out to Vi.

“Just don’t get hit!” the girl responded with a grin.

“Easier said than done— unf!” Barely after finishing his sentence, the machine’s right arm surged forward and hit Jayce squarely in his side, knocking the wind out of him. Strangely enough, it didn’t hurt as much as he expected, but he’d rather not get hit again.

“Pay attention, Jay!” Vi shouted at him.

“I can’t if you keep yelling at me—!” Jayce should really stop trying to talk to Vi while he’s in the middle of a fight with a robot, because this time the machine swung with its left arm. He was quick enough to block it with his arms, though it still jostled him quite a bit.

“Remember, you have to hit the robot back— side step, side step, punch, got it?” Vi coached.

“Side step, side step, punch…” Jayce muttered to himself. 

He readied himself once more, rolling his shoulders to make sure he didn’t actually get hurt (aside from his ego, of course). The machine swung for the same combo, a right swing into a left swing. Following Vi’s advice, Jayce quickly stepped to the side to avoid the first jab, then again to the other side to avoid the next. It left a clear opening, and Jayce swung forward with as much force as he could with his right arm, hitting the machine right in its center.

A loud ding went off, registering Jayce’s hit, and Vi whooped loudly. “Hell yeah, pretty boy!”

Jayce grinned, but there was no time to get cocky. The bot swung forward again, a little higher this time, and Jayce scrambled to duck underneath its arm lest it hit him right in the face. The big swing left yet another opening, so he retaliated with another hit, and the bell went off again. Jayce surely had to thank all of the anime he’s watched and all the video games he’s played for any semblance of combat tactics he possessed— at least they were good for something other than rotting his mind. 

He followed Vi’s advice again, ‘side step, side step, punch’ echoing in his mind over and over, allowing him to dodge a few more hits while dealing a few himself. He had to admit, it felt good. The adrenaline of barely getting missed by the machine’s punches, then the exhilaration he felt every time his fist landed a good hit— Jayce swore that the dinging bell was going to be a Pavlovian trigger for him. He felt a little sick and twisted for this, but Jayce couldn’t help but imagine Marcus was on the receiving end of his punches. Again, Jayce was not a violent guy, but maybe he was tired of being nice for once. Vi’s plan was to get him to vent out his frustrations on a boxing machine, and it was working.

But there’s a reason Vi’s a boxer and not him. The rhythm he fell into became comfortable, so he started adding his own extra flare, like twists and turns and double hits where he could. And Jayce can’t be cocky for more than two minutes without his ego getting served back to him on a silver platter, because in the final seconds of his match with the boxing machine, he tripped on his own foot and lost his balance, allowing the robot to hit Jayce right in the face.

“Oooh!” Vi winced as Jayce collapsed onto the rubber mat. She walked over, hands on her hips as looked down at the other boy. “How’s the weather down there, twinkle toes?”

“Please shut up,” Jayce groaned, waiting for the world to stop feeling like it was spinning.

Vi reached down and helped Jayce back up to his feet. “So, how was that?”

“Honestly, it did feel good,” Jayce chuckled under his breath.

“And as usual, I am right once again,” said Vi in a cocky tone.

Their banter was cut short, however, once they heard some strange metal scraping come from the entrance of the arcade. A voice called out, one of an older man that neither of them recognized. “Hey, is anyone in here?” said the man, and from this distance, Jayce and Vi could discern the familiar blue of an enforcer uniform. The enforcer had a flashlight in his hand, shining it between the broken arcade cabinets before swinging it towards where the two teens were standing.

“Scram!” Vi whisper-shouted, shoving Jayce over to the side as they both ducked behind the boxing machine.

“Shit, how the hell do we get out of here, Vi?!” Jayce hissed. He did not want to get caught by a cop while he was cutting class and trespassing in an abandoned building— his mountain of misfortunes already towered over him, and he didn’t need to add this to the top of the pile.

“Follow me, but be quiet— okay, twinkle toes?” Vi was still gripping Jayce by his wrist as they snaked around the boxing ring, careful not to trip or step on anything that could alert the enforcer. Luckily, the back door was close by, and while the enforcer wasn’t paying attention, the two scurried out the building. 

They found themselves out in the alley, but before they could sigh in relief, they heard even more voices coming from the front of the arcade. The two kids peeked around the corner, and Jayce’s stomach dropped at the sight: two more enforcers were by Vi’s SUV, inspecting the vehicle and one was even writing up a ticket for it.

“I coulda sworn I heard something in there, but nothin’,” said the enforcer from earlier, the one with the flashlight, as he walked out of the arcade. 

“Eh, if someone is here, then they couldn’t have gone far,” came the shrill voice of the enforcer writing the ticket for Vi’s car. 

“Fuck, dad’s gonna kill me if his car gets impounded,” Vi swore under her breath.

“‘Impounded?’ Violet, we’re both dead if we get arrested,” scolded Jayce.

“We won’t— trust me, I have a plan,” Vi smirked. “Jayce, go turn on your pretty boy charm and distract them.”

“What—?!”

Before Jayce could protest, Vi roughly pushed Jayce out of the alley, exposing him to the enforcers. The three cops turned their heads towards the commotion, their eyes landing on the teenage boy that just appeared. Jayce had no idea what to do, so he just waved awkwardly at the adults, who stared at him with a bewildered expression.

“Uh, h-hey…” Jayce chuckled nervously. “Um, lovely weather we’re having…?”

“Hmm, well, not really since it seems it might rain soon,” muttered the other enforcer, a goat vastayan who kind of resembled Oskar (not that all goat vastayans looked the same, obviously).

“Hey kid, does your dad own this car?” asked Lady Enforcer, walking up to Jayce with an accusing wave of her pen.

“Uh, y-yeah, he’s just, um, walking around right now,” Jayce lied. Talking up to teens his age was one thing, talking up to teachers was another, but talking up to cops was an entirely new thing. It’s bad that Jayce already felt nervous talking to enforcers when he hasn’t done anything wrong, but now it’s even worse because he and Vi stole a car and broke into the abandoned arcade. So yeah, Jayce was feeling reasonably guilty.

“Your jacket— that’s for River Pilt High School, isn’t it?” asked Guy Enforcer. Finally the day has come that Jayce was to pay penance for wearing that damn varsity jacket all the time. “Shouldn’t you be at school?” The older man flashed Jayce in his eyes with his flashlight, making him wince from the brightness.

“Uh, I have the day off to help my dad with… grocery shopping,” Jayce lied again, and in his mind he wondered what the hell Vi was doing. He slowly turned to look behind him, hopefully not being too obvious, and spotted Vi slinking towards the driver’s side of the car.

“Yeah, kids need a break from school every now and again, innit?” said the Goat Enforcer in a dreamy tone. “Wait a minute— ‘Talis?’” he questioned as he read aloud the name prominently displayed on the back of Jayce’s jacket. “Ah, my brother works at the Talis Repair Shop across the bridge, are you related?”

The resemblance makes sense now, Jayce thought to himself as he spun back around to the three enforcers. He hesitated before he spoke— he definitely shouldn’t tell these enforcers who he was, it would be too easy to trace their crimes back to him and Vi if he did. He had to think of something, and quick. “No, actually…”

“Oh, you’re not?” Goat Enforcer said with sincere confusion. “Strange, not sure if I’ve ever seen that last name anywhere else.”

“It’s because, uh…” Jayce turned again to Vi, who was now right by the car door and trying to get in. She beckoned Jayce to continue, so he snapped back to the conversation. “It’s because I’m from the Freljord, actually!” he said loudly. “Yeah, my father and I moved to Pilto— I mean Zaun from the Freljord for, uh, my education…?”

Guy Enforcer nodded his head in approval. “Aye, a lot warmer down here than up in the permafrost— if ya don’t mind the smog, that is.”

Though both Guy and Goat enforcers seemed convinced by Jayce’s ruse, Lady Enforcer was not the same case. She glared at Jayce, eyes narrowed. “You don’t sound like a Freljordian, nor do you dress like a Zaunite,” she spat.

“Aw, come on now, captain!” butted in Guy Enforcer. “That’s unfair to the boy— he obviously lost his northern accent when he moved here.”

“Yeah, and kids these days are dressin’ in all sorts of ways,” Goat Enforcer added on, “can’t judge a book by its cover no more— it’s rude.”

As the three continued to argue, Jayce turned back again to see Vi firmly in the driver’s seat, frantically gesturing for Jayce to get in the car. Slowly, he inched his way to the passenger side door, managing to open it and slide into his seat unnoticed while the enforcers continued to bicker.

“Listen here, you buffoons!” scolded Lady Enforcer. “It’s clear we’ve been duped! This is why we’ve been stationed around this side of the Lanes— you’re incompetent!”

Both enforcers pouted up at Lady. “That’s a little harsh, captain…” whimpered Goat Enforcer.

“Yeah, this is a team effort— you’re stationed here with us, too,” said Guy Enforcer in a gruff voice.

Lady Enforcer groaned. “Ugh, nevermind that! Kid, where the hell is your dad—?”

As soon as the three enforcers turned around, Vi had already started the car and revved the engine. The car surged forward before the cops could even react, and in the rear view mirror, Jayce could see the three of them attempt to chase down the vehicle on foot, but it was futile. Finally, Jayce was able to sigh in relief as he and Vi escaped such a close encounter.

“Holy shit, we fucking ran away from the cops!” cheered Vi, taking her hands off the wheel for a brief moment to applaud herself.

“Hands on the—!” Jayce leapt to the side to grab the steering wheel to barely avoid a pedestrian crossing the road. Once the wheel was firmly within Vi’s grasp again, he let go. “Violet, we still could be in trouble— they took your car’s license plate and they know my last name!”

“Pssh, don’t worry your pretty little head, Jay,” Vi said nonchalantly. “Enforcers in these parts aren’t worth shit. I bet they’ll lose my plate numbers and forget your name by the end of the day. Besides,” Vi elbowed Jayce’s side playfully, “It was fun, wasn’t it? This makes you an unofficial Zaunite.”

Jayce paused, taking in Vi’s words and everything that had just happened. Then, a small laugh escaped his lips. And soon, the quiet chuckle turned into hysterics— Jayce was sure he’d lost his mind. He just couldn’t believe what happened. First he ditched class, then they were trespassing at a closed-down arcade, and then they just ran away from the cops— Jayce felt alive. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, fueling his bursts of laughter as Vi joined in with him, too. Together, they excitedly recounted the events of the morning as they drove back across the bridge.

By the time they returned to River Pilt High, lunch period was just about to end. Vi hastily parked the car (very poorly, and she most definitely dented someone else’s car), and they both gathered their things as they made back for campus.

“Thanks again, Vi,” Jayce said after having calmed down from the hectic morning. “I feel a lot better now.”

Vi grinned back at him. “So, are you gonna stand up to Marcus now?”

“Oh, most definitely.” A new energy filled Jayce; he felt confident, determined. He was going to confront Marcus once and for all and rid himself of his blackmail nonsense. 

Together, Jayce and Vi stalked the halls searching for the senior boy. He wanted to get it over with as soon as possible (while he still had the adrenaline in his system), and Vi wanted to watch it all unfold. The bell just rang and students crowded the halls as they poured into their fifth period classes, and though Jayce didn’t know enough about Marcus’s schedule to know where his next class would be, he stormed off to the quad where most senior-level classes took place. Once there, he rounded the corner to a relatively empty courtyard, and off to the side by the lockers was none other than Marcus, flanked by Maddie and Salo and…

And Viktor was getting pinned to the wall by Marcus.

Jayce didn’t think. He just ran forward and, with a balled fist, landed a clean strike to Marcus’s face.

“J-Jayce—!” choked out Viktor as he slid down the wall of lockers. Once the initial blur of anger faded, Jayce took note of his surroundings; Viktor’s cane had been tossed out of reach, and his bag was ripped open, all of its contents spilling across the floor.

“Get the fuck away from him,” Jayce spat, rage burning hot in his veins. 

Marcus was crumpled on the floor, and from where Jayce was standing, he couldn’t help but think he looked pathetic. He finally turned to face him, blood dripping from his nose where Jayce had hit him. “Finally here to protect your boyfriend, Talis?” he taunted, smirking up at Jayce like he hadn’t just taken a punch to the face.

“Don’t you ever lay your hands on him again,” Jayce warned. Maddie and Salo helped Marcus back up to his feet, and to his side, Vi finally joined with the same kind of anger on her face.

“I’m grabbing a teacher—” said Maddie as she scampered off to who knows where.

Marcus eyed Vi as she approached. “Hanging out with Zaunites is a bad look for you.”

“And a bad influence, clearly…” muttered Salo, and if Jayce had any less composure, he would’ve punched him, too.

“I don’t give a shit what you guys think of me anymore,” growled Jayce. “I’m sick and tired of you telling me who I can or can’t hang out with— who I can or cannot be. It’s over, Marcus.”

“Know your place, Talis. Or are you forgetting about our deal—?”

“Fuck your deal,” he yelled. “Post those pictures all you want— I don’t care what happens. Go ahead and ruin my life, you’ve already done plenty of that!” Jayce’s heartbeat was ringing in his ears, his knuckles bone white with how hard he’d clenched his hands into fists. “I already know that I don’t need you guys— not you, not the hockey team, not all this popularity bullshit.

“I get it now,” said Jayce with a cruel chuckle, anger burning in his eyes as Marcus continued to stare at him. “This whole time, I thought you hated me over nothing. But I know the truth: you’re just jealous.”

Marcus flinched at the word, signalling to Jayce that he was right.

“You got hurt right before the final last year, so I had to take your place, and we won the game. All of a sudden, you weren’t the talk of the school anymore, and no one paid attention to you. And worst of all,” Jayce’s eyebrows started to raise, a small grin curling on his lips as all the pieces started to fall into place. “Worst of all, despite all your efforts, Mel still chose me over you .”

“Shut the hell up!” Marcus shoved Jayce roughly against the lockers, the whole wall rattling as soon as Jayce landed into them. “You took everything from me—” he seethed, “the point, the girl, the fame— all of it, it was supposed to be mine!”

“Back the fuck off!” jumped in Vi, placing herself between the two boys and pushing Marcus away from Jayce.

“What is going on here?!” called a voice from the end of the hall. Everyone’s heads turned to see who had just addressed them, eyes falling on none other than Coach Grayson with Maddie trailing behind her. She marched towards them, gaze firm. “Talis, Lim, explain yourselves.”

Marcus grinned. “Coach, Talis punched me first— then this sumprat over here just shoved me and—”

“I dare you to call me that again, motherfucker—!” Vi spat. “Plus, we all know that’s bullshit! You’re the one who jumped on Viktor—!”

At the mention of Viktor’s name, Jayce hurriedly looked over to where Viktor was, still collapsed on the floor. His body was trembling, his breaths uneven as he stared wide eyed at all of them. Jayce’s body became wracked with worry, all of the anger and rage he felt suddenly dissipating as he rushed over to the boy.

“Viktor— are you okay?” he asked, voice shaking.

Viktor just looked up at him, eyes widened with shock. “I d-don’t know what— I’m fine, but—” he muttered, but everything from his tone to his body language indicated that he was terrified. Jayce wanted nothing more than to whisk him away from here, to wrap him in his arms and tell him it was going to be okay.

“I’ll have to suspend all three of you for disorderly conduct,” Grayson’s voice rang clear in Jayce’s ears. “And I’ll have Miss Violet here serve detention after school for vulgar language.” Vi clicked her tongue in disapproval but didn’t protest. “Talis, Lim, I’ll have you both off the ice for the entirety of the next game—”

“What?!” Marcus said incredulously. “But it was Talis who started this, not me—!”

“I quit,” Jayce said under his breath, his voice suddenly coming out hoarse and ragged. Marcus and Grayson turned to him with confused expressions, not hearing what Jayce had just said. “It doesn’t matter if you take me off the ice, because I quit,” he repeated, louder this time.

“Jayce,” came Grayson’s voice, soft and concerned, “are you sure about this?”

“Yes, coach.” He gazed over to Grayson, expression resolute. “Any team where I have him as my captain is a team I never want to be on.” 

Grayson pressed her lips into a thin line, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she gave Jayce a firm nod and turned to address the rest of them. “Head back to class or else I’ll be issuing more punishments to you all, understood?”

Salo and Maddie nervously bowed their heads, rushing out of the courtyard without another word. Marcus groaned, turning to glare one last time at Jayce, before storming off. Vi huffed as she kneeled to the ground and started grabbing all of the things that scattered out from Viktor’s bag, stuffing it back inside with little care. Jayce, meanwhile, walked over to where Viktor’s cane had been tossed aside. He took it in his hands, gripping it tightly as the last dregs of rage washed through him, and he offered it back to its owner. Though it was hard to do so in the moment, Jayce tried his best to give Viktor a crooked yet comforting smile as he helped him back to his feet.

“Miss Violet, I’ll see you at my office after school,” Grayson said, her voice low and calm.

Vi sighed. “Yes, sir.” She bid Jayce and Viktor a silent farewell as she shrugged her backpack onto her shoulders and left.

“And you two,” Grayson looked over to the two boys, and her expression melted into one of understanding. “You may go home early. Do you need me to contact your parents?”

“N-no, we’ll be fine, coach…” Jayce said, his voice faltering. Though he didn’t have a car to drive back home, he’s sure he could just take the bus back with Viktor to his apartment— a notion that would normally leave him feeling flustered, but now… now he just felt numb.

Grayson gave them one last nod before exiting the courtyard, leaving the two boys to themselves. They gathered the rest of their things, making their way over to the bus stop in tense silence. Periodically, Jayce would glance over to Viktor, whose face was blank and dissociated. His heart ached at the sight. They finally boarded the bus, and the ride over to Viktor's apartment was still eerily quiet. Not even the gentle sway of the commute could assuage either of their moods, with both boys sitting stiffly in their chairs. Even in times as uncertain as this one, Jayce had one final thought in mind:

At least this was all over with.

Chapter Text

Viktor stood by the riverbank, staring over the railing of the Bridge of Progress and down at the murky waters below. He clenched the USB in his fist— this had been going on for too long. This tiny device weighed heavily on his conscious, and since returning from winter break, he has toiled to be rid of this thing once and for all. He didn’t know why it took this long— part of him wondered if he should just keep the damn thing and be quiet about it, another part was still disturbingly hopeful that he still needed to conduct his mission. But no more. These pictures won’t haunt him any longer.

Just as he was about to toss the USB into the river below, he heard a voice call out behind him. “Hey, Viktor!”

Viktor froze, then he quickly shoved the USB into his pocket and whipped around to see who was talking to him. “Wha— Sky?”

Waving from the passenger side of a minivan was none other than that freckled, curly haired girl. She smiled enthusiastically at Viktor. “What’cha doin’ out here?” she asked innocently.

“Oh, um—” Viktor looked over the edge of the railing again, heart racing in his chest. “Just admiring the view…” he lied.

“Hm?” Sky looked pensive; it was clear she caught Viktor’s pained expression, but she carried on regardless. “Well, did you want a ride to school?”

“S-sure.” Viktor walked up to the minivan and got in the back seat, quietly greeting Sky’s dad as he did so. 

The ride to school was mostly silent, broken only by the idle chatter between Sky and her dad. Meanwhile, VIktor was idly thumbing the USB in his pocket, mentally berating himself for holding on to it for so long. He already deleted most of the photos from his phone, the most incriminating ones anyway. The ones he kept were the ones he was endeared by; all the charming or cute photos of Jayce, the ones that made his heart flutter every time he looked at them. He also kept all their group photos, like the ones from homecoming or from their D&D game, all reminders of the new friends he found thanks to Jayce. He knew now that his whole ‘mission’ to take him down was stupid, that he’d much rather let go of his petty revenge plot than risk losing Jayce again. All he needed to do now was get rid of this damn USB and the letter of his darkest feelings. He wanted it to be swept away by the river, washed clean.

When Sky and Viktor were finally dropped off by Mr. Young at the front of campus, Sky immediately took Viktor aside. “Hey, are you okay?” she asked sincerely, her brows furrowed. “You really had me worried there— standing next to the railing and looking over the bridge like you were gonna off yourself—”

“S-Sky—!” VIktor scolded incredulously. “Th-that is not what I was doing!”

Sky dramatically sighed in relief. “Thank god , I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if you left me on this mortal plane,” she said, trying to be funny and lighten the mood. It worked, because Viktor caught himself softly chuckling at the girl. “You still haven’t answered my question— Are you good? Is there something I should know about?”

Viktor hesitated as he pursed his lips. There was no point in not telling Sky— she already knew everything about his original plans to take down Jayce anyway. But he just knew that he’d be berated by the girl regardless. “Do you remember that ‘mission’ I had to get my revenge on Jayce?” he said with a resigned sigh.

Sky’s jaw flew open in disbelief. “You’re still doing that?!” she yelled, just as Viktor expected her to. “I can’t believe you’re still on about that stupid —!”

“Sky, wait — let me explain!” Viktor interrupted before Sky could get further into her ranting. She pouted, crossing her arms indignantly but otherwise letting Viktor speak. “Ugh, yes , I am an idiot. I let this thing go on for too long, and if I’m being honest, I was still holding onto hope that it would still work up until recently.” At that comment, Sky sputtered a frustrated noise, but she was also quick to throw her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from interrupting. “You can yell at me all you want after I tell you — I surely deserve it, — but I want to let you know that I’m getting rid of it. Today. I was going to throw it into the river, but you sort of stopped me from doing that.”

Sky was already starting to scold Viktor, but her voice came out muffled from behind her hands. Viktor rolled his eyes, grabbing her by the wrists to wrest her hands from her face. “‘Throw it into the river?’ Vik, why don’t you just delete the photos? ” she started shouting immediately.

Viktor groaned, throwing a frantic hand up and into his mess of hair. “I know— I did, but I just felt like I needed something physical to get rid of… I wasn’t going to print the photos just to burn them for my own satisfaction, so I supposed throwing the USB stick into the river would suffice…”

“Oh, teenage angst and the need to be dramatic, ” Sky replied in an agitated tone. “ Fine, Viktor, but you need to be rid of that USB by the end of the day. Just throw it into the trash or something. Because you already know, if Jayce finds out—”

“Jayce won’t find out,” Viktor said firmly, fist clenched. He stared at Sky with a determination in his eyes as the first period bell rang above them.

“Alright, well, best of luck to you, Viktor,” she said, voice mired with both worry and disappointment; it made Viktor’s chest ache. She bowed her head solemnly  before leaving for her first class. Viktor, meanwhile, stood frozen in the hall for a moment, guilt heavy in his throat, before heading to his class as well.

Class had already begun, but Jayce was nowhere to be found. But it wasn’t out of the ordinary (for this iteration of Jayce, at least). It was when he didn’t arrive to class about half-way into it that Viktor started to worry. Mr. Wood had already marked Jayce as ‘absent’ on the attendance list— surely, if Jayce was going to miss out on school today, he would’ve texted Viktor about it, right? Viktor didn’t see him in the halls either, nor did he spot any of the popular kids; the school felt oddly peaceful in ways that unsettled Viktor. He couldn’t help but feel that something bad was going to happen, and he needed to get rid of this USB stick soon.

At lunch, Viktor stood at the edges of the cafeteria, peering out over the crowd, and didn’t see the familiar slicked-back hair, or the brown and blue of a varsity hockey jacket. He sighed, pulling out his phone to shoot a text to Jayce, when he felt someone standing next to him.

“Viktor, mind if I join you for lunch?” came a voice. Viktor turned his head to the side to see the familiar visage of Mel, face soft with a hint of worry.

“O-oh, Mel,” said Viktor in surprise. “Um, sure, but—”

“Actually, I think it’s best if we speak in private.” Mel glanced over the crowd, eyes landing squarely on one of the tables in the center. Viktor followed her gaze to the popular kids table, where said popular kids were gathered with no Jayce in sight. They both stared briefly into the back of Marcus’s head, when all of a sudden the boy turned around and made brief eye contact with Viktor. For some reason, it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Agreed,” said Viktor as he turned away from the sight. A thought came into his head about where to meet up, a setting that surely no one but he and Mel knew about (and Jayce, of course). He looked at Mel, who nodded in understanding. Together, the two of them snuck out of the cafeteria and towards that abandoned storage room.

Once they arrived, Mel went straight to business. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that a certain Golden Boy isn’t in attendance,” she began. 

“Of course, it’s hard to miss him when he’s here,” Viktor replied playfully. “So, you’re concerned over his whereabouts as well?”

“Yes, but it does give us the opportunity to speak about something that would otherwise be difficult to if he was around…” Mel placed her things down before leaning against the back table with her arms crossed, brows furrowed in thought. “It’s about how he’s acting. I’m sure at this point, you already know more about this than anyone else, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed or even been affected by it.”

Viktor nodded slowly, understanding what Mel was getting at. “I’d even say there are others who are more gravely affected by his choices than you— no offense, of course.”

Mel’s curled into a small smile. “None taken. I understand that I come from a bit of a different stance than the rest of his friends. So tell me, Viktor, do you know anything about it?”

Viktor pursed his lips. His thoughts wandered over to the conversation they had on the rooftop of the Talis Repair Shop, and the one they had after their trip to the ice cream shop. “Yes. He’s mentioned something about it to me a few times before… something about a ‘deal’ he has with Marcus, one where he isn’t allowed to speak with his friends, like me, Vi, or Caitlyn.” Viktor paused for a moment as a small thought popped into his mind. “No mention of you, curiously enough.”

Mel scoffed. “Of course he’s behind this, and that he’d exclude me from his conditions…” she said quietly, voice trailing off. “And do you know anything else about this ‘deal?’”

“No, only speculations,” replied Viktor as he shook his head. “I’m sure Marcus is manipulating Jayce so that he could exercise more control over him. I can’t exactly understand his motivations, however— I’m sure you have more information on that front.”

Mel bit her lip, leaving her spot by the table as she began to pace around the room. “I only have speculations on that front as well, but I will admit, there are certain behaviours regarding that group specifically that could elucidate the situation, but it might require a lengthy explanation.” She turned to Viktor with a small grin. “So, if you’d like some exposition, I’d suggest you take a seat.”

Viktor hesitated for a moment before walking over to a chair ( his chair, with Jayce’s right next to it) and took a seat, reminiscing on the last time he’d sat in this room. “I had never realized these popular kids were such a problem, and quite honestly I didn’t even notice their machinations until this year,” he commented once he was settled.

“Most likely because you weren’t in their radar until this year,” Mel answered. “That group only meddles in the affairs of students they deem worthy, or view as opposition— you’d be in the latter in this case, unfortunately.”

“Me? As opposition?” Viktor said incredulously. It was almost a compliment that a relative nobody was such a threat to their hierarchy, but Viktor supposed he did try his best to become that threat.

“Perhaps I should start from the beginning.” As Mel spoke, her tone became grave, playing with the rings on her fingers as she continued to pace. “Before Jayce even realized, he was already in their sights the moment he joined the junior varsity hockey team. Grayson, coach for the varsity team, mentioned him by name to Marcus. He tried to see Jayce as ‘worthy’ at first, but that soon turned into ‘opposition…’”

Viktor quirked an eyebrow at Mel. “And how do you know all this? You don’t seem the type to concern yourselF with petty school drama.”

Mel winced at the statement, her eyes glancing down to the floor. “I… was part of the problem, for a time. I saw other students as prospects, I picked and chose those I would speak to, those I deemed worthy of my time. Sadly, I chose wrong, and I found myself among the likes of Marcus and Salo.”

Viktor couldn’t help but scowl at Mel. Though they had fixed their relationship, especially over the winter break, old feelings and suspicions began to rise again. “So Jayce was just another prospect to you?” he said accusingly.

Mel’s expression looked pained. She slowly made her way towards Viktor, sitting down atop the desk with crossed arms. “Yes, he was. I needed someone who would impress my mother, and Jayce was a perfect candidate in my eyes. Smart, high-achieving, athletic. But he proved to be more than that… He showed me care, compassion, and sincerity — wholly different from the shallow niceties of the other ‘friends’ I was hanging out with. When I realized this, I started to distance myself from them.”

“But Jayce isn’t perfect,” Viktor interjected without thinking. “He has his flaws— he’s naive, for one, and he has a lot of self-image issues… he’s noble to a fault, always wanting to fight his own battles, but he’s also easily influenced and a people-pleaser… How could you have seen someone like that as a ‘prospect?’”

Mel just smiled at him. “And yet, for all his flaws, you and I were still bewitched by him, weren’t we?”

Viktor felt warmth flood into his cheeks, turning away from Mel for a moment to hide the pinkish tint that settled there. “L-let’s focus back on the task at hand, Medarda. Why would Marcus target Jayce? You said he started to see him as his opposition— how did that start?”

“You and I are all too familiar with this story,” Mel said dryly, a hint of guilt in her tone. “Last year, in one of the matches leading up to their final, Marcus got a bad injury. Grayson made him step out of the finals, and though initially they would play on without their captain, Grayson asked that Jayce play in his stead.”

Viktor’s expression soured. “Which he turned down at first, though I’m sure with enough push from you, he changed his mind— causing him to leave our Robotics Club during our finals.” He couldn’t stop the venom from seeping in his voice as old wounds started to open up again, but his feelings twisted into quiet resignation once he saw Mel’s look of remorse. Truthfully, the past was in the past, and Viktor wanted to be beyond that now— though, it is admittedly hard for him to not be a little petty.

“He was so conflicted, and I was testing the waters with him at first, seeing what he was capable of… He seemed to put a lot of trust in my words, so when I told him that playing for the finals would benefit his future, he went for it… That’s where it all started, really. This whole mess. Jayce can say that it was his decision all he wants, but I was the one who made him do it…” Mel cast down her gaze. She then placed a gentle hand on Viktor’s shoulder, her warm green eyes meeting with Viktor’s. “I’m so sorry, Viktor. I’m sorry that you’ve become a victim in all this…”

Viktor tightened his lip as he broke their shared gaze, heart starting to beat faster in his chest. The dregs of anger were still smoldering inside of him, he couldn’t deny that. He had been mad with Jayce and Mel for all this time, yet both of them have shown him their capacity for repentance. Though they both recognize their mistakes, they’re willing to make amends and move onwards with their lives. Viktor, while deeply affected by all that has happened, clinged to those unrelenting feelings of betrayal and resentment— and perhaps for far too long. Viktor has every right to be mad at them, and he has every right to reject their plea for redemption in his eyes, but does he want to carry on with the rest of his life with hate in his heart? Had he been asked a few months ago, his answer would’ve been yes. Yet now…

“You may call me a ‘victim,’ but I am not helpless,” Viktor said, voice burning with resolve. “Just as you and Jayce have made your decisions, I made mine. I chose to denounce Jayce, chose to hold resentment for you— I chose to hold onto anger for so long. But this is my choice now, I choose to make amends with the two of you.”

Mel was too stunned to speak. Her mouth was left agape for a moment before she turned to shake her head in disbelief, a small smile on her lips. “I can see why Jayce is so drawn to you. You are truly admirable, Viktor, and I’m very glad to call you my friend.” Mel took Viktor’s hand and cupped it in hers, squeezing it gently. Viktor returned the smile, a new determination brewing inside him.

“So Marcus is after Jayce because of what happened last year?” he clarified, getting them back to the discussion at hand.

“Yes, but there’s more than that,” replied Mel, equally as determined as Viktor. “Before Jayce’s name was making the rounds, it was Marcus’s. Clearly, after Jayce’s performance at their hockey final, Marcus was dethroned as the de facto king of the campus. That, and…”

“And?” Viktor pressed further.

Mel bit her lip before speaking. “Marcus has been deadset on courting me for a while now— has been since we were freshmen, I’m pretty sure. Yet despite his efforts, I’ve always turned him down. His credentials aligned with what I was looking for, sure, but there was just something about him that made me turn him away…”

Viktor couldn’t hold back a snort. “So this whole revenge plot is because— what, Marcus is jealous? ” he said incredulously. But deep inside, there was a resonant pang in his chest. Though he despised him, somehow, in some way, he and Marcus were alike. It left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, a realization that hit him like a truck.

“Jealousy is an awful creature,” Mel said solemnly, her words echoing Viktor’s revelation. “It drives us to do terrible things, things we may never be able to take back— things we will inevitably regret…”

Viktor furrowed his brows before shaking his head and his thoughts away for a moment. “We need to stop Marcus somehow. Surely there’s something we can do, right? Couldn’t we report him to their coach, or even the principal?”

Mel chewed on her thumb, deep in thought. “No, not unless we have concrete evidence, in which case we don’t. Our pleas may fall on deaf ears, or worse, they might not even believe us. We’d have to find proof that he’s blackmailing Jayce if we stand a chance against him.” 

Now Viktor was starting to worry, too. If he knew anything about how this school worked, it’s that popular kids like Marcus get to have their way, even with the teachers or even administration. They might not take his word for it (but they probably would Mel’s), but they would still need evidence of any foul play if they mean to have Marcus face the consequences of his actions. Gears were turning in Viktor’s head, but nothing but dust was churning out. He started to feel a slight ache in his temple from all this thinking when a hand was gently placed on his shoulder.

“Don’t blow a gasket now,” said Mel with a soft chuckle. “We’ll figure this out, I know we will. I’ll let Caitlyn know what’s going on, too. She’s a clever one, and one who no doubt has her own qualms against Marcus. For now, I suggest you stay out of trouble. You are very important to Jayce, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d jump the gun at anyone who would try to harm you.”

“Pfft, who, Jayce? He wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Viktor joked back. The two shared a warm smile for a moment; it was something Viktor learned to cherish— this reforged bond he has with Mel. He needed to stop seeing her as an adversary but as an ally, one who cared about Jayce just as much as he did. 

With their conversation ended and their plan set in place, Mel was the first to leave the storage room. Viktor lingered there for a moment longer, eyes wandering around the scenery of the somewhat untouched room. He thought about the memories that this place held, how it represented that special bond he and Jayce had— no, have. Just like that bond, this place was still here, just dusty and forgotten. Any day now, he and Jayce could return to this place like they did before.

They were going to do something about this whole Marcus thing— If Jayce wouldn’t, they would. Then everything could go back to normal, and he and Jayce can continue to be together without any more issues.

Or would it even be normal, if Viktor still had the stupid USB with him? He still needed to get rid of it, couldn’t have it weighing on his conscious any longer. To have it is to hold onto that insecurity, that jealousy that he and Marcus shared. And he did not want to have any similarity to that boy. He and Marcus were driven by different things, having a myriad of reasons for wanting to take down Jayce. But while VIktor was willing to move on, Marcus was going to wallow in his own, self-made despair. Viktor wasn’t going to be like that, he was sure of it.

Viktor gathered his things and left the storage room. There was still some time left before their lunch period ended, so Viktor could probably just throw away the USB in a trash can or something. Or no, maybe a dumpster would be better— or maybe he should just take a hammer and smash the thing to pieces. As Viktor wandered the halls on his way back to the cafeteria, a loud voice pulled him away from his thoughts.

“Fancy seeing you here, sumprat, ” the voice seethed. Viktor didn’t even need to look up to see who it was that was speaking. “Hey, I’m talking to you— ”

Viktor felt a rough shoulder bump into him, knocking him back into a wall of lockers. He winced as he landed against the metal doors, eyes flickering up to see the towering figure of Marcus. Two other popular kids, Maddie and Salo, were saddled up to his sides, both looking down at Viktor with demeaning expressions. Viktor scowled— he didn’t want to say a word to these people, especially since Mel told him to keep out of trouble. He tried to brush his way past the three of them, but then a hand pinned him against the lockers once more.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Marcus threatened. “I just wanted to have a little chat with you now that the wonder boy is away— is it so hard to ask for a moment of civility between a Piltovan and a Zaunite?” he asked with a sickening smile.

Viktor’s frown grew deeper. “I have nothing to say to the likes of you.”

“It’s alright then, I’ll do all the talking.” Marcus let go of his grip on Viktor’s shoulder, where a soreness now lingered. With Salo and Maddie on either side, Viktor was boxed up against the wall with no real means of escape. So as much as he didn’t want to, he had to entertain whatever foulness was about to escape Marcus’s mouth. “Not quite sure why Jayce is so infatuated with you, a crippled Zaunite whose name will inevitably amount to nothing. Maybe he feels sorry for you, and we all know our Jayce has that ‘no one left behind’ mentality.” The three of them sneered, their cackles resounding in the empty hallway.

“Not ‘your’ Jayce…” Viktor muttered under his breath.

Marcus’s eyes darkened. “What did you say?”

“I said, he’s not ‘your’ Jayce,” Viktor said louder, half wanting to spit in Marcus’s face as he did so. “He’s not property to be claimed— he’s his own person.”

“I suppose that means he’s not yours either,” Marcus spat back. “So do yourself a favor and get off his dick, eh? You know better than to sour his reputation by hanging around him like a stench. Deep down, you surely must know you’re nothing compared to him.” Marcus lifted his hand and grabbed Viktor by his chin, pulling him from side to side and observing him like some odd specimen; it made Viktor sick to his stomach. “I mean, really, what does he see in you? You’re just another lowly Zaunite from the slums, whose voice will go unheard and presence entirely forgotten— muddled down into the ankle-biting, coattail-riding sumprat that you are.”

Viktor slammed his forehead against Marcus’s, sending a throbbing sensation into both of their temples as Viktor stamped the foot of his cane down hard on Marcus’s foot. The other boy let go of his grip as he yelped in pain, and for a moment Viktor smirked at his pain. But that moment of satisfaction was immediately washed away as Marcus charged forward. He grabbed Viktor’s cane and his bag, yanking it out of his grip and tossing it aside. The cane clattered against the floor, and his bag’s contents spilled all over the courtyard. Marcus’s hands dug into the fabric of Viktor’s shirt, balling into fists as he threw him against the lockers again.

“I’m gonna fucking kill you —” Marcus seethed. He tightened his grip, pressing hard against Viktor until he felt like he couldn’t breathe anymore. So much for staying out of trouble , Viktor thought dryly to himself as his consciousness started to fade away. He tried his best to fight it— he knew the last thing he wanted was to die by Marcus’s hand, but he couldn’t. He felt his eyes threaten to flutter shut, his mind swimming into a haze.

But then Viktor suddenly felt like he could breathe again. Marcus was thrown off of him, a loud and resounding smack echoing in the hall. When he could finally get his eyes to focus, his gaze landed on what — or who — got rid of Marcus.

It was Jayce, his hand balled into a fist and breathing heavy as he stood over Marcus's crumpled figure on the ground.

“J-Jayce—!” choked out Viktor as he slid down the wall of lockers. The boy’s hazel eyes flickered over to him, expression seeping with worry and concern, before turning to see the scene before him: Viktor’s cane tossed aside, his bag and its contents spilled all over the floor.

“Get the fuck away from him,” Jayce spat at Marcus, filled with a rage Viktor had never seen before.. 

Marcus struggled to get back up off the floor. “Finally here to protect your boyfriend , Talis?” he taunted, a small dribble of blood trailing down his nose.

Jayce made a noise akin to a growl. “Don’t you ever lay your hands on him again.” Maddie and Salo rushed to Marcus’s aid and helped him back up to his feet. Then rounding the corner, Viktor recognized Vi approaching with a similar kind of anger on her face.

Everything was happening too fast, and Viktor couldn’t help but sit on the ground and watch it all unfold. His head was still hazy from the lack of oxygen and throbbing from his earlier hit against Marcus. Words were just swimming into one ear and out the other, barely comprehending anything that was going on. He tried his best to steady his breaths, but it was futile. Through it all, Viktor couldn’t help but think: how the hell did it come to this? 

“What is going on here?!” called a voice from the end of the hall. Viktor’s head turned lazily towards the sound of the voice, barely recognizing the figure of Coach Grayson. 

There was more yelling, and all it did was make Viktor feel worse. He could feel his mind and body start to spiral, his breaths only growing quicker and quicker. Why was this happening? Why did it have to happen to him, of all people? Eventually, Viktor felt someone run up to him, hands hastily placed on his shoulders. He couldn’t help but flinch at the touch, worried that maybe Marcus was here to place his hands on him again. But then his eyes flashed up, and they landed on something familiar, something warm yet worried.

It was Jayce.

“Viktor— are you okay?” he asked, voice and hands shaking.

Viktor just looked up at him, barely registering what Jayce just said. “I d-don’t know what— I’m fine, but—” he muttered. He tried his best to sound composed, but surely he failed, because Jayce looked at him with a pained expression. He choked back his tears— all he wanted to do right now was to leave this place, to hold onto Jayce and make it all go away.

A few moments later (not that Viktor was trying to keep track anymore), everyone had dispersed, and Viktor was being ushered away in Jayce’s arms, heading off-campus and towards the nearest bus stop. Viktor had no idea how long he’d been silent for, didn’t even know if Jayce was talking to him throughout all this, but it didn’t matter. Viktor felt numb. It was that same feeling he felt that night after homecoming, like his mind was separate from his body. He didn’t even realize he was back at his apartment until Jayce asked for his keys, to which he opened the door without thinking.

Viktor slumped over to his bed and sank into it, body feeling worn and heavy. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to ease the hazy feeling he still felt swimming in his brain. Jayce had disappeared, but Viktor could hear his presence in his apartment somewhere. Eventually, Viktor felt the bed dip from the weight of Jayce sitting next to him, to which Viktor finally decided to open his eyes and sit up, glancing over at Jayce. He had a glass of water in his hands, idling thumbing the glass as he handed it to Viktor without uttering a word. He took it, pressing the glass to his lips and feeling the cool liquid flow down his throat as he drank; it was refreshing and grounding. Once he was done with his sip, he gently placed the glass down on a side table.

As soon as his glass landed on the wood, Jayce enveloped Viktor in a tight hug.

“Oof— Jayce— ” Viktor struggled against his hold at first, but it only tightened. He realized there was no point in fighting it, so Viktor just sank into his hug, his own arms finding purchase around Jayce’s back.

“I’m so sorry, V,” Jayce whispered into his neck, and by the sound of his voice, he could already tell Jayce was close to tears. “I should’ve been there today— should’ve been there to stop Marcus.”

“Jayce, it’s fine… I—” Viktor’s breath hitched. At the thought of Marcus, at the sound of his name alone, it all started to sink in for him. His threats, his advances— it made Viktor sick to his stomach. It left him with a vile taste, to the point that it made him want to throw up. He wanted to tough it out, but his breaths started to quicken again and tears were pricking at the edge of his eyes. He shut them tightly, burying himself closer into Jayce’s shoulder. “I… I was scared, ” he finally admitted.

Jayce strengthened his grip, like he was scared of letting go of Viktor. “It’s okay, I’m here now,” he said in a comforting voice. “It's all over, we’re done with him.”

… But was it really all over? 

Jayce held Viktor there for a lot longer, stroking his back in comforting circles as Viktor quietly sobbed into Jayce’s shoulder. He let all of it crash into him at once: his revelations, the confrontation, his guilt. If everything truly was coming to an end, then why didn’t Viktor feel satisfied? Somehow, he still felt as restless as he did before— even moreso, like something unsettling was coasting behind the scenes. It was a bad, bad feeling, one he couldn’t shake.

That quiet yet terrifying realization was interrupted when both Viktor and Jayce felt something vibrate between them. It was Jayce’s phone, and from what Viktor was able to quickly glance, it was his mom calling him. “Sorry, V, I gotta answer this…” Jayce said with a sigh. He got off the bed and started pacing around the apartment, speaking to his mom over the phone in another language. Jayce was speaking quietly, but Viktor could still hear Ximena scolding him on the phone.

While Jayce was distracted, Viktor reached over to his bag. He remembered the USB once more, thinking that finally getting rid of it would help settle his thoughts. He started digging through his things, trying to feel for that tiny device that would normally sink to the bottom of his bag.

But it wasn’t there.

He double checked, triple checked— he didn’t feel it. Viktor started throwing things out of his bag: his notebooks, his papers, his pencils, all of it and yet he still couldn’t find the USB. Then he remembered what happened back on campus, and his heart sank. Marcus grabbed his bag away from him and tossed it away, and all of his stuff was scattered across the floor. Vi had been the one who picked up all his things and put them back, but there’s a good chance that she would gloss over something as small as a flash drive. It wasn’t her fault, it wasn’t even Marcus’s— it was Viktor’s. He should’ve gotten rid of that thing months ago, and now he had no idea where it could be. 

“Is something wrong?” came Jayce’s voice, causing Viktor to jolt in surprise.

“N-no, it’s just—” Viktor realized he must look insane with all of his things scattered on the bed, eyes still widened in shock. “I’m just checking to make sure I have all my things…” he lied.

“Oh, so do you have everything?” Jayce asked innocently.

“Y-yeah…” his voice trailed off. It was gone. The USB was gone.

Jayce walked over and planted a gentle kiss on Viktor's forehead, grounding him for a moment. “I have to go unfortunately, my mom’s on her way to pick me up. She is… not happy with me for ditching and getting suspended…” Jayce took Viktor’s hand in his, circling his thumb on the back of his palm. “I love you, okay? If you need me, just let me know.”

Viktor didn’t say anything after him, he just watched as Jayce grabbed his things and left Viktor’s apartment without another word. The sound of the door closing echoed in the room, and Viktor felt all of his remaining strength leave his body. He slumped back into his bed, worry and anxiety flooded his thoughts. In his mind, he tried to tell himself that everything was going to be okay— he got what he wanted, technically.

But for some reason, Viktor felt like everything was going to get much worse.

Chapter Text

Jayce’s alarm went off as it usually does in the morning, but instead of rolling out of bed like he would, he just turned off the alarm and headed back to sleep. Or tried to, at least. It was weird not being up for school in the morning, but the thing about being suspended meant he wasn’t allowed on campus. Maybe it was a positive for most students, who didn’t want to go to school anyway, but it was torture for Jayce. At least he could rest easy knowing Marcus wouldn’t be at school either, but it didn’t settle that unnerving feeling in his stomach.

Last night, all Jayce could think about was how Marcus had his hands on Viktor, grabbing at his shirt like he was choking him out. He couldn’t forget how terrified Viktor looked, how he sobbed into Jayce’s shoulder once they finally got back to his apartment yesterday. It filled him with a rage and fury he’d never felt before. But he tried to move past it, hatred was not something he wanted to dwell on. Plus, it was all over now. If Marcus did post those pictures, it would hold nothing for Jayce anymore, nor would it mean anything to Mel and Viktor. Jayce wasn’t even on the hockey team now.

Just as Jayce was about to fall asleep again, he heard the door to his bedroom swing open. “Jayce, are you awake?” asked Ximena.

Jayce flinched slightly at her voice. His mom did give him a real scolding yesterday after he got home. Obviously, the school had to call and inform her that her son just punched another student (that student being his ex-hockey captain) and was currently suspended. Jayce has never, never been suspended before. For all Ximena knew, her son was still the perfect straight-A student he always was. On top of that, the administration even let her in on all his tardies, his detention Mr. Reveck, all of it dismantled whatever image of Jayce was curated in his sweet mother’s mind.

“Y-yes, mom,” he said nervously, getting up in his bed. “Um, are you heading out to work?”

Ximena looked solemnly at him. “No, I took the day off. Why don’t you get ready and come outside for breakfast?”

Jayce quirked an eyebrow at his mom. “Are we going out somewhere?”

“Yes, there’s just a few errands I need to run today.” Ximena left his room and went back outside, and Jayce got off his bed and shrugged on a hoodie and basketball shorts. 

He followed Ximena out to their dining area, helping himself to some eggs and bacon for breakfast. It was oddly silent, an awkward tension in the air as Jayce ate while his mom washed dishes nearby. They’d normally talk about their day or their plans, but they just felt so… distant now. Ximena left the kitchen to get ready before Jayce could finish eating, so he hobbled back to his room after washing his own plates. He took a quick shower and picked out some comfortable clothes. Jayce honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone out with his mom on errands. Sure, they still worked together at their family repair shop, but besides breakfast and dinner, he hasn’t had the chance to spend quality time with her.

Once the two were ready, they left their apartment and headed towards Ximena’s car. Jayce eyed the things his mom was bringing with her: a small cooler bag and a folded picnic mat. Ximena placed the items in the trunk, and the two of them settled into their seats as she started the car. With no real idea as to what they’d be doing today, he just idly watched other cars and buildings pass by as Ximena drove. They eventually parked by their local market, but before Jayce could unbuckle his seatbelt, Ximena stopped him.

“I’m just here to buy something really quick, you can stay here,” she said as she exited the car.

“Oh, okay—” he sputtered, a bit taken aback by his mother’s haste. 

He watched his mother quickly make her way into the store, and a few minutes pass before she’s out again. Guess it really was quick, Jayce thought to himself. From this distance, he could see his mother approach with something bright in her hands: a bouquet of lilies.

Oh. Ximena only ever bought these flowers for one reason. 

“Could you hold onto this, mijo?” she asked as she reentered the car, handing the fragrant bouquet off to her son.

“Y-yeah,” he said as he clutched it in his hands. “Hey, are we—?”

“Yes, we are,” Ximena answered, a small smile on her lips. “I think it’s been a while since we’ve seen him.”

Ximena started the car and soon they were back on the road again. There was decent traffic for a Friday morning, but they arrived at their destination in a timely manner. Jayce nervously held onto the bouquet as they both left the car, and Ximena grabbed her things from the trunk. They walked past iron wrought gates and towards a field of grass. It was a bit of a walk, having to pass over a small hill and walking along rows of stone or marble headstones, but they eventually made it. They were standing by the grave of Caesar Talis.

“Hey dad,” Jayce greeted, gently placing the bouquet by his headstone. He then wiped off some dust and mud that started to cake on the surface of the cool stone. “Sorry we haven’t talked in a while…”

Ximena prepared the picnic mat in the grass next to the grave, patting the side next to her for Jayce to sit down. Now that they were both comfortable, Ximena sighed in frustration. “You won’t believe this, César, but your son here got himself suspended.” Her tone may have sounded teasing, but Jayce knew there was real annoyance there. “He got in a fight with another student. Our Jayce!”

“Mom, Marcus is a bully!” Jayce said defensively.

“And he ditched school yesterday. To think he used to get perfect attendance awards when he was younger…” she continued remorsefully.

Jayce just pouted. “Okay, but that was Vi’s idea…”

Ximena cast her gaze downwards, picking at the grass as she spoke softly. “I didn’t realize our son had become such a delinquent. Causing trouble at school, missing his classes… It’s like I don’t even know him anymore. If only you were here to knock some sense into him.”

Ximena was trying to joke, but she was clearly hurt. Jayce could only look at his own mother with a pained expression. “Mom…” he said, voice trailing off.

“I just wish he would tell me what’s troubling him,” Ximena said, voice getting louder. She was addressing the headstone directly, like his dad was sitting in front of them and listening. “When I see him, he looks so tired and stressed… He locks himself up in his room to work on homework and only comes out to eat dinner. And when he’s not at the house or the shop, he’s off with his friends or playing hockey. I don’t mind, of course— he’s a kid, I want him to live his life. But I wish… I wish I still felt like I was part of his life…”

Jayce watched his mother’s face, seeing a deep frown form as tears started to trail down her cheeks. It made his chest ache as tears started to form in his eyes as well. “Mom…” he called out again, reaching for her hand this time and clasping it in his. Ximena just continued to sob quietly, looking away from him.

Jayce let out a drawn-out sigh. “Honestly, I don’t really know who I am either…” he began slowly. “For a while, I thought I was Jayce Talis, son of Ximena and Caesar Talis, a nerdy kid, who likes messing with gears and machine parts. But then I became Jayce Talis, star player on the varsity hockey team, student class president, and the most popular guy at school. And I liked being that Jayce, the Jayce that everyone looks up to, the one everyone loves and admires… It felt good to be something other than just some nerd. 

“I don’t know when or how, but for some reason I thought I couldn’t be both those Jayces at the same time… I’ve tried to be both, but no matter what I choose, I still feel like I’ve disappointed everyone— my friends, my peers… All of a sudden, it felt like everyone had these expectations of me— expectations of who I am. To the point that I don’t even recognize myself anymore, beyond who people want me to be. Then there’s the people who tell me to just be myself, to be genuine, but what does that even mean if I don’t know who the ‘real’ Jayce is anymore?”

Jayce sighed out of frustration. These were all feelings he’d been stewing on for a while, most of which he’d already vented to other people about, but it was freeing to get all of it out. To curse into the wind about his teenage woes. Ximena had calmed enough to listen to Jayce intently, meanwhile Jayce barrelled on as he stared into the grave of his father. “Things were so much easier when it was just the three of us, when it felt like nothing else mattered as long as you were here… Back before I thought everything I love is lame…” Then, Jayce chuckled cruelly to himself. “Or maybe it would’ve been worse, cuz then I’d call you cringe for making swords or forcing us to do family game nights.”

“Oh, Jayce…” Ximena cooed as she placed a hand on Jayce’s back, rubbing there gently. “Maybe you don’t know who you are right now, but that’s okay because I do. You’re Jayce Talis, my stubborn son—”

“H-hey—!”

“Ah ah, I’m not finished!” Ximena briefly scolded. “Jayce Talis, my stubborn son, who never folds his clothes after the laundry is finished no matter how much I tell him to, so he just leaves it as a growing pile in his closet. Jayce Talis, a hard worker at the repair shop who is always late and then always leaves early— unless a new video game is coming out, in which case he’ll work overtime just to afford it. Jayce Talis, who—”

Jayce groaned out of embarrassment. “Okay, mom, I get it!”

“Jayce Talis,” Ximena said louder, causing Jayce to fall silent once more. She took a deep breath. “Jayce Talis, who wants so badly for everyone to be happy, even at a cost to himself… He’s a little naive and maybe too optimistic, but it’s only because he cares so much about everyone and everything…” Ximena cupped Jayce’s cheeks, planting a small kiss on his forehead. “No matter what anyone tells you to be, you will always be my Jayce, the Jayce who loves too hard for his own good.”

Jayce gazed back at his mother, who looked at him with a loving and warm smile. He returned the smile, but he looked away once more with furrowed brows. “But I’ve made all these mistakes— all because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I ditched Viktor and the Robotics Club so I could play for the varsity hockey team, but that was a wrong choice. And then when I try to make it up to Viktor, Marcus is the one who gets mad at me, pinning the fate of the whole hockey team on my actions— it just feels like I can’t do anything right…”

Ximena pulled Jayce in for a hug, resting her chin atop his head as she brushed a hand through his hair. “There is nothing wrong about making mistakes— that’s just how people are. We’re not some perfect creatures. What matters is we learn from those mistakes, and strive to be better next time.”

“But what happens if I keep making mistakes? If I keep failing?” Jayce replied with a strained voice.

Ximena chuckled softly, and the sound rumbled in her chest as Jayce pressed his head against her. “I think you should know better than me about this, mijo. How do scientists make new discoveries without making mistakes? Failure is the precursor to progress— or whatever they say in those Academy brochures.”

Jayce shared a laugh with his mother, and for once he felt the warm sun on his cheek and the gentle breeze in the air. In the peace and quiet of the park, Jayce swore he could hear his dad’s laugh on the wind, too. “I’m really sorry for not telling you about any of this, mom… I feel like I would’ve figured things out so much quicker if I just told you.”

Ximena hummed to herself. “Your teenage years do take a toll on you— it’s the time when everyone is trying to figure out who they want to be. Kids always think it’s them versus the world,’ and then they tackle their issues head-on. But the truth is, no one really knows who they are or what they’re doing. The whole point of life is discovery, not just of what the world has to offer, but of yourself. Even in my old age, I still feel like I’m learning something new about myself every day. So it’s okay to feel lost, but you’re not alone, mijo. The people who love you will be here to support you unconditionally.”

“Even if I’m your stubborn son?”

“Especially if you’re my stubborn son.”

Ximena pulled Jayce deeper into her hug, and whatever tears started to form in his eyes turned into tears of laughter as she started to play rough with her son. “Okay, okay— Mom!” Jayce scolded once he finally broke free from his mother’s grasp. He took a deep breath as he settled himself, smiling fondly at his mom. “Thanks for everything, mom…”

“Te amo mucho, Jayce,” Ximena said as she returned the smile, reaching over to pat her son on his head. “So, it’s been a while since we’ve seen your father— why don’t we give him a life update, hm? And also so I could hear it, too,” she teased. “I’m starting to think this whole Marcus thing is deeper than just you getting suspended— but I’m still mad at you for that, by the way…”

“I know, I know— sorry…” Jayce replied with a nervous chuckle. Where does he even start with this story? Jayce felt like so much has happened in the past few months, but it could be good for him to lay it all out for his parents to hear. 

Jayce gazed at his dad’s headstone, a sheepish smile on his lips. “Hey, dad… Do you remember Viktor? He’s my best friend— well, actually, we haven’t been best friends for a while… See, after I left the Doom Bots Final last year to play for the varsity hockey team and their finals, Viktor kinda stopped talking to me. I felt really bad about it, but I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t enjoy the fame and popularity it got me at school. It all got in my head, and I started ignoring my real friends because of it… I was a dick, basically.”

“Language,” Ximena scolded quietly, lightly smacking her son on his arm.

“Sorry, sorry…” Jayce apologized. “Well, it’s been kinda downhill since then. I was trying so hard to fit in this mold of people’s expectations for me, but actually I was just forcing myself to be whatever they wanted… I was giving my all to people who don’t actually care about me or what I want, so I decided to do something selfish for myself. I wanted to make it up to Viktor, and to Vi and Caitlyn— to all the friends I let down because of what I did.”

Jayce’s face flushed red as he started thinking about what he would say next. “And it turns out, um… It turns out that I wanted to be Viktor’s friend again so bad because, well, I like him… And we’re kind of dating, I guess…”

“Jayce!” Ximena exclaimed. Jayce jumped at his mother’s voice and looked at her with alarm. Her expression was shocked at first, but then it turned into a wide grin. “Oh, I knew it! You two are so sweet with each other— I’m happy for the both of you! Ah, but what about Mel? Did you two break up?”

Oof, this again, Jayce thought to himself. “Um, it’s a long story— Basically, we weren’t actually dating… but we’re still really close friends!” Jayce sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “But yeah, Viktor and I are together…”

“Hm, and what does Marcus have to do with all this?” Ximena asked, her voice low and cautious. She placed her hand atop Jayce’s again, comforting him as he continued his explanation.

Jayce sighed, pulling his lips tight as he rolled his eyes. “Marcus is… jealous of me, I guess. Jealous because of my popularity, because of my friends, or my relationships— it doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that he’s been trying to ruin my life. We had this… deal, where as long as I promised not to talk to my friends, he wouldn’t post these incriminating pictures of me, Mel, and Viktor. He was gonna make up some stupid story about how Mel was cheating on me or whatever— it’s dumb. But what’s even dumber is that I let him hold it over my head, and I stopped talking to my friends like he asked… But then I realized I don’t need him, or Salo, or Maddie— I don’t know why I cared so much about them or what they thought of me. I realized I don’t need their validation, because my real friends are the ones who care about me. So I stood up to Marcus— and yes, I might’ve punched him, but it was because he was putting his hands on Viktor. I just can’t stand around and watch him bully people, or take whatever he wants. It was wrong, sure, but someone needed to take him down…”

“Oh, Jayce, always the hero, aren’t you?” Ximena said as she lovingly pinched her son’s cheeks, much to his mild annoyance. “Violence is never the answer… but I’ll excuse it just this one time— your father isn’t one for bullies either.”

Jayce’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Oh yeah,” said Ximena, a nostalgic look falling on her face. “We were at a bar this one time, maybe it was one of our first few dates back in college. Honestly, I wasn’t too sure about your father yet— he’s nerdy and endearing, but we were just friends at that point. He noticed some guy was harassing another girl at the other end of the bar, and maybe he had one too many drinks — or maybe he just wanted to impress me, — but he just walked up to him and punched him in the face.”

“What?” Jayce said incredulously, but there was a wide grin on his face.

Ximena chuckled at the wonder in Jayce’s eyes. “Eh, we all got kicked out of the bar and I had to drag your dad back to his dorm, but I started falling for him a bit more after that night…”

“Pfft, because dad beat up some guy at a bar?”

Ximena scoffed. “Hear that, César? Your son thinks so highly of you,” she said in a teasing tone. “No, actually he was the one who got beat up— all battered and bruised and drunk as I dragged him across campus. He kept apologizing the whole night, saying he was sorry for ruining our date… But he said he would’ve done it anyway. No matter what people think of him, he stands up for what he believes in— even if it’s against a guy who’s a whole foot taller than him.” Ximena chuckled to herself, reaching towards Caesar’s headstone and gently caressing it. “If there’s one thing about your father— he’s foolish, but he’s brave. Just like you.”

Jayce felt a warmth bloom in his chest as a small grin curled on his lips. “So, what you’re saying is dad wouldn’t be mad at me for punching Marcus.”

Ximena barked a laugh. “Oh, he would be so proud of you, Jayce.”

Chapter Text

Viktor was restless all weekend. How could he not be? He turned his whole apartment upside down looking for that damn USB stick, but it was nowhere. His only hope was that it turned into the Lost & Found, or that it was thrown away. Viktor couldn’t know peace until he was sure that thing was gone. The weekend rolled along and the first thing Viktor did that Monday morning was check the front office. While they did have some USBs turned in for the Lost & Found, none of them were his. He then trailed his way back to the scene of the crime, the courtyard where Marcus confronted him. He checked the ground as much as he could, even checking obscure corners or peering underneath lockers (as much as his knee and back would allow, of course), but nothing. He couldn’t find it anywhere. Viktor wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or terrified.

The first period bell rang, so Viktor scurried along to Mr. Wood’s class. Jayce was only suspended for the weekend, which meant he should be back in school today. What surprised Viktor was that when he arrived at his classroom, Jayce was already there. He was quietly looking through the homework they were assigned last week, his head perking up when Viktor approached.

“G-good morning, V!” he said in a bright yet nervous tone. There was a light dusting of pink on his cheeks, his smile crooked yet endearing. The sight of him let Viktor relax; everything was going to be okay.

“Good morning, Jayce,” he replied with a small smile.

Viktor sat down in the seat next to him, and class went on as usual. It felt oddly… normal. There was still an unease that tingled underneath his skin, like he was anticipating something horrible to happen out of nowhere, but it never came. Second period arrived, and Viktor watched Jayce and Mel give their morning announcements as usual— no hiccups there either. When lunch came around, Jayce actually sat with him and Sky. It was just like old times. Sky did find it awkward at first (Jayce hadn’t sat with them in years), but they soon fell back into their usual banter. Moment by moment, that unease started to dissipate, and before Viktor even realized, the school day was over.

“So, are you doing anything after school, V?” Jayce asked eagerly as soon as the final bell rang.

“Well, um—” Viktor hesitated. Mondays meant work for him at the Book & Cranny, but Jayce doesn’t know that. Not yet, at least— there wasn’t any point in hiding it from him anymore. “I actually have work— I work at the Book & Cranny…”

“Oh, really?” Jayce said with surprise. “Since when?”

“Um, since the fall, actually… I’ve been working there for a while now,” Viktor replied with guilt.

Jayce raised his eyebrows. It was clear from how he paused that Jayce was calculating something in his mind, probably putting two and two together to realize that Viktor was working at the bookstore the day they went there. “Why have you never told me about this?” he asked, and Viktor couldn’t discern his tone at all.

Viktor swallowed thickly. “I, uh, just didn’t want you to know about it, I guess…” he replied. He still wasn’t sure about telling Jayce the truth, the truth that he hid it from Jayce because he planned to humiliate him. He wanted to sweep it all under the rug and forget about it.

He expected Jayce to be mad, or at the very least be upset with him. But instead, he smiled brightly at Viktor. “I guess we all have our secrets, huh?”

Viktor was stunned. “You’re not… mad at me?”

“No! Why would I be?” Jayce scoffed. “Hey, I mean— I didn’t tell you I worked at the repair shop for the longest time, so it’s fine, V.” Jayce gently took Viktor’s hand in his as they got ready to leave class. “Is it okay if I walk you to the bus stop?”

Viktor felt an ache in his chest. Truly, what did he do to deserve someone like Jayce? Warmth blossomed in his chest as he smiled back at him. “Yes, I would love that.”

Viktor was still haunted throughout the week, worried that something bad would happen, but as the days passed, his fear slowly waned. Days were mundane, yet it wasn’t boring. Viktor spent more and more time with Jayce and his friends, and it seemed that the popular kids left them well-enough alone. Word had already gone around that Jayce quit the hockey team, as the posters around the school with his face on it were torn down. 

Viktor could tell that all eyes were on Jayce, whispers spreading about the apparent confrontation he and Marcus had. Details about their argument were vague, probably because it could paint either Jayce or Marcus in a bad light, and the school seemed divided on who they supported. Viktor was aware of the strange tension that hung around Jayce, and yet the boy didn’t seem affected by it all. In fact, Jayce seemed happier than he’s ever been.

Jayce was laughing louder, smiling wider, and he was more outwardly affectionate towards Viktor (much to his embarrassment). It wasn’t a secret between their friends that he and Jayce were together, though it was still awkward for them to refer to each other as ‘boyfriends.’ They both still preferred the term ‘partners.’

School came to an end on Friday, and as Vi and Caitlyn dragged Jayce hastily out of class for reasons unknown to him, Viktor made his way over to the Robotics Club. Team Hextech would be returning to the Doom Bots Finals with their champion Blitzcrank, and their competition was just around the corner. Viktor was just so proud of the team, eager to once again meet with some of the greatest minds in all of Runeterra to compete with their impressive robots. As usual, Sky greeted him as he entered and soon enough the rest of the team poured in, everyone buzzing with excitement as they approached the finals.

“Alright everyone, Doom Bots Finals is in two weeks,” Viktor began, voice rippling with energy. “Though it feels far, that is no excuse to get complacent.”

“Exactly!” chimed in Sky, equally as enthused. “This week, we’ll be running repair checks and other final adjustments— we want to make sure our boy Blitz is good to go for his big competition!”

Viktor combed through a checklist he had on his clipboard, an itinerary for their finals game plan. “Powder will be shadowing Sky as a backup controller for Blitz— Mylo and Ekko will be running the repair checks with me— Claggor, I understand you might not be able to make it due to a prior commitment?” asked Viktor as he looked up at the other boy.

“Um, yes,” replied Claggor with a slight guilt in his voice. “Varsity hockey’s got their finals on the same day, unfortunately…”

“Odd how that happens twice…” Sky muttered beside Viktor.

Before they could continue on with their meeting, the door to their club room opened slowly. All heads turned to see who was entering, as they really weren’t expecting anyone else to join them. Viktor’s eyes widened in surprise when he realized who it was.

“Uh, is it too late to join the Robotics Club?” came Jayce’s sheepish voice, a small smile on his face as he entered the room.

“Jayce?!” Powder and Ekko yelled excitedly as they both got out of their seats.  Viktor was speechless at first, heart racing in his chest as Jayce walked up next to him with a solemn expression on his face. 

“I know I’ve done bad to the club before, and I’m really sorry…” Jayce began, addressing the whole room with a sincerity in his voice. “But if you would have me, I want to make it up to you guys. So Viktor,” Jayce looked over at Viktor, locking eyes with him, “if you’d let me, I want to join the Robotics Club again.”

“Jayce…” A few months ago, Viktor would have never guessed this would happen. He convinced himself that Jayce didn’t want anything to do with this club anymore, that he didn’t want anything to do with Viktor anymore. But it was clearly different now, and Viktor felt like he was in a dream. A smile slowly inched across his face. “We’d love to have our club founder back.”

Jayce beamed, and it was clear that he was vibrating with energy. “O-okay!” he said with a shaky voice, running up to one of the desks and tossing out a notebook from his backpack. “I’ve, uh, actually been thinking a lot about some improvements for Blitz— I think I might have nailed down a more reliable design for his EMP generator!”

Jayce started frantically thumbing through his notes, and everyone surrounded the table and peered over them. Viktor glanced down at Jayce’s frantic writing and messy diagrams with a confused look at first, but there was something there. Multiple designs and complex calculations, it was clear that Jayce was tearing his hair out over fixing the EMP generator. And on all the pages, Viktor noticed Jayce had signed each page with his initials and with the day’s date. 

That’s when Viktor realized how long Jayce had been thinking about these designs. “Wait, you’ve had these since last year?” he said in disbelief.

Jayce looked away shyly. “Y-yeah… I felt really bad about what happened during the finals— felt horrible that I left you guys without the generator because of my shitty design… So, I’ve been thinking of ways to improve it.”

“You don’t seriously think we can implement this thing in two weeks, do you?” Mylo said incredulously as he picked up the notebook. “I mean, we’d have to run a bunch of tests— and you already said the generator was unreliable to begin with…”

“But look!” chimed in Ekko as he pointed to some of the notes on the page. “A lot of these designs are just remapping some of Blitzcrank’s configurations— we wouldn’t be adding too much to his build to put in all this stuff.”

“And we can scrap some of the older mechanics in him, too!” added Powder excitedly. “If we gut some of his older stuff, I bet we can cram more firepower into Blitz’s moves!”

“I actually have a few ideas that could streamline some of Blitzcrank’s programming. It would draw less power so that we could divert more to the EMP generator.” Claggor looked over at Mylo’s unimpressed expression and shrugged. “It’s worth a shot, and I’d like to help as much as I can before the hockey game.”

Mylo crossed his arms, a deep pout on his face as the other members looked at him, bright-eyed and eager. He sighed. “Fine, I actually think we can do this. But we gotta be quick, spare no expense! And leave all the fine tuning to me— we all know I work better with the nitty-gritty details.”

Viktor couldn’t stop himself from grinning ear to ear, and Sky was very much the same. He looked over at Jayce, who was just staring at all of them in awe. “So, what do you think of the club?” he asked with an air of cockiness.

Jayce let out an amused chuckle. “What am I even here for? Looks like you guys got this without me!”

The club went on its way with this new task at hand. Viktor already knew the other kids were excited for the Doom Bots Finals, but with the appearance of Jayce it seemed that sentiment just doubled. It took a while for Jayce to adjust to the flow of the club again, but soon enough he was moving and working with everyone like he’d been doing it for years. The other members were impressed with Jayce’s designs and his handling of some of the equipment, and Jayce was equally as delighted to see how talented the other members were. It made Viktor's chest swell with pride. With this team, there was no doubt in his mind that they’d be the best ones in the whole competition.

When their club meeting finished, the members left the room with grins on all their faces. They were still excitedly chattering about their ideas and the competition that their voices echoed throughout the halls as they left. Viktor and Jayce stayed behind to clean up a bit, and as usual Jayce offered to give Viktor a ride home. Viktor felt like he was floating, his body light sans the worry and doubt he had earlier in the week. The car ride back to his apartment was filled with conversation and laughter, and Viktor was filled with a happiness he hasn’t felt in a long time.

“Hey,” called out Jayce as they approached Viktor’s front door.

“Yeah?” Viktor replied.

“I, uh, was wondering if you’re free tomorrow,” Jayce said as he rubbed his neck nervously, eyes cast aside with a faint pink glow on his cheeks.

Viktor cocked an eyebrow at Jayce. “Yeah, but don’t you have a game—?” He cut himself short when he realized.

Jayce just smiled softly at him. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Viktor paused; it was like he short-circuited. Yes, they’d been together for a while now, but they had never been on an official ‘date.’ Viktor doesn’t even know what would qualify as a date in the first place. All of the previous times he and Jayce hung out just the two of them would count, like that time at the repair shop or the concert on New Year’s Eve. But obviously it was different now, because Viktor felt differently about Jayce. The feelings he’d brushed aside for so long in lieu of his petty revenge plot were starting to surface, and now he didn’t have the strength to ignore it anymore.

“S-sure,” came Viktor’s shy response. Now he was blushing, too.

“Great! I’ll pick you up for dinner then. Oh, and wear something nice!” Jayce took Viktor’s hand, expression soft and loving. “I’ll see you tomorrow, V.” 

Jayce closed the distance between them, pressing a gentle kiss on Viktor’s forehead. Viktor just stood in the hall dumbfounded as Jayce walked away with a certain skip in his step. He couldn’t stop a grin from stretching across his face, and as soon as he got back into his apartment, he jumped into bed and squealed into his pillows.

✧✧✧

Viktor stared at the crooked mirror in his bathroom for far too long. He truly never cared so much for his appearance before, but tonight was different. Tonight, he and Jayce would be going to their first, official date. Viktor didn’t have many ‘nice’ clothes since his closet contained mostly of ripped jeans, dark graphic tees, and the occasional thrifted sweater. So, he opted to just wear the same silk red shirt he wore for homecoming. 

Fitting, he thought, since this was the same outfit he wore when he and Jayce kissed for the first time, a memory that he looked on a lot more fondly now. Viktor’s face flushed as he wondered what Jayce would be wearing, and he had to smother the embarrassing thought that Jayce would look good in anything he wore. The perfect Jayce Talis…

As Viktor stared at his reflection, those feelings of self-doubt started bubbling up again. What in the world did he do to deserve someone like Jayce? If anything, he’d been so against Jayce up until recently. As much as it pained him to remember, Marcus’s words from last week echoed in his mind again.

“Deep down, you surely must know you’re nothing compared to him.”

Viktor shook his head; he couldn’t be having these thoughts again. But these feelings still lingered, an issue he can’t keep running away from, especially if he intends to continue dating Jayce. It would be easy for these feelings of doubt to turn into feelings of resentment, and Viktor already had a taste of what that could do to him— drive him towards a path of vengeance. 

For the first time in what felt like a long while, Viktor thought about the USB again. After all this time, it still hadn’t turned up, and he hoped it would stay that way. As long as it did, Viktor wouldn’t need to come clean to Jayce about his plan and further strain their newly reforged relationship. Viktor could just move on like nothing happened.

Viktor jumped at the sound of his phone vibrating, and he immediately grabbed it to see that Jayce had texted him. 

(Texting Jayce.)

Jayce: Hey, I’m parked outside!

Viktor: Okay, I’ll be out soon.

Jayce: No worries, take your time :)

Jayce: I’ll see you in a bit!

Viktor smiled down at his phone. He grabbed a coat as he left his apartment, locking his door on the way out. Just outside on the sidewalk, Jayce was leaning against the side of his car. Viktor immediately flushed at the sight of him. He wasn’t wearing anything too fancy, just a neatly ironed white button-up shirt tucked into his jeans, but it was the way that he presented himself that made Viktor’s heart flutter. He exuded a strange new confidence in how he held himself, hands in his pockets as he leaned coolly against his car, and the way his face brightened as he saw Viktor approach just made his chest swell even more. 

“Hey V!” Jayce greeted with a wide grin. “Ready for tonight?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” Viktor said with a shy smile. Jayce opened the passenger side door for him, and he settled himself in his seat as the other boy circled around the car and got in the driver’s side.

“Don’t worry, it won’t be too fancy,” Jayce said with a shrug, “but I hope you’ll still enjoy it.”

Jayce drove them across the bridge to Piltover, but they didn’t venture too far into the city before parking right outside what looked like a local diner. Hanging above the front door was a large, bright neon sign that said ‘Leona’s,’ and from the front windows, Viktor could clearly see that there were several customers inside feasting on their meals. As they walked into the diner, the scent of fresh food and warm bread hit Viktor immediately, making his mouth water and stomach rumble. They approached the front counter where a worker was calling some names from a list she had.

“Daryl for five?” she called out, looking for a response before noticing the two boys approach. “Oh, good evening! Table for two?”

“Ah yes, actually I called earlier about a reservation?” Jayce said tentatively.

“Right, under ‘Jayce?’” The boy nodded, then the worker checked something off her list. “Perfect! Just follow me this way.”

The worker led them over to one of the booths by the window, offering them a view of the streets outside. Viktor and Jayce took their seats across from each other, and they were handed some sticky menus to comb through. The boys thanked the worker before she walked back to the front counter, and the two of them began scanning through the diner’s dishes.

“I honestly haven’t been here in a long time, but it’s nice to see this place hasn’t changed much!” said Jayce with a bright smile. 

“Let me guess, you went here as a kid with your parents?” Viktor asked with a teasing grin.

“Ha, how did you know?” Jayce joked back.

Viktor glanced back at the menu and was bombarded with options. In classic diner fashion, it felt like this place offered any and all cuisine from all over Runeterra. Breakfast options, steak, pasta, burritos… was that sushi on the menu? Viktor had no gauge on the quality of anything on the menu, but he does have a bit of a sweet tooth, and those pancakes on the first page looked quite tempting. 

Moments later, a server passed by and grabbed their orders: Viktor asked for the strawberry pancakes platter, and Jayce ordered their classic cheeseburger. The server left behind some water before taking their menus, and the two boys quickly dove straight into conversation about their upcoming robotics finals.

“I have to say, everyone on the team is amazing,” Jayce praised. “Though, it kinda feels like that Mylo kid hates me…”

Viktor scoffed. “Eh, Mylo’s a bit rough around the edges but he’ll get used to you. But I will say, those designs you brought in are nothing short of ingenious— it’s good to know your wit hasn’t dulled out from spending time around those airheaded jocks.”

“Hey, Claggor’s on the team, too!” said Jayce with a laugh. The two of them shared a chuckle for a moment before Jayce’s face fell soft. “I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me say this, but I really did feel horrible after leaving you guys last year… I’ve scrapped so many different designs, made tons of calculations and reconfigurations just trying to fix the issue— when what I really needed to fix was what happened to us.” Jayce reached over the table, hands clasping over Viktor’s as he looked at him with a sad smile. “I’ll never stop saying this, but truly… Thank you, Viktor. For everything.”

Viktor’s face flushed for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. Jayce’s sincerity was something he adored, but also something that left him flustered everytime. And yet, it also left him with a pit in his stomach. Jayce has kept his promise to be genuine to him, but what about Viktor? There were still these underlying feelings of self-doubt churning within him, something he hadn’t thought about until this morning. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to dwell on it any longer lest it consume him, but even then he struggled to even accept those feelings, let alone revealing them to someone like Jayce.

But Viktor supposed, if there was anyone he could tell, Jayce would understand.

Their food arrived, and Viktor was greeted with a glorious stack of pancakes, topped with whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Jayce meanwhile had a large cheeseburger paired with fries, the smell of meat and cheese filling the air. The two dug into their meal without much dialogue, and Viktor savored the fluffy sweetness of his pancakes. The texture was light and buttery, and the strawberries added a touch of acidity that really brightened the whole dish— it tasted amazing. 

As the two boys continued their conversation, Viktor started to idly wonder what makes this date a ‘date.’ If anything, it felt like any other time he had eaten together with Jayce, just with a fancy new label. They weren’t even talking about anything implicitly romantic, just complaining about schoolwork or brainstorming more ideas for the Robotics Club. To Viktor, it wasn’t any different than how they would talk as friends.

But then Viktor noticed it— Jayce’s fond smiles, his constant reaching out to hold Viktor’s hand, the soft praises he sprinkled into almost every sentence he speaks. Sure, it had been a while since the two of them sat together like this and talked with no ill-intent, but Viktor was certain Jayce wasn’t this affectionate with him. It made Viktor’s heart race. Feeling the way he did for Jayce, he won’t lie— it was embarrassing. But the good kind of embarrassing, the kind that made his cheeks warm, made his chest flutter, and made his stomach somersault a million times over. 

Jayce was his partner now, in every sense of the word.

“And one chocolate milkshake?” came the server as he passed by their table, placing a tall glass of the chocolatey dessert in front of them.

“Um, I don’t think we ordered this,” Viktor said tentatively as he looked up at their server.

“Oh actually, I ordered it for us!” Jayce chimed in with that goofy grin.

“You two lovebirds enjoy!” the server greeted cheerily as he left the two boys.

Viktor stared dumbfounded at Jayce, who continued to grin at him, and then looked at the milkshake in front of them. The glass was frosted with condensation, a layer of whipped cream topped with a cherry floated on the surface of its contents. Two straws were placed in the drink, both that classic red-and-white spiral stripping that looked like it was pulled out of a romcom movie. It was so horribly cliche, something that Viktor would have scorned at, but now… He felt so delighted.

“Shall we?” Jayce asked as he gestured towards the milkshake.

“S-sure…” Viktor said hesitantly, his cheeks flushing pink.

The two of them leaned closer to the drink and placed their lips to their straws. Drinking it was difficult at first, as the milkshake had a thick consistency that made it hard to draw through the straws. But finally, the milkshake reached Viktor’s tongue, and he was able to taste the delicately rich flavors of the chocolate. It tasted good, really good. Viktor’s sweet tooth was wholly satisfied, first by his pancakes and now by this drink. He must’ve been making some kind of face, because Jayce broke off from the drink to bark a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Viktor asked, slightly offended.

“Nothing,” Jayce said as he finally caught his breath. “You just looked really cute.”

Viktor turned as red as the cherry atop their milkshake. 

They both returned to sipping their milkshake in silence. Across from the table like this, Viktor glanced into Jayce’s face, taking in all his features. Even at this age, he could tell that Jayce would grow up to be a very handsome man. He was plenty handsome already (not that he would say it out loud), but he’s sure Jayce will grow even taller than he is now and grow out that stubble that started prickling on his chin. He had a strong jaw, but his cheeks still had some baby fat on them that made his face look squishy (again, not that Viktor would ever admit this). And yet despite these features, Viktor’s favorites were the gap between his two front teeth that showed every time he smiled, or the scar that chipped Jayce’s right brow, giving him an air of intimidation despite his true, soft nature. And of course, there were those bright, curious hazel eyes that stared at Viktor like he was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Viktor then wondered what Jayce liked about him. Maybe it’s a bit egotistical, but his self-esteem could really use the boost. 

The end of their dinner came and Jayce paid their bill (with some heavy protestation from Viktor, who really wanted to split it). But instead of getting Viktor home straight away, Jayce drove them to a park close to Viktor’s apartment. He would always see it as the bus passed by on his way to and from school, but Viktor never really had the time to go visit it. At this time of night, the park was empty, so Viktor and Jayce sat on the swingset, idly swaying back and forth as they looked up at the night sky. With no clouds in sight, the sky was clear and stars so bright away from the light pollution of downtown Piltover. Again, Viktor never found the time to stargaze like this, but it seemed that life slowed down when he was with Jayce.

“I hope you enjoyed tonight,” Jayce said quietly, breaking the pensive silence between them. “I know we didn’t do much, but I had a lot of fun.”

“It was great, Jayce,” Viktor reassured. “This is something I’ll remember for a long time.”

Jayce beamed at him. “Glad to hear it.”

Silence fell between them again, and in that cold evening, Viktor’s insecurities started to settle. He gently kicked himself back and forth on the swing, mirroring the back and forth of his mind as he considered broaching the subject to Jayce. They were alone in the park, interrupted only by a rolling car that passed by, or a pedestrian walking along the sidewalk. It was a quiet, intimate moment, and Viktor wasn’t sure when he’ll next get a moment like this with Jayce.

“Could I… tell you something?” he said quietly, his breath visible in the cold air.

“Of course, anything,” Jayce replied eagerly.

Viktor bit his bottom lip, hesitating one last time before barreling himself into the topic. “I… have never understood why you’ve attached yourself to me.”

Jayce stopped his swaying immediately, planting his feet on the ground as he looked at Viktor with a concerned expression. “What do you mean…?” 

“I mean, you and I couldn’t be any more different, ” Viktor said with a cruel laugh. “You’re from Piltover, with a family that loves you. I’m just an orphan from Zaun, with nothing to his name besides a disability… I’m a flawed person, Jayce, but you’re perfect. Smart, handsome, kind… I’m sure anyone at school would trip over themselves just to be noticed by you. Meanwhile, I’m lower than dried gum that someone tossed on the ground, constantly stepped on and ignored. When people see you with me, I’m sure they’re wondering why — I know I am. Surely there are other people more worth your time than me…

“If I could change anything about myself, I would make myself a perfect person just for you.” Viktor could feel his throat start to tighten up as he spoke, emotions welling up in his chest as he continued to unload these feelings. “That’s what you deserve. Not whatever… this is.”

The two were quiet for a moment. Viktor was starting to doubt that Jayce heard him at all, but Jayce let out a long sigh, gazing upwards towards the stars again. “So many people in my life have always decided what they want for me. They wanted me to be the class president, so I did. They wanted me to play in the hockey final, so I did. They wanted me to be as perfect as I could be, so I did. They all say they want what’s best for me, but who are they to judge that?” 

Jayce looked over at Viktor with a solemn expression. “I think you were the only friend I had who didn’t want anything from me. Other than do my share of our project work, or show up to our club meetings on time,” he laughed. “You let me just be… me. And after all this time, of having all these people tell me what I should want, I know what I actually do. I want to be with you, Viktor. If all of my choices so far turned out to be mistakes, let this be the one I get right. I want it to be right.”

“But why me? ” Viktor asked, voice strained. “You could want anyone else, anyone else who isn’t poor or crippled, so why choose me?”

Chains clanged next to him as Jayce got off his swing, and before Viktor could realize it, he kneeled in front of him and placed his hands on his shoulders, gripping tightly. “Because despite everything you’ve gone through, every struggle you’ve faced, it’s shaped you into the person you are now, the very person I admire. I love you, imperfections and all.”

Viktor stared down at Jayce in disbelief as tears slowly started to streak down his cheeks. And Jayce stared back with a look of determination before melting away into a soft fondness, a warmth despite the cold air that surrounded them. Viktor slumped into Jayce’s shoulder as his feelings started to crash into him in waves, his sobs quiet and muffled as Jayce pulled him in closer. But soon, his sobs turned into baffled laughter.

“Wha— why are you laughing?” Jayce asked, half-concerned and half-amused.

“Because— this is the first time I’ve ever truly felt like an idiot,” Viktor said cynically, a large grin on his face despite the tears drying on his cheeks. “But you’re still the biggest idiot, Jayce. An idiot for falling in love with someone like me.”

“Well then, idiot to idiot,” Jayce said with a cautious tone, “what’s going through your mind right now?”

Viktor steadied his breaths, settling himself against Jayce’s body once more by leaning his forehead against his shoulder. “Truthfully, I still don’t understand what you see in me.” At this statement, Viktor could feel Jayce tense underneath him. “But it would be cruel of me to deny you what you want. And I can’t deny it either…” 

“Deny what?”

Viktor pursed his lips, heart starting to race in his chest again. “I can’t deny that… I’m in love with you, too, Jayce.”

Jayce pulled himself away from Viktor for a moment, looking into his amber eyes in disbelief. “W-wait, really?”

Viktor felt his cheeks warm up. “Don’t make me say it again, Talis,” he warned playfully. “But… yes, I really do.”

Jayce laughed incredulously before pulling Viktor into his arms for a tight hug. Viktor pulled them apart again, but then he placed his hands on Jayce’s warm cheeks and pulled him into a kiss. It was soft and tender, both of them sitting on the ground by the swingset, held in each other’s grasp. The cold air nipped at their skin, but it didn’t matter. Between the two of them, there was enough heat to keep them warm in that brisk evening. The stars twinkled above them, and for a moment it felt like time had stopped. Viktor could sit in this peaceful moment forever, wrapped tight in Jayce’s arms as he pressed his lips against his. He had to admit it now: Viktor is in love with Jayce Talis.

Jayce was the one to break off the kiss first, panting heavy as they separated. “We should get home before we catch a cold.”

“Or worse, get caught by enforcers for loitering so late at night,” Viktor added.

“Eh, I’ve had my run-in with the law before. They’re easy to run away from,” Jayce replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Viktor just looked at him incredulously. “You’re gonna have to explain this to me later.”

✧✧✧

Monday morning came, and Viktor was excited to spend another eventful week with Jayce. With the Doom Bots Finals around the corner, he found himself brimming with energy and thoughts on how to best improve their game plan for their big competition. He looked forward to hanging out with his friends, maybe even joining in on their D&D this upcoming Wednesday since he had the day off. It truly felt that the storm had cleared and that blue skies were on the horizon. 

And of course, he couldn’t forget the date he had with Jayce over the weekend. The memory of that night at the park still lingered in his mind, filling his chest with a blossoming warmth.

As Viktor got off the bus, Sky immediately found him and joined at his side. “Good morning, Vik!” she greeted brightly.

“Good morning, Sky,” Viktor returned the greeting. 

“So, what were you up to this weekend?” Sky began as they walked towards campus.

Viktor flushed at the question, shyly looking away as he recalled what happened with him and Jayce. “Ah, well, Jayce and I may have…”

Sky gasped dramatically, interrupting Viktor’s sentence. “Wait, did you guys go on a date?!” she yelled, making Viktor’s ears ring.

“Yes, Sky, we did,” Viktor said with a small chuckle. 

“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod,” Sky muttered incomprehensibly. She grabbed Viktor by his shoulders and started playfully shaking him in her excitement. “Ah, I’m so happy for you guys! So tell me, how was it?”

“Eh, well—” 

Viktor’s words came to a screeching halt when he realized a large crowd was forming in front of them. They were just outside the entrance to their school, but several students were crowding around the front doors, trying to peer over each other as they whispered amongst themselves.

“What do you think’s going on?” Sky muttered worriedly.

An unsettling pit formed in Viktor’s stomach. “I have no idea.”

They pushed themselves through the crowd, forcing themselves through the front doors to see what all the fuss was about. What they saw made Viktor’s heart jump to his throat. All over the walls were printed pictures, taped and plastered on almost every surface. It was on the doors, over the lockers, some had even ended up on the floor. Other students looked at the pictures with confusion, but then some of them started to laugh and point at its contents.

“What the hell— Are these—?” Sky grabbed a handful of the pictures that were on the wall next to them, glaring down at the images with a distraught look. She then looked over at Viktor with a devastated expression. “Viktor—”

It was Jayce. These were all pictures of Jayce. And not just any pictures, they were all Viktor’s pictures. The ones he had in that flash drive, the one he was certain would be gone for good. Someone found it, saw the pictures, and posted them all over campus. There was no sense in hiding it, because the other students understood it well enough. Like a chorus, everyone in the hall started laughing and gawking at the images, and as more and more students entered campus, more of them followed suit.

“No way, is this seriously Jayce?”

“Holy shit, he’s such a fucking loser.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe he’s really that lame…”

“This can’t be happening,” was all Viktor could say. It felt like he stopped breathing. “No, no, no— this isn’t real—”

“Viktor, I thought you got rid of these photos?” Sky said accusingly, but her anger immediately dissipated once she saw the distressed state Viktor was in.

Viktor didn’t know what to do. He just ran up to the other students, grabbing the photos straight out of their hands before heading to a stretch of wall and tearing down the photos. It was futile, he knew this. He could see that the photos were all over, spreading farther into the school and possibly all over campus. This felt like a nightmare.

“What the fuck is going on?” came another voice, and in a moment of lucidity, Viktor recognized Vi, Caitlyn, and Powder entering campus.

“Viktor, what is the meaning of this?” Caitlyn asked, unaware of the despair that wrought havoc in Viktor’s body.

It felt like the sounds of muttering and whispers grew louder and louder, filling Viktor’s head as more and more questions kept getting flung his way. Sky and his other friends approached him, but despite seeing their mouths move, he couldn’t comprehend anything they were saying— everything was too loud. His vision started to shake, his breaths were getting more shallow, and all in his head he kept repeating: This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening—

And then suddenly, silence. No one was asking him questions anymore. No one was looking at him anymore. Instead, everyone’s attention turned to the front doors, staring down at the person who just entered the hall.

Jayce.

“What’s going on…?” he asked slowly, brows furrowed as he gazed at the onlookers with muted horror. “Viktor? Are you okay?”

Viktor would’ve barked a laugh if he didn’t feel like he was going to throw up. Despite the utter chaos that has befallen the school, Jayce was the one who was concerned for Viktor.

When Viktor didn’t respond, Jayce turned his attention to the photos. He grabbed them in his hands as basically everyone in River Pilt High watched his every move, judging him from a distance. He scanned the photos, realization slowly hitting him as he understood what these pictures were. And worse yet, Viktor could see that feeling of betrayal settle on Jayce’s face.

“Where did these photos come from…?” he asked, voice small and pathetic. “No one else should’ve— how else would they have—?”

The morning bell rang above them, signalling the start of classes. Despite this, everyone in the hall hesitated before moving on to their class, eyes still locked on Jayce, before the shuffles and whispers echoed in the halls once more. But Jayce stood still. Viktor stood still. All their friends watched in confusion at the scene unfolding between them.

“How else indeed,” came a sly voice from the crowd. Viktor didn’t need to turn his head to know who it was.

Marcus.

“You should’ve listened to me, Jayce,” he continued to goad as he approached their group. “I did always say that you can’t trust a Zaunite.”

“Wha— what do you mean?” Jayce asked, and Viktor just watched in horror as Marcus handed something to Jayce— a piece of paper.

“It seems your little ‘boyfriend’ here hasn’t been as loving as you think he is.” Marcus shot a glare at Viktor, equal parts sardonic and cruel. 

Jayce took the paper in his hands, scanning the words on the page as betrayal fell on his face, and that’s when Viktor realized what it was that he was reading: that letter he wrote on the USB. Marcus had the USB this whole time. 

“But I do have to thank you, Viktor, ” Marcus continued, soaking Viktor’s name in as much venom and animosity as he could, “since it seems we had the same goal after all: to give our buddy Jayce here a wake up call.”

Jayce finished reading the letter, then looked up and around at the photos posted on the walls. Then he looked at Viktor, pain and anguish plastered all over his face. “You did this? You took these photos?”

“J-Jayce, I—”

“Aw c’mon, don’t be so modest, Viktor!” Marcus said with glee as he clamped a hand around Viktor’s shoulder, jostling him slightly in faux playfulness. Viktor just rattled in place like a pile of bones. “These photos you took are amazing! And man, what a great plan— to get close to Jayce just so you could take these extremely embarrassing and humiliating photos of him!”

Viktor could see a rage burning behind Jayce’s eyes as he glared at Marcus. “He’s wrong. Tell me he’s lying, Viktor.”

“Yeah, tell him, Viktor,” Marcus spurred on, his voice going low and dark.

Viktor couldn’t breathe. It felt like there was void in his chest. The world was spinning in his vision. Yet despite the blur, Viktor could only focus on Jayce and his hurt expression. “I didn’t mean to— these photos weren’t supposed to go out—”

“So you did take these photos?” Jayce said, voice growing louder.

“N-no— I mean, yes — no, not like that—” Panic started to rise in Viktor’s voice.

“You— You wanted to embarrass me? That’s why you—” Jayce glanced at the words on the letter again and turned to look at the photos on the walls once more. His voice was so loud now, and it was echoing through the halls. An unchecked anger was rising in every word he spoke. “ That’s why you became friends with me again? Just so you can take these photos of me behind my back?”

“Jayce, please—” Viktor took a step forward, trying to reach out to Jayce, but he recoiled. Hesitant, unsure, unwilling. He looked down at Viktor like he was disgusted with him. That expression on his face broke Viktor’s heart into a million pieces.

“You were lying to me this whole time…?” Jayce asked, his voice broken.

“No!” Viktor yelled. “No, Jayce— what I said that night in the park is true, I loveyou—”

“But how can I trust you?” Jayce shouted back. “How do I know you’re not lying to me— that you’re not just doing this to get close to me and tear me down, embarrass and humiliate me?”

“Jayce, please calm down—” Sky intervened, and Viktor finally remembered that their friends were still in the hallway, too.

“I— I can’t—” Jayce stepped back, clutching the letter tightly in his fist. He looked at his friends, who were onlookers this whole time. He looked back at the photos with pain and sorrow in his eyes. His breaths grew quicker, his chest heaved as tears started pricking in his eyes.

He locked eyes with Viktor one last time. Viktor, who was pleading for Jayce to stay, so he could explain everything to him. So he could apologize. So he could tell Jayce that he really, truly loved him.

Then, Jayce sprinted out the front door and left everyone else behind.

“Jayce, wait—!” called out Caitlyn before running after him. Vi and Powder hesitated before chasing after Caitlyn as well. It felt like time started moving again, and everything wasn’t in slow motion anymore. Viktor didn’t know exactly when, but Marcus had disappeared, presumably off to class. It was just Sky and Viktor in the hallway now.

All of his emotions crashed into him at once, and he lost strength in his legs. He toppled to the floor, with barely enough time for Sky to leap forward and catch him before he hit the ground. He couldn’t cry. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t feel. He was empty.

Jayce is gone.

Chapter Text

Hi all! I wanted to update everyone on the progress of this story since I've been gone for a while. I did post a small update over on my Tumblr, but I understand that not everyone has seen it. I thought best to update here since it'll reach more of you guys who want more JTiaL!

So, the day I posted Chapter 18, my car got broken into that night ;0; People often joke about the AO3 curse but that moment kinda solidified it for me lol. I want to say that we're all safe and nothing super valuable got stolen (for context, my friend left her stuff in the backseat of my car and it got snatched unfortunately, but she only had a few Yu-Gi-Oh decks in there, which she's assured me aren't really worth that much anyway).

A few days later, I got a call from a place I applied to saying that I got the job offer! This is great news for me since I've been working a part-time job for a while now, and I've been wanting a more stable job with stable income. The only issue with that is, the job is about 2 hours away from where I currently live, so I knew I had to also plan to move out. All of that has already been settled as of this update, but I'm still in the process of moving out since the apartment will be available at the end of April. So, I've been driving back and forth 2 hours for my current job, which has honestly been draining. I haven't found the time to write since by the time I get home, I'm exhausted, and I've reserved the weekends for packing up my things and getting ready to move. In short, I've just been very busy with no time to write ;0;

That's why, with a heavy heart, I have to put JTiaL on hiatus until further notice. Hopefully once I've moved out and settled in properly in my new place/job, I'll have more time to work on writing since this fic is like my baby. Hell, on my long commutes I truly wish I could write while in traffic because that feels like my only free time at this point lol.

So sorry to have to drop an update like this, but I want to thank everyone for your patience again. I’ll forever feel grateful for the support you’ve given me and this fic, and I hope to see you all at the end of it! :]

Hopefully the next time you’ll see me, I’ll post the *actual* Chapter 19, but until then, see ya later, losers! <3