Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first thing Jayce felt was an overwhelming cold.

It burrowed into his bones and chilled him from the inside out. The freeze was worse than anything he ever felt before. In the back of his mind, he could remember a time when he was just as icy, trudging through snow with his mother, thinking that his life was going to end, that all his dreams were going to die with him.

The next sensation was burning – so bright and powerful he thought he was dipped into a forge. Invisible flames licked up his sides and left transparent burns. It felt like dying all over again; his body torn to shreds, becoming nothing but particles in the vast expanse of space he inhabited, and tied back together with stardust and the magic of the arcane.

Jayce didn’t know where he existed: he knew moments before he had been staring into Viktor’s eyes, peering into the soul of someone he wished he had listened to. If only he destroyed the Hexcore, if only he followed Viktor’s lead, everything would be different. The war between Piltover and Zaun may not have happened; their friends and family would still be alive; the world would not be such a desolate place.

Viktor would have died as himself.

“You think about him alot.” A light voice curled around his ears, coming from a million different directions.

Jayce, growing used to the emptiness – it was rather similar to being in the arcane, tried to turn and face it. “Who are you? Where am I?”

“I wonder if your mortal mind could comprehend it.” The voice was soft, feminine, and closer than before. “Though, you’re smarter than other mortals I’ve met.”

“Answer the question.” Jayce wasn’t in the mood for playing games. He assumed he would be dead; he didn’t want to learn everything he sacrificed was for naught.

“It was a brilliant sacrifice.” A glimmering form appeared before him, a mix of blues and yellows, hues that seemed impossible and yet were in front of him. A face morphed from the light. “Though I’m sure it's not how you originally intended to go.”

Jayce’s shoulders fell. “So I really am dead.”

“Not quite.” The woman stepped forward. She illuminated the world around her. “Think of this as a bridge. You’re neither alive nor dead, just here.”

“Who are you?” He pressed again.

The woman leaned back, squaring her shoulders. The moment she did so authority wafted off of her in brighter waves then the glowing embers. “I am Janna, the goddess of the sea, the spirit of wisdom and harmony, the blue bird of the sea, the protector of Zaun’s dispossessed.”

Jayce’s mouth fell agape. “You’re a goddess.”

“A bit slow on the uptake, but that’s alright.”

He ignored the twist in his gut and the flush of embarrassment.

“Jayce Talis,” Janna’s voice grew stern and rather dark, “Your actions and inactions have caused the pain of hundreds, especially to my people. You wished to ease the suffering of those in need, but in crucial moments you failed to do so.” Janna loomed over him. Her eyes were dark as onyx. “But I admire your passion. There is goodness in your heart that should not be overlooked.” The goddess stalked around him.

Jayce could make out a large scepter in her hand. He was sure it could destroy him just as his hammer had done to Salo. “What are you trying to say?”

“What I’m saying is I want you to have another chance, and perhaps this time you won’t fail so miserably.”

His heart clenched and the sensation of tears filled his eyes. Jayce nearly crumbled on the spot. “Another chance?”

Janna smirked. “How many times must I repeat myself?”

Jayce ducked his head. “I’m sorry, Ma’a- Mada- Gode-”

“Janna is fine.” Her form grew smaller until they were at equal height. Janna still appeared imposing; Jayce could feel heat radiate off her.

“Right. Thank you, Janna.”

“I don’t do this often.” She raised a hand. “The last man I tried to help…” She closed her eyes, a wave of sadness washed over both of them. “He did not understand; he was too consumed with numbers and calculations to understand the more human aspects of the task.”

An image of a man with a similar weakness flashed through Jayce’s mind. “What is it you want me to do?”

The hand came closer, ghosting over the top of his head. “I want you to solve the issues you initially set out to fix. I want you to help the people of Zaun and find a way to demonstrate to Piltover that the Undercity is not to be feared.” Janna’s hand touched him and the heat of lava dripped down his temples. “Most of all, I want you to find the happiness you lacked on your first go around. Find it and it will bring you further than you could have ever imagined.” Jayce clenched his teeth at the searing pain. “I won’t fail you.”

“That’s what they all say.” Bright white seeped into the darkness around them. “You have one year to complete this or else your original reality will return. All those you’ve let down will agonize. Good luck.”

The pain grew worse, spiking through every atom in his body until Jayce felt like he had truly died. That would be easier than suffering through the pain any longer.

As quickly as it grew, it recessed, leaving nothing but a dull ache in its place. He blinked a few times to get his bearings.

The first thing he noticed was the weight in his arms, the second the fact that he was standing. Jayce’s body slumped back and he nearly fell at the sudden reappearance of gravity. Something dropped in front of him and clanging metal filled his ears.

“Jayce!” Two small hands reached out for him, catching him before he slammed into the wall beside him. “Are you alright?”

Jayce shut his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. When he opened them he was met with clear blue eyes. “Cait?”

The girl retracted her hands. Her expression pinched together. “Uh, yes. You were just walking with me back to your room.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “Jayce, are you okay?”

He took in the environment around him. Blue walls, golden trim: in an instant he realized where he was and what was about to happen. “Oh shit.” Jayce nearly tripped over the fallen box as he raced down the hallway.

He wasn’t sent back to the time he thought he’d be, no, in fact, he was several years too early for that. This was the day everything sparked into motion. The day his independent research was discovered; the day his room was blown to bits because there was a break in. Jayce rushed down the hallway at lightning speed. He needed to stop the intruders from getting their hands on the crystals.

Whatever happened next…he’d have to figure it out then.

Jayce ripped his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door as quickly as he could. He stumbled for a moment, nearly dropping his keys in the process, but finally he slammed the door open. “Stop!”

The room became silent.

Three kids stood in the main room: a pink haired girl that Jayce knew in an instant was Vi, a larger boy with goggles he’d never seen, and a scrawny boy with spiky hair he didn’t recognize either. That left one unaccounted for. “Where’s the other one?”

The kids erupted into frantic movements, grabbing everything they could before hauling it towards the window. “Wait, stop! I’ll give you whatever you want, just stop for one second!” The spiky haired boy was the first to stop in his tracks.

“Move it, Mylo!” Jayced internally sighed. Vi was just as angry as a teenager.

“He said whatever we want, do you know a single other Piltie that would do that?”

Vi pushed the boy, Mylo, forward. “We have enough.”

Jayce took another step forward. “Please. There’s something here that I can’t let get into anyone else’s hands.”

Vi glared at him. “And what would that be?”

At least she wasn’t rushing out anymore. “Crystals.” He saw the other boy’s eyes light up at the word. “Not expensive crystals. They…” He struggled to find an explanation. “They’re highly explosive and if anything happens to them they could turn this whole building to rubble.”

Quiet set over the scene once more.

Vi inched forward. She was far younger than when Jayce knew her, but she still had an air of false bravado about her that he knew she’d only build up more and more in her future. “Claggor, Mylo, check the bags.”

“Vi-”

“Check the bags.” She met Jayce’s eye for a moment before she spun on her heel and rushed through the hallway. “Powder! We’re leaving!”

Jayce watched as the boys looked through the bags but found nothing. Mylo looked at him with interest though. “So, everything else is up for grabs?”

Jayce’s shoulders slumped. It was for the greater good. “You can take anything else.” The boys immediately jumped to their feet and went through Jayce’s various shelves and drawers. He tried not to let it upset him. Everything else was replaceable. Janna was giving him one chance and he couldn’t screw it up just because some kids wanted supplies to tinker with.

With a final look at them, Jayce followed Vi’s path. It led to a smaller room down the hall that he used as a personal office: it was where he kept the crystals.

“He’s letting us take anything, Powpow.”

Jayce awkwardly shuffled into the room. “Well, anything but the crystals.”

Jin-Powder looked at him for a moment. Then, she extended her hand towards Jayce. She looked nothing like the girl Jayce knew, one that had the eyes of a tiger and the appetite to match. Several crystals were dropped into Jayce’s hand. “Oh gods.” He cradled them as best as he could. He didn’t realize just how many Powder had taken. No wonder she had become such a threat later in life. He held them close to his chest and looked the girl in the eye. A relieved smile formed across his face. “Thank you.”

Vi nudged her sister’s shoulder.

Powder looked between Jayce and the forgotten sandwiches on his blueprints.

He chuckled. “You can have them.”

She snatched them away and brushed past Jayce. Vi was quick to follow. “You really just left those sitting out?”

“I was in a rush this morning.”

Vi shook her head as she left the room. Jayce could make out the sounds of books being taken and reshelved, metal clinging, and the balcony door opening and shutting. As the noises died down he slumped against the wall. Then, a laugh erupted from him and then another. A few tears dripped down his cheeks as he lost himself in the insanity of the situation. It had been that simple.

A bit more time and everything would have gone wrong once again. A minute more and Jayce’s second chance was over before it had ever really started.

“Jayce, what in the world is wrong with you today?” Caitlyn stood in the doorframe, eyes wide and arms crossed. Her face was flush and Jayce could tell she ran as well. Her eyes drifted down to the glowing crystals in his hands. “What are those?”

“Nothing important.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

He looked over the crystals. They were such small things, looking even tinier in his hands. How did such small things cause such pain and destruction? How did these things help develop the Hexgates? How did they form the Hexcore? How did they lead to Viktor becoming something so unlike himself?

His mind was made in an instant. “I’m getting rid of them. They’re too dangerous to work with. I thought-” He swallowed hard, his eyes squeezing shut. “I thought I could do something with them, but I was wrong.”

Caitlyn nodded but her expression was a mask of confusion. “Okay? Well, I left your things in the front room, which is really a mess.” She took a step back. “I guess I’ll see you later?”

Jayce nodded as well. “I’ll see you later, sprout.” The word nearly brought him to his knees. How long had it been since he had seen Caitlyn like this? Young, full of joy, the anger and grief wiped from her face. She was at peace once again.

He was left in his office, staring down at the crystals. They had to go, but the question was to where. Most attempts to destroy them would just cause even more destruction. Just one of them created an explosion so large it decimated his apartment. Half of the block was left in rubble.

Jayce couldn’t allow something like that to happen again.

He placed them back into the box they had come from. At least now he knew how much they could withstand before they caused any sort of destruction. It had been a freak accident the first time after being handled by people that had absolutely no idea what they were doing. Jayce sifted through a few ideas, though none of them seemed like the best option. There needed to be some sort of way he could get rid of them without anyone else finding them. That was the only way that they could be truly safe, the only way to save the world from the destruction that they could cause.

Second chance. The last chance. Jayce couldn’t screw it up this time around.

Destroying them wasn’t an option; they were too powerful for that. They would end up completely ruining wherever Jayce decided to do it. He couldn’t really leave them anywhere in Piltover, nor in Zaun. Any other region was out of the question as well; Jayce was sure if he sent it somewhere then they would just find a way to weaponize it. Noxus, Bilgewater, Ionia – all of it was out of the question. The one thing he was sure of was that it needed to be secure.

A thought bubbled up in the back of his mind. He’d seen the crystals survive great heat before, though there were certainly levels that could cause just as much destruction as the crystals shattering. It was worth the shot though.

Jayce gathered his things together. He glanced at the blueprints scattered around his desk. Once upon a time, they had been his most prized possessions – just like his notes he had signed them in sprawling script. He sighed as he set the box of crystals down. With a quick look around, he secured a box of matches and his trash can.

“Goodbye Hextech.” Jayce sucked in a final breath as he dropped the papers in the can and lit a match to drop as well. They didn’t immediately go up in flames, it wasn’t dramatic or anything; the flame slowly grew across the paper until finally the blue was consumed by gray ash.

Jayce expected himself to be more upset, to feel a loss inside of him that he was sure nothing else could fill but his dreams of Hextech. But, there was none of that. If anything, he felt apathetic to seeing his past life’s work go up in flames. It wasn’t the most important thing anymore – Jayce could see that; Janna had helped him see that. Heimerdinger was right, they needed more time – even if back then it hadn’t exactly been possible. Hextech wasn’t the wonderful thing he had dreamt up, and now, he wouldn’t let it haunt his nightmares any longer.

This was all about new beginnings, Jayce just had to keep telling himself that.

He waited for the flames to die down and the ashes to settle before he took his bag and tucked the box of crystals into it.

Jayce strode out of his apartment and then down to the street. He marched on past the various citizens of Piltover. He was sure he didn’t send the same grins and smirks paired with bright eyes he would have before. It was difficult to pretend he didn’t have years more of lived experience: not just with Hextech and becoming Piltover’s golden boy, but with everything else that came with warfare and then seeing another world in which everything had gone even worse than his.

He pushed open the doors of the Talis factory. Usually, he went to the factory when he needed to clear his head – the physical labor really did it for him – now however, Jayce was a man on a mission. There were a few employees milling about who he tried his best to nod and smile at. It was what past him would have done and Jayce decided on the trip to the factory that it was in his best interest to act as similar to his old self as possible.

That was what everyone expected from him after all.

Jayce collected his materials and slipped on his gloves, all the while making sure that he kept his eye on the case to ensure that nobody was going to take it. He knew that they likely wouldn’t given the environment – it wouldn’t exactly pan out well for them if they stole something that belonged to a Talis family member – but he couldn’t stop himself. Until the crystals were far away from where they could do harm, Jayce was in charge of them.

He labored at the forge to craft a box to place the crystals in. Alloys that would be difficult to melt down; metal that water couldn’t corrode. Most of all, ensuring that there weren’t any seams that could be ripped apart. Jayce pounded the metal together for hours; just like all of his experiments it took more tries than he would have really liked. There were several scrapped models laying around – only a couple that he had tripped over.

By the time he concluded the moon was high in the sky and everyone else had left the factory. Jayce’s eyes were drooping and sweat dripped from his body. His shirt lay discarded in a pile of failures and the box of crystals sat safely on a table besides him. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he picked up the box with a sinking feeling in his chest. It was now or never.

He set the box inside the larger one and let out a long breath as it slid in perfectly. Jayce didn’t allow himself to celebrate immediately as there was still the most dangerous part and that was sealing the box up completely. Thankfully, it took far less time.

The crystals were tucked away, safe from anyone’s prying eyes.

Jayce slid his shirt back on and buttoned it with aching fingers. He took the metal box and tucked it under his arm. The streets were nearly barren. Jayce knew it was rather late, but he still expected that there would be some people out and about. It was as though the world knew he needed to be alone and it had gracefully granted his wish. Jayce stalked down the streets of Piltover. His body was past the point of exhaustion, but he knew that he had to keep walking, to move as far away from the inner city as he could. He walked – as to not bring too much attention to himself – as quickly as he possibly could to the docks. There was one place nobody could reach and that was the bottom of the sea. He would have liked to throw the box further out, but it wasn’t really a possibility. All he could hope was that there was a dinghy at the docks that he could use to get a bit further out. At least then it was less likely to be brought back up.

Jayce’s arms ached as he rowed the oars. The water was still as the moonlight shone over it. With each stroke he reminded himself why he was doing what he was doing.

For all of those that were hurt and killed in the war between Piltover and Zaun.

For Mel and the suffering she had endured from her mother.

For Vi and the loss of her sister and father.

For Caitlyn and the death of her mother.

For Sky who he learned had been killed thanks to Hextech.

For Viktor: his partner, his closest friend, a man he had spent the better part of his life with and thinking about. He never wanted their friendship to fall apart, but Hextech forced it to do so. Jayce shook his head. He kept blaming everything on Hextech, but he knew there was more than that which caused the fissures that ruined everything that surrounded him. He went about most things in the wrong way: saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things, everything was always wrong when he got involved.

Not this time. Not again.

When he felt that he was far enough out, Jayce set the oars back into the dinghy and lugged up the box. It was heavy and burned his already strained muscles, but it was necessary. All of this was necessary to ensure that the future ahead was bright then the past he left behind. He hauled it over the side of the boat. It dropped into the water with a satisfying gurgle, ripples fanned out around the spot the box had occupied before settling once more to their eerie stillness.

Jayce watched as it sank down into the dark depths below. With each foot it dropped his chest felt that much lighter, the guilt in his gut dispelling. It never left completely, it still haunted him, but it felt a bit lighter. Easier to deal with.

Jayce laid back in the boat and looked up at the stars. He wondered who else was looking up at them. Did Viktor see the same stars? Was Mel looking out at them? Were Vi and Powder safe within their home with wide eyes?

He ran a hand down his face, trying to wipe away the sleep. He still needed to get back to shore though. There were more tasks to be completed. If his hypothesis was correct and the crystals were the starting point that meant that the future ahead of him was completely different from the one he previously lived.

With a huff, he rose and pulled the oars out once more. His arms screamed bloody murder despite his slow pace, but Jayce could barely find it in himself to care. He had possibly saved his entire world, timeline, universe, whatever one wanted to call it. Never in his life – previous or current – had he been filled with such hope. There was a bright light ahead of him and he couldn’t let it dim.

Jayce returned to shore, docked the dinghy, and made his way back home. Tomorrow was going to be filled with a million new possibilities and choices, but first, he needed a good night’s rest.

Chapter Text

Jayce awoke with a start.

“Fuck.”

He gripped his head as the previous day’s memories flashed before his eyes. Part of him wondered if it was all some sort of dream – that he really was dead, or worse, he was stuck in the horrible future filled with nothing but pain. Jayce lifted his head and looked around the room: there were shelves full of books, a portable chalkboard set up beside his window, and some of his clothes strewn across the floor.

It wasn’t a dream; everything was real. He really was back in time.

He let out a heavy sigh, not knowing whether to be thankful or not. His joints cracked as he stretched his arms above him. Even if he was back in his twenty-four-year-old body, he still felt thirty. Maybe even thirty-five.

It was impossible to place what he was supposed to do. What had he done before, all those years ago? None of those memories flooded into his mind. There was one thing he knew for certain: there were events that didn’t happen the day before which he absolutely wanted to happen. Jayce had been so caught up in getting rid of the crystals that it wasn’t hitting him until that moment.

He never saw Viktor.

Part of it made sense – without Vi and her siblings finding the crystals there was no explosion which meant there were no enforcers and that meant that Jayce’s independent research was never found out.

No council

No trial.

No Viktor.

He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his body still trying to catch up with his thoughts. Janna sending him back in time was supposed to fix things, but if he didn’t have Viktor by his side, how was he supposed to do that?

Jayce went through his morning routine and tried to mill over what he was going to do.

He needed to find Viktor, that wasn’t even a question. In a few split moments before he “died” the real Viktor was back, holding onto him. Jayce looked into the other man’s eyes, soaked in his words, and knew that there were a million more unsaid things Viktor wanted to mutter.

Now, he knew that he couldn’t expect this Viktor to think all of those things, at least not at the moment, but that didn’t mean Jayce wanted to give up on the man.

The Viktor he knew in the future had sifted through dozens of timelines and in each one he found the two of them were connected. Jayce had to assume that it was the same in this one.

Teeth were brushed, hair was left alone – Jayce didn’t have it in him at the moment to deal with it – and a bowl of oats was made, it was the only thing he had in his apartment which was sadder than he wanted to admit.

Jayce immediately got to work milling through the things still left in his apartment, which was surprisingly a lot. The kids had taken a fair amount of stuff, but most of them were junk parts anyway. He almost felt bad, as though he should have offered up something better. Jayce shrugged it off as he spent the next few hours categorizing the notes he still had.

Anything related to Hextech or the crystals or his magical dreams were burned and the pile of ash steadily grew. He hadn’t realized just how much he had written about them until he compiled it all and took care to ensure each page was completely gone.

It was when he was finally pulling on a fresh set of clothes that he heard a knock on his door. His brows screwed together. He hadn’t thought anyone was going to stop by, but maybe the whole crystal thing was to blame.

He unlocked the door – hoping that it would magically be Viktor despite the odds. “¿Mamá? What are you doing here?”

His mother rolled her eyes as she made her way past Jayce and into his apartment. “Ay de mi,” There was a smile on Ximena’s face as she placed a container down on the kitchen’s small counter, “have you been too focused on your studies again that you’ve forgotten the plans you’ve made, mijo?”

Jayce rushed through his memories for the first time this day had happened. There was so much to flip through that it took him a minute or two to figure out if this had happened before. Then it hit him. His mother had in fact stopped by before, just for a little. She’d dropped off some pozole before Jayce frantically said – with a large smile across his face – that he had work to get to with his new partner.

He sighed, calmed that things weren’t straying too far away from the first time. At least these memories were good. Safe. “I just… I had an eventful day yesterday.”

Ximena cleared a seat before sitting, setting the papers on a nearby table. “What happened, new experiments?”

How to respond to that?

It was sort of related to his experiments, and his mother already knew how important magic was to him. He’d been one of those kids to practice silly sleight of hand tricks with a massive grin on his face even though he failed miserably at them. Science was a much better calling. Part of him wanted to tell her everything, truly everything, but he was sure that would cause far more harm than good.

Jayce massaged his temples. “Um, well, I’ve sort of scrapped most- all of my past experiments.”

Ximena looked at him with wide eyes. She got to her feet and crossed the distance between them. She pressed a hand to his cheeks and then his forehead. “¿Estás seguro de que estás bien? This isn’t like you. Did something happen?”

He tried to put on his most reassuring smile, but he knew that his mother could see right through him. “It-” he huffed, “it wan’t working out like I wanted it to.”

“Then you try again, no?” She looked up at him. “My son is many things, but a quitter is not one of them.”

Jayce shook his head fiercely. “No, no I can’t do that. These experiments… I never should have started them to begin with.”

“Oh, Jayce.” his mother cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry this happened.”

His shoulders fell. “It isn’t your fault, Mamá, this just isn’t the right path for me.”

They stood like that for a few more moments before Ximena remembered the pozole and quickly got Jayce to sit down. “A nice meal will make you feel better. Ahora, nunca comes bien. No te entiendo.”

“Hay mucho trabajo, Mamá, es difícil.” He let out a chuckle at his mother’s antics. He hadn’t seen his mother this happy in years. She’d endured so much pain because of his actions that at the moment a pang of guilt shot through his heart. If she knew what he had done would she still love him? Would she cast him away? Would she hate him?

Jayce wouldn’t be able to blame her: he hated himself for the things he had done, for what he failed to do. He plastered on his most convincing smile.

Ximena was capable of looking right through it.

She placed a steaming bowl in front of him after a period of time, sitting across from him with her own. “What are you going to do now then?”

Jayce turned the question over in his mind. He really hadn’t thought that far in advance at all. Yesterday all he could think about was the crystals and making sure that they were safe, now he had a whole new future ahead of him that he had to worry about. Even though Hextech was in the dirt, there was still a wave of anxiety that washed over him – as though the job wasn’t really done. Something else had to be stirring beneath the surface. It couldn’t all be because of him. Could it?

He stirred the pozole for fear that if he took a bite it would sink into his stomach like a load of rocks. “I’m, well…” Viktor. The man was the only thing his mind could truly focus on. Whatever was ahead of him he knew he needed the other man for it.

He wanted Viktor by his side.

“There was this other man at the Distinguished Innovator’s Competition. Um, Viktor. His work was incredible, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to talk to him about it.” Ximena quirked her brow. “Oh? How come I’ve never heard about this Viktor before, mijo?”

Jayce hated how his mother could see right through him as though he was glass. “I haven’t met him before, not properly at least.” He looked down at his bowl and forced down a bite. “I guess this is as good a reason as any to finally meet him.” He grinned, a real one this time.

His mother nodded at him, her own smile across her face. “Perhaps he will give you a few ideas as to what your next project will be.”

With Viktor’s image bubbling up in his mind, Jayce was already getting a few ideas. He still wanted to help people – he always wanted to help people – and this time he knew the ways not to go about it. “I have no doubt about that. He’s brilliant.”

“Then you’ll have two brilliant minds working together. Piltover would be lucky.”

“Mamá,” an embarrassed flush rose to his face.

Ximena shrugged. “I’m only telling the truth.”

The two finished their meal with light conversation and Jayce felt as though he could finally relax a little. He had some sort of plan conjured up in his mind, he was going to see Viktor, and he finally got to spend time with his mother after so long apart. Finally, he was experiencing a win after so many years of losses.

Ximena left a while later and Jayce moved to gather his things as soon as the door was completely shut. His bag was stuffed with a few of his journals. In the future, one of them was filled with dozens of designs meant to assist his partner and sketches of Viktor – which he never let see the light of day. Those were for his eyes only.

Now, they were gone, the paper wiped clean. Jayce couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness knowing that they were no longer in his possession. He slammed the journal shut and tucked it away. He’d have more time to fill his books with even more drawings, and maybe he wouldn’t keep those a secret.

Despite only going to Viktor’s place a little more than a handful of times, Jayce knew the path like the back of his hand. He walked down the streets of Piltover with an air of ease, actually enjoying the sunlight and the chatter of the crowds and the smell of street vendors in the air. He was going to see a version of Viktor that he thought was gone forever – someone who still had a shine in his eye and a bit more optimism, though Jayce knew Viktor would never describe himself as an optimist no matter the circumstances.

He wound down the hall, skipping the elevator that Viktor always complained about because it was almost never working. Jayce wanted to slap his past self for not listening more back then.

Jayce couldn’t let those thoughts cloud his eyes though; it was better to look to the future then let his past blind him. Or, well, his past from his future self, or whatever. It was all too confusing if he kept thinking about it in depth. Developing Hextech was easier than this.

It was sooner than later that he found himself standing in front of Viktor’s door. Jayce was frozen in his spot, his hand raised just above the wood. Viktor was so close, but he couldn’t find the confidence to knock.

What if Viktor didn’t care for him? What if he didn’t want to be partners or friends since there was no Hextech? It all seemed like a possibility. Fuck, everything seemed like a possibility to change.

Janna told him to find happiness and if there was one person in the world that could help him find that it was Viktor.

Jayce took a deep breath before he knocked. He heard shuffling behind the door, quicker then he remembered Viktor being – but perhaps that was just a change due to timelines shifting. Before he could back out, the door was swinging open.

“Sky?”

The woman’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting Jayce. “Oh, um, hello. You’re the Talis' son, right, Jayce?”

He tried not to get upset at her not recognizing him, it made sense given the circumstances. “Yes, Jayce Talis,” he outstretched his hand for her to shake. “I’m here looking for Viktor, someone said he lived here.”

Sky deflated a little and Jayce knew he was about to be hit with awful news. “Oh, I’m sorry but he moved out yesterday.”

Shit. “Do you know where he moved to? I wanted to talk to him about a possible partnership after seeing his work at the Innovator’s Competition.” The words felt strange on his tongue. Not even forty-eight hours in and he was stacking up lies.

Sky shifted uncomfortably. “He, well, he couldn’t exactly stay in Piltover so he headed back to Zaun.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. Jayce tried to keep his composure. None of this was Sky’s fault, and he was grateful that she had been the one to tell him, but it didn’t fix the situation. He tried to seem as unphased as possible. “Alright then. Do you know where in Zaun he could be?”

Sky told him as much as she knew. He was aware of some of the details between her and Viktor – enough to know they both grew up in Zaun and around the same area. Jayce gave her a multitude of thanks as he left.

As soon as he turned the corner he slumped against the wall. “He didn’t say anything about this last time.” Jayce wondered if Viktor had been in such a position the first go around. How much had he pinned on Hextech? His life for one, and apparently his spot in Piltover. It made Jayce sick, though he blamed none of it on the man. It wasn’t like he created the system that was currently keeping the two of them apart.

Though Viktor didn’t have the slightest idea.

Jayce had to keep assuming that in order to keep his own head on straight. If Viktor was also sent back in time, he hoped that the man would try to find him. Since he hadn’t done that, and judging by the conversation with Sky, Viktor hadn’t said a single word about Jayce Talis. He was working under the assumption that Viktor had no knowledge about their future and was living as though this was his first time.

It was nearing four, and heading out to Zaun likely wasn’t the best idea in the world, but Jayce didn’t care. He needed to find Viktor as quickly as possible and if that meant traveling down Zaunite streets at questionable hours, then he would.

Jayce didn’t take the time to stop by his apartment again, that would just be wasting daylight. Getting into Zaun was already going to be a hassle and he didn’t want to do it any later for fear that it really would be impossible. He hoped that the guards at the border wouldn’t cause him too much trouble.

Jayce had been in the Undercity before; he’d gone several times to get parts he couldn’t get anywhere else. Just because he had been to the place in the past didn’t mean he really knew how to get around. He was relying on directions Sky had given him, but it was apparent that they were better fitted to someone familiar with Zaun than someone who wasn’t.

He tried to find the landmarks Sky described: the storefronts, the broken pipes, the bridges. Jayce still found himself retracing his steps more than he would have liked, which brought in stares from the people around him. Since he hadn’t stopped by his apartment, he was still dressed in clothes more fit for the streets of Piltover.

That did nothing to stop the stares.

At least he didn’t have to plaster on a fake smile since the Undercity was filled with scowling faces and sneers.

After an hour or so of searching, Jayce found the location Sky had described. It was a bar, or at least that's what he assumed it was: “The Last Drop.” There were people walking in and out, already staggering despite it not even being eight o’clock. “I guess it was happy hour already.”

He took a deep breath as he stepped into the establishment. It was hazy, darkened like the rest of Zaun was. There was the smell of smoke and merriment in the air – though he knew the latter was simply due to the alcohol spread around.

He zig-zagged through the crowd to get to the bar. A bearded man stood behind the counter mixing together a drink for a pink haired girl Jayce would know anywhere. “Vi?”

The girl whipped her head around and the expression of the man behind the counter darkened. “What are you doing here?” The man put a hand up to calm her. “Vander-”

“What can I do for you?”

Jayce took a seat at the bar and tried to look as unimposing as possible. “I’m looking for a friend.”

Vander raised a brow. “You’re looking for a friend around here?”

Despite his attempt to look put together, the apples of his cheeks glowed red. “Uh, yeah. His name’s Viktor; he’s a scientist and I’m hoping to work with him.”

“Viktor?” Another figure popped up from behind the bar. “I didn’t think he made friends with Pilties.” Powder brushed her bangs out of her eyes. In her other hand was a mechanical figure. Jayce couldn’t really make out what it was.

Vi frantically glanced between her sister and Jayce as if he would do something to harm her. “Pow, you’re supposed to be downstairs.”

Powder ignored the other. “You know Viktor?” Out of all the people to know Viktor, Jayce didn’t imagine Powder would be one of them.

The girl hopped up to sit on the counter with Vander’s assistance, sticking close to her sister. At Jayce’s response she seemed more shy, tucking herself away. She wasn’t like the girl Jayce had known before. “He was a really good inventor.” There was a shine in her eyes. “I’ve heard about him from some… other people.”

Jayce tried not to think too much about what that could mean. “I heard from a friend that he’s back in Zaun.”

Powder’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Jayce decided he really needed to ask Viktor more about his life in Zaun this time around, if he answered fully and truthfully that is. “Yeah. I don’t know all the details, but I was wondering where he could be now.”

Vander butted into the conversation. “You know Viktor but don't know where he lives here?”

Jayce held his ground at the man’s gaze. There was a warm air around Vander, but it was obvious he could cause some serious harm if Jayce didn’t tread lightly. “He didn’t like talking about his life in the Undercity.” Not entirely false. He was getting quite good at these half-truths.

Vander seemed to buy it just enough. He turned his attention to the youngest. “You know where he hangs around, Powder?”

The girl shrugged. Vi was giving her a look and she turned to avoid it. “I’ve heard he picks up parts at Benzo’s. If he’s back in town then he’ll probably stop by there.” Powder looked up at Vander, eyes wide. She tinkered with the machine in her hand absentmindedly.

The man looked at Jayce. “Benzo’s shop is a bit down the way.” Jayce scribbled down the directions in his notebook - he’d never taken this route to the shop before, and he wasn’t going to waste more time struggling his way through the Undercity. Just like the ones given by Sky, they relied heavily on landmarks and were more confusing than he would have liked. However, the directions put him one step closer to seeing Viktor again.

“Thank you, really, you don’t know how much this means to me.”

Vi rolled her eyes at Jayce’s words. “Come on Powder, let’s go.”

“Vi-” The older girl shot her sister a look which got her to follow in an instant.

Jayce couldn’t exactly blame her for being cautious of him – he was still well within his rights to call the enforcers on Vi and her siblings, but he wouldn’t. He didn’t know how to make the other believe that though.

He snapped his book shut. He said a quick goodbye to Vander, Vi and Powder were already far away running off to wherever it was they stayed, and Jayce made his way out of the door. It was impossibly darker as he made his way out of The Last Drop. He stuck to streetlights – to which there were few – and strayed from dark alleys – to which there were many.

Jayce felt confidence building in his chest with every step he took. Now he had a few comfortable faces in Zaun that could help in the future. He had been fearful of the Undercity in the past – something he was deeply ashamed of – but he swore that he would change that mentality. Vander seemed like a good man, Vi was someone he at least knew somewhat, and Powder wasn’t the same girl that Jinx was.

There was a bit of anxiety coursing through his veins, after all, the last time he went somewhere expected to find Viktor the man was nowhere to be found. All Jayce could hope was that it didn’t happen twice.

Chapter Text

Jayce’s heart was in his throat as he was pushed open the shop’s door. He was shocked that it was unlocked given the hour, but he wasn’t about to question it. It was quiet in the shop, only a few lights on, but Jayce decided he was about to press his luck a little more. He’d made it through the rest of Zaun, what was one more stop?

He quickly looked around: there were barrels filled with different parts, chests and books, candles were burning atop the large counter, and a man flipping through a book behind it. “Good evening, Benzo.”

The man looked up from his book. He shut it, sliding it under the counter. “Jayce, I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon.” He couldn’t deny that being in the Undercity two days in a row – though it didn’t feel like that in the slightest – wasn’t in the norm for him. It wasn’t as though he had any other option though. “Were the parts unhelpful.”

Jayce shook his head. “I’m thinking of taking my work in a different direction, though your parts were great. Thank you.”

The man leaned back. “Alright, is there anything else I can help you with.”

He looked around another time, ensuring that there was no way that Viktor could somehow be hiding behind a shelf or in some dark corner. The shop wasn’t exactly large enough to make that possible, but Jayce really wanted the other to be there. He sighed. “I’m looking for a friend of mine that Powder said picked up parts here.”

“Who would be?”

“Viktor?” He took another step towards the counter. “I tried looking for him in Piltover, but I was told he moved back to Zaun.”

That really got Benzo’s attention. “Is that so? It must have happened rather recently, I haven’t seen him in a while.” He calmed enough to sort through some of the things on his counter. He smirked and let out a half laugh. “Viktor back in the Undercity, now that’s something I didn’t think I’d ever hear.”

A million questions swirled around Jayce’s head. Viktor never talked much about his life before Piltover, the few details he offered up were few and far between. He had never questioned it before, and never really pushed to get Viktor to talk more since they were so consumed with Hextech and creating new prototypes. Viktor was also focused on keeping himself alive, something Jayce wished he had more of a part in.

“I’m surprised I never ran into him when I was here.” He wished he had; Jayce wished he had accidentally stumbled across Viktor when he was picking up supplies. He knew that the man had played an intricate role in his life from the beginning, so what was one more time of meeting?

Benzo lit another candle. “I’m shocked as well, though Viktor always liked to come at odd hours so there would be less people.”

Jayce smiled softly as he looked through the stacks of books. “That sounds like him.” The shop door creaked open and then closed, rattling on its hinges. Jayce’s eyes shot towards the newcomer.

“Oh Viktor, what a lovely surprise. Your friend and I were just talking about you.”

Jayce cringed. From the miniscule splash of confusion across Viktor’s face he could tell the man really didn’t know who Jayce was. “Hello, there.” Viktor gave him a short glance before meeting Benzo. “It’s nice to be back here.”

“Now do you really mean that?”

“Of course,” Viktor shrugged, “Piltover wasn’t all it was made out to be.”

Benzo collected things under the counter and piled them into a box. “I could have told you that years ago.”

Viktor sighed, a smirk across his face. “And you did.”

Jayce could only look as Viktor gathered together his supplies. He was a bit awestruck. There Viktor was – just a few steps away – but he was once again frozen in his spot. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Viktor didn’t have his crutch, instead replaced by the cane he had the first time Jayce had seen him. He was more steady on his feet, not leaning as heavily on his device. Viktor’s cheeks were fuller, the bags under his eyes a bit lighter than the last time Jayce had seen him.

Something warm ran through Jayce’s heart.

Viktor collected his things, thanking Benzo, before stepping back from the counter. “Good evening.” His eyes were brighter, full of life.

Jayce tried to compose himself. “Good evening to you as well.”

“What are you doing around here?” Viktor’s tone was a bit accusing.

“Um,” Jayce rubbed the back of his neck, “I was actually here to talk to you.”

That appeared to get Viktor’s full attention. “Is that so?” He looked outside the front window. “It’s rather late.”

“I can come back tomorrow if that would be better.”

Viktor grimaced. “Walking back to Piltover at this hour probably isn’t the smartest idea.” He looked at his box once again. “Come with me. I’m staying at an inn down the road. We can talk there.” Jayce didn’t really understand how that would help his predicament in getting home, but he was happy to spend more time with Viktor.

They made their way down the streets after saying a goodbye to Benzo. There was a flutter in Jayce’s stomach as they did so. It was extremely dark and the road was uneven, but Viktor didn’t seem to have a single problem. They walked into near silence, the other man asking a few questions along the way.

Jayce had repeated that he knew Viktor was the competition – a lie he was deciding to run with since it seemed reasonable enough. The words brought a smile to Viktor’s face. “I remember you filing away at your gears while I got extremely sick from nerves.”

Jayce chuckled. “I was just as nervous. I thought it was the only shot I had at showing everyone what I was capable of.” A wave of sadness washed over him. He remembered the first time he had a conversation like this: Viktor was so sick, his skin white and his body failing. Jayce wanted to do anything in his power to prevent that from happening again. “You were wonderful.”

“Thank you, Jayce.” Viktor stared forward, refusing to meet his gaze. “Well, here we are.”

The inn was an imposing looking place. It was in the same state of disrepair that every part of Zaun was: cracked windows, dirtied concrete, and broken pipes. Viktor opened the door and Jayce was quick to assist. He flinched back at the look the man gave him. Right. Viktor hated it when someone helped him without him asking for it. And that almost never happened.

His room was on the first floor, a few doors down. Jayce tried not to cringe as the young woman behind the front desk raised her eyebrow at him.

“Have a good night, Raine.”

“You too, Viktor.” She smirked as she kicked her feet on top of the desk. “And your friend there.”

Jayce couldn’t say a word.

Walking into the room, Viktor put his box down. “I’m sorry for the state of the place. I’m still trying to get acquainted.”

“It’s no problem.” Jayce couldn’t tell what he was apologizing for. There was barely anything in the room to begin with. There was a small bed pushed against the far wall with a bag laid atop it, a dresser that looked to have seen better days, and a desk that was meticulously organized. Journals stacked, papers set side by side, and two pencils resting beside them.

Viktor’s organization was nothing like his own, believing more in the power of chaos than anything else. Seeing Viktor’s workspace though, as small as it was, brought a smile to Jayce’s face.

“I would bring you tea or sweet milk, but I haven’t exactly spent enough time here to gather the proper supplies.”

Sweet milk – Viktor’s favorite drink. There had been many nights in the lab when he made the drink for his partner, a fair bit of trial and error until he got it perfectly right. “It’s alright. When did you get here?” A bit forward, but he wanted to fill in as many details as possible.

Viktor leaned against his desk. “Just yesterday, though it was rather late.” He adjusted himself.

Jayce knew that stance, the one that meant Viktor was aching but didn’t want the person he was around to notice it, not wanting to sit down to rest either. He saw another chair near the door and took it, sitting first.

Viktor quickly followed suit. “I spent much of today rekindling old connections.” Jayce all but folded his hands in his lap. “You said you came from Piltover, were you at the Academy?”

“You like asking questions.” Viktor’s voice was laced with sickeningly sweet teasing.

“I’d like to know more about you.”

The room was quiet for a moment. After a few beats Viktor sighed. “Are you ever going to say the real reason you’re here?”

Jayce screwed his eyebrows together. “I want to talk with you, that is the real reason.”

“Really? No… alternative reasons?”

Another pause.

The pieces slowly fit together in Jayce’s mind. “Oh, no, no, I’m not… gods-” his head dropped into his hands. “This isn’t what it looks like. I’m not looking for… that.”

Viktor laughed, which didn’t help Jayce’s state at all. “I guess you haven’t heard of my reputation after all.”

Jayce filed that factoid away for later. “No, I’m really just here to talk about your work. It’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

This was not how he remembered Viktor being. Jayce folded his arms and leaned back in his seat, trying to put more space between himself and the other. He drummed his fingers against his arm. “So, the Academy.”

Viktor waved a hand. “Not to be too harsh, but it wasn’t as wonderful as I expected it to be. I worked with Heimerdinger, but,” he looked down at his lap, “I can’t spend my whole life as an assistant.”

“So you left?”

“Eh, more or less.” Vikor avoided his gaze, looking anyway else but Jayce’s face. “My time was coming to an end there, and I decided to take the first step before they did.” He raised his chin. “How about you, what do you do now?”

He took a deep breath. If there was one person he could be truthful with it was Viktor. “I destroyed the last of my work today.”

“Why would you do that?” Viktor asked, shock lacing his voice.

“Its-” Jayce barely knew how to explain it. After all, Viktor had been the one to give him the rune in the first place, though this version of him didn’t know that. He ducked his head. “It was too dangerous. It would end up causing more harm than good.” He listened as Viktor took unsteady breaths. It was a cruel reminder that even if he was healthier, the man was still dying.

Viktor leaned forward. “What is it you were trying to do, if I may ask?”

He wondered if it was the best decision to tell Viktor, or if even muttering about Hextech could cause horrible destruction. But Viktor; he was Jayce’s partner – in a sense – and he wanted the other to know. Maybe if he showed how dangerous it was he could convince Viktor not to fall down the alluring path. “Well, I was trying to, um, work with runes and crystals.”

“Magic?” The man’s eyes gleamed.

A pang shot through Jayce’s heart. “Yes.” He couldn’t let Hextech come to fruition again. “It doesn’t work. It just causes…” He ran his hand through his hair. “It just causes more damage than its worth.” He was sure Viktor thought he was being over dramatic – the man had no problem telling him so before.

Viktor tapped his cane. “It’s a shame. I take it that was your life’s work?”

Jayce nodded. “It was, but I’m not finished.” Without meaning to, he inched his chair closer to Viktor’s. “I still want to help people, truly, and I will find another way to do so.” He glanced back at the other’s desk. “I came here for your help actually.”

Viktor nearly scowled. “My help?”

“I already told you that you’re brilliant. I’d love to have the chance to work with you.” Jayce knew he sounded close to begging, but he couldn’t help himself. He would do anything to be Viktor’s partner again.

The man looked Jayce over. He then turned and looked over his desk. “Most of my work is rather… personal in nature.”

“Would you have any issue with my assisting in those projects?” Say no, say you want me too. Jayce leaned back, trying not to come off as too engaged. In Viktor’s eyes, they had just met and Jayce had been telling people they were friends when they were anything but. The other man had every right to shove Jayce away, to tell him to get as far away from him as possible. Jayce couldn’t judge him if Viktor told him to walk right back to Piltover.

Viktor appeared to mull the question over, nodding his head back and forth. “I wouldn’t have an issue. Of course, there are other things we can work on as well.”

“Of course.” Jayce couldn’t contain his excitement.

This was all he ever wanted – to have his partner back. He had told the Viktor of the future such, and he had gotten him back for just a few moments before everything was taken away once again. Jayce internalized a prayer to Janna. He got to see Viktor happy, to see him healthy. Hextech was truly in the dirt, sunken beneath the ocean’s surface, and now he and Viktor could step forward to bigger and better things.

They two loosened up as the night drew on. Viktor got increasingly comfortable around Jayce which helped him feel better. He hadn’t fully realized that he would have to build their relationship back up from nothing, but Jayce found that he didn’t completely hate it. Viktor was a bit different since he wasn’t in Piltover. Jayce wondered if this was closer to the real version of Viktor. Even though they had spent years upon years together, Jayce still knew there were parts of the other that he was never going to see because the environment around them made it impossible.

Viktor’s tongue was looser, like it was when they would be in the lab into the latest hours of the night – the sun threatening to rise above the horizon. He’d say things that would have the residents of Piltover trembling, or even better, he’d slip into his mother tongue and Jayce would try to guess what the words meant. He almost always failed to do so. It was so unlike his own, but just as endearing.

Viktor had brought out a bottle from one of his drawers, saying he picked it up as a gift to himself for getting out of Piltover. They were both several glasses in.

“Akademie si myslí, že je to úžasné.” Viktor leaned his head back. “‘We’re innovators, we work with anyone.’” He took another long drink from his glass. “Lháři.”

Jayce hadn’t the faintest clue what Viktor was saying, but his expression softened as the words dripped from the man’s lips like honey. “What did you do there?”

“Eh,” Viktor waved a hand, “Did typical assistant things, barely any time for my own work. “Ne že bych na to získal finanční prostředky.”

Despite wanting to press on, Jayce decided against it. There were few times when he saw Viktor so at ease, and he was going to take every single one with open arms. He just hoped the other wasn’t drinking himself into a stupor to forget about his troubles. Jayce, who had found a spot on the floor to sit after the room felt like it was spinning, gave Viktor a look. “I thought about making medical devices. I…” He blinked a few times. “I had a friend with mobility struggles and I wanted to help him.”

“What happened to him?”

Jayce turned his gaze away. “He died.”

The warmth in the room dissipated and both men were left with a chill that wouldn’t leave.

“I am deeply sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks, V.” His head rolled back. A faint headache was already forming in the back of his head. He would regret drinking in the morning – he’d never been known for holding his drink well. His glass came down beside him. “I think I’m done for the night.”

“As am I.” There was shuffling as Viktor made his way around the room, setting things in their rightful places. Only there a day, not even twenty-four hours, and he already created a system.

Jayce couldn’t help the smile that rose on his face.

“What is it?” Viktor teased.

Jayce shrugged. “Just happy. I’m looking forward to our partnership.”

“It would be off to a better start if you showed me some of your designs,” he pointed at Jayce’s bag, “do you have anything of use in there?”

Jayce staggered to his feet. “Actually, yes.” He riffled through his bag. “Most of my work is back at my apartment, but I brought some of my stuff just in case.”

“In case I said yes?”

He fought back a blush. “Let’s say I was hopeful.” More than hopeful, but Jayce wasn’t going to say that. The journals were less filled than in the future – past, who was to say. He had only made a few sketches and notes earlier in the day – or the previous day since Jayce couldn’t really tell what hour it was at the moment. He passed them over to Viktor. “There’s more ideas I have, devices that are more flexible and adaptable like braces.” He leaned closer to Viktor. “I’m not much of a chemistry person, but I was thinking of different pharmaceutical products that could help as well.”

Viktor looked intently at each page, finger tracing some of Jayce’s sketches. “You’re in luck.” A smirk appeared on his face. “I studied chemical engineering at the Academy.”

“That’s perfect.” He couldn’t hide how he sounded rather breathless. Viktor looked wonderful, his eyes half closed, sitting like some sort of angel. The lamp illuminated him from behind, ethereal. An image of future Viktor flashed across his eyes. Jayce really didn’t know how to feel about that one. “Our partnership is getting better by the second.”

Viktor shrugged and handed the book back to Jayce. “That it is.”

The conversation teetered out after that. Jayce tried to convince Viktor he’d be able to get to Piltover safely, but the man stopped him before he could get out the door. “I can’t have my new partner getting hurt, or worse.”

Jayce couldn’t exactly argue with Viktor’s logic.

He let the other take the bed, though Viktor assured him he’d be fine sleeping at the desk as he had done it a million times before back in his Academy days. Jayce wouldn’t take no for an answer though. He didn’t want Viktor to ache more than he usually did in the morning. Viktor finally relented and he counted that as a massive win.

Jayce sat at the desk chair. He folded his arms atop the desk, resting his head. Viktor fell asleep first, something he was rather shocked about. He’d seen Viktor stay up for days on end trying to figure out whatever issue he was stuck on and refused to leave the lab until it was solved. Jayce decided he liked this a lot better.

Viktor slept on his side, an old pillow between his legs. Jayce assumed it was to assist with his pain – he’d laid in a similar position after his own injury. The lines on Viktor’s face softened as his eyes shut, making him look slightly younger and more at peace, like the pain slipped away for a second.

He wished he could cross the distance. Jayce wanted to stand beside the bed and watch over Viktor, to brush his hair back and thumb over his cheekbones. It was alluring, but he snuffed out those thoughts.

Jayce just got Viktor back, he didn’t want to lose the other just as quickly. He turned out the light and closed his eyes, trying to get at least some rest before the morning.

Jayce’s dreams were filled with screams.

He wasn’t looking at that last day, instead he was back in the rubble of the Council chamber the day Jinx’s bomb destroyed it all. He was frozen in his spot. Even though he knew what was going on, even though he knew where Viktor was, Jayce couldn’t move his feet.

Unlike the real event, Viktor was crying out in pain. “Jayce! Jayce!”

He wanted to shout back, to say, ‘Don’t worry, I’m here!’ – but he couldn’t. Bodies were littered around him, others were running, frantically trying to get as far away as they possibly could.

“Jayce, where are you!” He could see Viktor’s body, crumbled underneath the rubble. Blood seeped from his forehead, a gaping wound. His leg was a bloody mess, bone and muscle mixed together.

Here, I’m here, Viktor! All he could do was watch.

“Failure.” A bony hand gripped onto his shoulder. It pulled him back, tearing him from his partner. Jayce couldn’t fight back, his body at the will of the hand.

“Always letting others down. All of this because of you.”

Jayce was thrown to the ground; he groaned out in pain. His eyes struggled to make out the scene before him. As he looked up, his head sank. There stood Viktor, the metal and shimmer laced through his skin. “You promised you’d help me.”

I tried. I wanted to save you.

Viktor crouched down to stare deeper into his eyes, into his soul. “You freeze in the face of struggle, Jayce.” His hand gripped the back of Jayce’s head, fingertips burning against his skin. “You are nothing.”

Chapter Text

Jayce woke up first the next morning. There was a crook in his neck and he didn’t feel nearly as well rested as he would have liked, but waking up and seeing Viktor still lounging made it all worth it. Just like the night prior, he took the time to admire his partner – were they official partners yet? He didn’t think too much into it, instead letting the morning wash over them with peaceful bliss.

He knew they couldn’t spend the entire day at the inn, though that did sound wonderful as well, so Jayce tried to think up something. It would be the smartest decision for him to take a bit of time to fully think over what Janna had said, after all, he only had a year to work with and he was already a day down.

He raised his arms above his head, feeling his back crack. For only being back in time for a day he sure got a lot done: he stopped the explosion in his apartment, he destroyed any possibility of Hextech, had a nice meal with his mother, and met with Viktor. Jayce would call that a good day.

As the rest of the Undercity awoke, Viktor rose from his bed. He blinked a few times, though he didn’t seem affected by his night of drinking – not like the headache that was forming in Jayce’s head. If anything, Viktor seemed more shocked that there was another person in his room.

Judging by what he had said the night before, shocked that Jayce wasn’t in his bed as well.

“You actually stayed.” He sounded breathless.

Jayce shrugged. “You said it would be dangerous, and I’d trust your input on the matter seeing as you’ve actually lived here.”

Viktor yawned and Jayce cringed as he heard the different pops and cracks that the man’s body let out. “Not that I didn’t have a wonderful night speaking with you, but I do have work I must get to.”

“Well, I was thinking I could help you with that.” He watched with bated breath as Viktor grasped his cane and got to his feet. His clothes, which he hadn’t changed out of, were rumbled. His hair stuck out at odd angles, and his eyes were a bit red.

Viktor looked beautiful.

The man ran a hand down his face. “Alright then. We can take today as a test run, to make sure that we can actually work together before we go all the way.”

Jayce swallowed hard. “Um, yeah.”

Viktor moved to the dresser, pulling out a fresh set of clothes. “I don’t have anything that will fit you.” He gave Jayce a pointed look.

“That’s fine.” He would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little breathless.

“Turn around.”

Jayce obeyed like it was a real command. He assumed Viktor was changing if the rustling of fabric and the huffs of breath were anything to go by. He bit his lip, stopping himself from saying anything stupid. Just when he thought he’d spent enough time with Viktor to see him in any state, he was proven wrong by something as simple as the act of changing clothes. He didn’t know how he was going to make it through the year.

“I’m finished.” Jayce turned back around, finally deciding to rise from his seat. Viktor smirked. “Shocked to see me in something other than my Academy uniform?”

Viktor was going to be the death of him even in a timeline where Jayce was trying his best to avoid that. “It just doesn’t seem like something you’d see in Piltover.”

“We aren’t in Piltover.” Viktor patted his shoulder as he strode across the room. “Which,” he quirked his head, “brings us to our first issue with this partnership. You-” he all but poked Jayce’s chest “- live topside, while I’m down here.”

“I could always travel back and forth.” He didn’t want to force Viktor to make the journey. The details over his leave were still blurry, but he could tell the man didn’t hold the best of feelings for Piltover. “We could find somewhere to set up a lab here.”

Viktor squared his shoulders. “I was in the process of doing that yesterday. Prostě… not in the best of locations.”

Jayce knew he was going to regret asking as soon as the question came to mind. “Where is it?”

The other turned his back. “Above the fissures.”

“Are you sure that’s the best idea?” Jayce couldn’t believe what he was hearing: the fissures, the same things that caused Viktor to be as sick as he was. Viktor’s posture stiffened. “I mean, it could be harmful for… health.” He knew his words were wrong as soon as they left his mouth.

Viktor turned to face Jayce, a scowl on his face. “Alright, if we are going to be partners, which you seem rather stuck on, I will lay some ground rules. This-” he slammed his cane on the ground, the sound reverberated through the room. “Doesn’t make me useless. I am fully capable of taking care of myself and making my own decisions. If you do not want this, then you can walk back to Piltover because I refuse to work with someone who will treat me like glass.”

Jayce’s heart jumped in his chest. “It’s not that, I believe you, truly I do. If you think it will be alright…” He tried not to imagine Viktor laying in the hospital bed, on oxygen, his chest rising at an unsteady pace. He let out a long breath. “Then I trust you.”

Viktor appeared to think over Jayce’s words for a moment. He took a step back, looking the other up and down once – then twice. “Good. It’s rather hard to find lab space in Zaun.”

“You would know best.” Jayce smirked.

“Yes, I would.” Viktor made his way to the door. “We can continue this conversation over breakfast. Then we’ll see what your capabilities are.”

“Sounds fun.”

The two men made their way out of the room, walking down the hall and past the front desk.

“Have a good night?” Raine called after them.

Jayce froze up, but Viktor didn’t seem phased in the slightest. “It was eye opening.” Jayce wanted to tell him to stop, but that would just bring more attention to what Raine had asked and he couldn’t survive that.

Viktor walked forward without much care in the world. His can tapped across the cobblestone streets. It was almost hypnotic. Viktor moved with more ease than he did in the future; he didn’t have a back or leg brace. He also walked with more confidence than he did in Piltover; Jayce wondered if it was real or not. Appearing weak in the Undercity likely wasn’t a good idea, so perhaps it was. Then again, Viktor seemed to be much different in the Undercity. It was like he grew into a different person.

Jayce wasn’t sure how he felt about it yet.

Viktor walked down the streets with his head straight ahead, not saying much of a word. Finally, they came to something that could be akin to a cafe, though it still looked more similar to the bar he’d been in the night before. Viktor didn’t seem phased at all, though he did shoot Jayce a look as they looked at the menu.

He covered both of their orders and tried to tell himself it didn’t create a stir in his chest.

They sat at a back table, the sun settling over the scene. It was almost serene. Viktor poked at his food, just like Jayce had always seen him do. “Tell me what other ideas you’ve got in that head of yours”

Straightforward. He could appreciate that. “I don’t have the full designs on me, but I have one for a leg brace. It's more comfortable than other designs, longer lasting as well.” Jayce never really learned what the full life span on his design would have been.

Viktor squinted his eyes, slightly accusing. “When did you come up with that?”

He bit his tongue. “A couple of years ago.” Sort of true if he was going by his ‘previous age’ – which was still a weird concept to wrap his head around. He’d made it when he and Viktor were in their late twenties and it had lasted a few years up until… Jayce pushed the thoughts from his head. That wasn’t going to happen this time around.

Viktor leaned back in his seat. He hadn’t taken a single bite yet and Jayce tried his best to stop himself from commenting on it. “Do you think you could show me a prototype of this design, or any of your others?”

“This is starting to feel like a job interview.”

“Is it not?” There was a lilt to his voice that kept Jayce’s anxiety at bay. Viktor had an interesting sense of humor.

Jayce rolled his eyes and made a point of ripping off a piece of his pastry. “If we find the parts I’m sure I could make something up in the inn.”

Viktor grimaced. “I’d rather not spend any more time there than I need. I can ask Benzo if we can work at his shop.” Another part of Viktor’s life that he hadn’t learned about – and Jayce wondered if he would ever get the answer.

He wanted it, more than anything. He wanted Viktor to feel comfortable enough to tell him anything. They were partners; they found each other in every universe – the man had told Jayce himself. So why was it that Viktor couldn’t tell him the full truth? He wouldn’t judge the man; he’d never dream of it. Just give it time. Maybe it will be out in the open this time.

They ended up going to Benzo’s and the man was more than happy to allow them into the back room to work. Jayce was a bit taken aback at how spacious it was – completely betraying how it looked from the outside. It was nowhere near as organized as Viktor’s desk, but the man didn’t have any trouble navigating the space, though he didn’t seem completely pleased with the state.

Jayce placed his books on a table and sifted through some of the tools. “This reminds me of some of the student labs at the Academy.”

Viktor cleaned off a chalkboard. “Which part, the mess?”

He let out a laugh. “They’ve certainly got that in common.” Jayce cringed as he looked through his sketches. None of them were as detailed as the original ones, though he still had a vague idea of what they had looked like.

Viktor cleared off another table, organizing the materials by type and size with such precision and ease that Jayce became a bit distracted by it. The man caught him staring and pursed his lips. “So, your designs.”

“Right.” Jayce really couldn’t let himself get distracted from the bigger picture. “Which one do you think we should start with?”

Viktor looked over his sketches, gazing with razor focus. Jayce didn’t miss how he clenched the handle of his cane, how he shifted more of his weight from his weak leg. “How about the brace, it seems simple enough.” Viktor’s voice was rather tight. He turned from Jayce and began to look over the materials that were at hand. “I’m sure the materials you had in mind were much different than these.”

“That’s alright.” Jayce began scribbling down the measurements he could remember, the formulas he used for his past alloys. Those were definitely not going to be at Benzo’s shop. “It’s just a prototype after all.”

“Of course.” Viktor gave him a small smile. “Shall we begin?”

Jayce felt as though he waited a lifetime to hear those words again. They were some of the most comforting ones he could think of.

It was just as Jayce remembered: they worked together like a well oiled machine, even though Viktor met him the night before. Jayce gave room for Viktor to maneuver with his cane, though probably more than necessary since he was used to the man using a crutch and having less mobility. Viktor didn’t make a direct comment on it, though he did give Jayce pointed looks whenever he felt like the other was treating him as though he were fragile.

The other similarity was the touch.

Jayce didn’t do it consciously. He was always a touchy person, even when he was little. He would always hang onto his mother’s skirts, giving hugs to his friends, and all of that sort of stuff. He wasn’t as close as he’d typically be – once he recognized he was doing it he pulled back slightly.

To Viktor he was still practically a stranger, and it would seem rather odd to come off so strongly to a stranger. He gave Viktor pats on the shoulder and let their fingers brush longer than needed when he handed things to the other man. The first time he did it Viktor seemed rather shocked, his body tensing up.

Jayce had to remind himself that the other probably wasn’t used to friendly touch – judging by Viktor’s words touch meant someone was taking something. He tried not to let that thought burrow into his brain.

They passed jokes and other commentary back and forth like old friends. Viktor spoke more freely than he did in Piltover, an air of confidence surrounding him as the hours stretched on. Most of his sentences were short, a bit clipped even. Jayce didn’t mind. Just hearing Viktor speak like himself again – be himself again – made all of it worthwhile. Viktor tightened a screw. “You should invest in different clothes.”

Jayce was a bit taken aback. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“A lot.” Viktor’s eyes trailed over his body. “You must know you don’t fit in here.” He was more aware of the fact than Viktor probably knew. Walking down the streets of the Undercity made him even more cognizant of the class differences between Piltover and Zaun – it also served to dampen his hopes that he could do anything to fix it. Even when he was a Councillor he only caused more harm.

“I guess you’re right.” He continued his soldering. “What would you recommend?”

Viktor huffed out a chuckle. “Nothing in Piltover will make you fit in down here.”

Jayce looked over the other’s outfit, one he’d never seen him in before. Viktor – despite how much he said he didn’t – tried his best to fit in with topsiders. He wore their clothes – even if they were ill-fitting, ate their food – and complained about much of it, and spoke their language – though Jayce knew he preferred his mother tongue. He had to agree: Zaunite sounded heavenly falling from his lips.

He bumped shoulders with the man. “Guess I’m going to have to go shopping down here then.”

Viktor rolled his eyes. “Try not to get scammed.”

“Already went through that.” He huffed

“Let me guess,” Viktor pointed his pencil at Jayce, “By a white haired boy.”

“How did you know?” He turned off the soldering iron and rested it on its stand.

“His name’s Ekko, quite the little entrepreneur.” Viktor pouted slightly. “I wonder where he is today.”

“That’s a word for it.” Pieces fit together in his mind. He wondered if that was how Vi and her siblings knew where he lived – though Ekko still would have needed to follow him back to his apartment. That didn’t make him feel great, getting outsmarted by a boy who couldn’t be older than twelve.

They continued working. Benzo would call down every once and a while to make sure they were still alive. After a few more hours of working, they had a functioning prototype.

“Wonderful.” Viktor looked at it with wide eyes, testing the movement and security of the joints. It looked similar to the one Jayce had made him before, though slightly different. For one, it wasn’t in the Talis house colors. Viktor looked at him with what he could only say was the beginnings of friendship. “It would seem we work quite well together, Jayce.”

You don’t know the half of it, V.

“It appears we do.” Both of their hands were on the brace, holding it like a precious gem. They set it on the table. “How about we take a break. Gods know how many hours we’ve been down here.”

Viktor scowled, only slightly, and Jayce had to fight back a smile. It was just the good old days – especially at the start of Hextech – when Viktor refused to leave the lab because he swore they were at the brink of perfection and all it would take was a few more hours. The man wasn’t the best at properly resting.

He stood from his seat. “Alright,” Viktor took up his cane, “but we still have more work to do.” He guided Jayce out of the workshop. They both gave a goodbye to Benzo as they made their way out of the shop – a few people standing before the counter.

The sun was setting and Jayce could finally recognize the feeling in his stomach as hunger. Viktor offered another place where they could get dinner, offhandedly also saying he would pay. Jayce wanted to push back, but the other seemed stuck in his decision. He relented for fear that Viktor would take it as Jayce thinking he wasn’t capable of doing so.

The food he had in the Undercity was far different than what he had topside, but that didn’t make it any worse. If anything, it reminded him more of his mother’s cooking, more home cooked, more traditional. Viktor – even if he pushed his food around more than he ate it – seemed to enjoy it more than he did Piltovian food.

Jayce wished he had somehow secured Zaunite food for his partner in the past. It would have shown Viktor how much he cared. He mentally shook his head: it was too late for that now, but he would learn from what he failed to do and make a bigger effort to embrace the parts of Viktor that were tied to the Undercity.

They sat near a window this time and Viktor watched people as they walked past. There were many different people that came through: individuals, families, children chasing after one another, old, young. It didn’t appear like the wretched place Piltover made it out to be.

Now, Jayce knew there were bad parts, that there were streets where violence was more common, shops that were covers for other means, but it wasn’t as though Piltover didn’t have spaces like that.

The regions were more similar than either wanted to admit.

Viktor sipped his drink. He held his glasses in such a particular way that Jayce could tell it was Viktor just by that. “A prototype finished in a day. That’s a fair amount of progress.”

Jayce stirred his soup. “It is. I’ll take it my interview went well then?”

“Tak.” He ripped off a piece of his bread. “You were an excellent interviewee.”

Dinner was uneventful, but inspiring. It was like stepping back in time – which Jayce had to admit he basically was. He was completely enraptured whenever Viktor opened his mouth; he hung off each word like he was a parched man and Viktor was the only source of water. The time ticked on, but surprisingly, Viktor wasn’t forcing them out of the establishment and back into the lab.

Their plates had been cleared for a while now, and they should have left ages ago, but neither man made a move to leave. They carved out a sphere of perfection in the world and they didn’t want to lose it.

Jayce stole another glance out the window and his jaw nearly fell open.

There were people running down the streets and not far away he could see flames licking up the sides of buildings and smoke rising in the air. “Oh shit.”

“What- moji bohové.”

Both of them moved before they could stop themselves. Rushing out of the door, the sounds became overwhelming. In an instant Jayce was thrust to the future.

Piltover was in ruins; the fire surrounding him made his skin burn. Everywhere he looked there was rubble and ash and people, dead people. Everyone was going to die; everything was ruined. Jayce had one chance and he’d gone and -

“Jayce.” Viktor’s hand grasped his shoulder and reality came back into view. “Are you okay?”

“I have to help.” He stepped away in the direction of the flames. He knew running towards them was the stupidest decision he could possibly make as someone who was actively trying to avoid death, but he couldn’t help it.

His lungs were heaving when he made it to the building as it came crashing down. His shoulders slumped and Jayce fell to his knees. “No.” People rushed around him, shouting out to their friends, to family, to strangers, but all he could do was sit there and watch the destruction unfold.

Jayce was supposed to make it right, and this didn’t seem like making it right at all.

He wasn’t sure how long he stayed there. Enforcers came, though the flames were barely stifled. The citizens were left to deal with most of the damage themselves. The Enforcers were there to count the dead.

The tapping of wood on stone brought him back to his senses. “Running off on your partner? Not a good look.”

“Viktor I’m-” Jayce’s mouth snapped shut. Hiding behind Viktor’s legs was Powder. The girl had tear tracks down her cheeks and new ones threatened to pour forth. Her face was dirty and there was a scratch on her forehead that oozed blood.

“She needs help.”

“Where’s-”

Viktor shook his head before Jayce could finish his question. “She needs our help.”

He couldn’t exactly argue with that.

Powder wasn’t Jinx, well, not really. At least, Powder hadn’t become Jinx. This was a chance to make sure Powder didn’t go through the traumas that made her so very different.

Viktor wrapped a protective arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Come on, Powder, we’ll look after you.”

Jayce stood and followed the two with a sinking feeling in his chest and anxiety pooling in his stomach.

Chapter Text

There was barely any true rest for the three that night.

Powder kept rocking on the bed – and even getting her up there had been a challenge. Viktor stuck by her side as she didn’t seem to trust Jayce completely. He didn’t know what he could do to remedy that so he gave her the space she obviously wanted. He tried his best to not let it hurt him, to acknowledge that it was likely because Viktor was a more familiar face – someone from the Undercity, and even in his two day old clothes he still stuck out like a sore thumb.

The girl’s eyes were wide with fear for hours, and they were red rimmed – almost bloodshot. Viktor tried his best to coax her to sleep, which she did for a little bit, but after twenty minutes or so passed she would wake up with a scream and cling to Viktor as though her life depended on it.

Daylight trickled through the window and exhaustion still clung to all of them.

Jayce took a few deep breaths to try to wake himself up – though they did little to help him. Viktor’s eyes were fluttering closed, but Powder’s antsy behavior at his side kept him from dosing. “Good morning, Powder.” His voice was rough but quiet. The girl didn’t respond; instead, she burrowed deeper into Viktor’s side.

Jayce got up and slowly walked to the bedside, making sure to leave distance between himself and her. “Powder?” She shifted enough so he could tell she was listening. He crouched down. “Do you know if there’s anyone else we should look for?”

Powder winced and showed him her face. “Vi. I want Vi.”

Jayce tensed up, but he tried his best to hide his reaction. His mother always told him he wore his heart on his sleeve. “Do you know where she is?”

She shook her head fiercely. Her tiny fingers gripped Viktor’s shirt, creasing the fabric. “I want her.”

Viktor gave him a look, eyebrows raised and lips in a light frown. He rubbed the girl’s back in a circular motion. “We’ll find her. Don’t worry.” He didn’t turn to the girl, instead staring intently at Jaye with his golden gaze.

Jayce stood back up, shoulders squared. “Of course.” He ran through the possible course of actions in his head. His first thought was to head back to The Last Drop, but from Viktor’s words the night prior he knew that wouldn’t bring about any developments. The next place he could think of was Benzo’s. He decided that was the best course of action. Jayce tried his best to look as confident as possible. “I’m going to figure out where Vi is, Powder. I’ll find your sister.”

Raine didn’t yell out a joke as he passed, instead giving him a solemn look. It seemed that everyone in the Undercity knew what happened the night before. He didn’t know how well the woman knew Viktor – or Powder for that matter – but he assumed she could figure out at least some of the pieces to the story.

The streets of Zaun didn’t seem to change much even if Jayce felt as though his entire life had. There were still people walking as if nothing happened. Life continued since it had no other choice than to do so.

He found his way to Benzo’s quite easily despite only taking the trip once. Jayce paused as he turned the corner to the shop’s street; his heart dropped to his stomach.

There was blood splattered on the street, a dark crimson. It didn’t look fresh. It had to have been sitting there for hours. Jayce continued forward, his steps a bit more hesitant. There were some broken pipes on the ground and deep claw marks in the cobblestone. Jayce couldn’t even begin to imagine what could have made them.

There was a shuffle from an alleyway to his right. Jayce prepared himself for the worst.

Out from the alley stepped a boy, one he actually knew. “You’re Ekko, right?” He made sure his hands were visible to let the boy know he didn’t have anything to hide. “Do you know what happened here?”

Ekko’s expression was rather blank, as though he was running on empty. His gait was a little unsteady and he held tight to the strap of a bag that rested on his thigh. “Benzo was killed.” The boy’s voice faltered on the last word. “Vander saw it. I told Vi.” Ekko swallowed hard. The boy was running on fumes.

“Do you know where they are now?” Ekko took a step back, and he regretted his tone. “I just want to make sure everyone’s okay.” Bile rose in his throat. He felt awful for not filling Ekko in on the fact that Vander was dead. All he could hope was that Vi hadn’t met the same fate.

“I saw the enforcers take Vi.” He looked up at Jayce, eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know where Vander is.”

She’s topside then. Jayce took a step forward, lowering himself slightly to appear less threatening. He knew to a child he could appear like a giant. “Thank you, Ekko.” He reached into his pocket; there were still a few coins there that he knew Ekko needed far more than him. “Here,” he held them out for the child, “I want you to get yourself a meal. Do you have somewhere you could stay?”

Ekko looked him over, glancing between the coins and Jayce’s face. Trust was something difficult to earn in Zaun. “I do.” He took the money and stepped back. Jayce didn’t believe him for a second, but he didn’t want to push the child too hard after what he had seen.

“Stay safe, okay?”

Ekko didn’t say anything more before he turned and ran down the alley he had come from. Jayce was left with an even worse feeling in his chest. He couldn’t believe that so much could change in such a short amount of time – even after everything he had been through.

Jayce had been having the time of his life with Viktor, relishing the time they spent together. He felt guilty for his joy. While he was allowing himself a sense of normalcy, Ekko was having the worst night of his life. None of it was fair.

He tried to tell himself that he would make it right as he walked through the Undercity to the border. It was hard to believe after everything that happened though. Janna wanted him to find happiness? How was he supposed to do that when the world was falling apart around him? How was he supposed to fix things when he didn’t know what had broken them?

There were so many moving parts and it felt impossible for a single person to secure all of them.

The enforcers at the border gave him odd looks as he went through the different gates and checkpoints. Jayce went through it all in a daze; his body moved on autopilot more than anything else. He mentally ran through the list of what he had to do: the first was to go to the enforcer station. Jayce was putting a lot of hope on the fact that Vi was at the station and also that he would be allowed to see her.

Making his way down the streets he caught sight of a familiar head of blue hair. She was trying to appear as nonchalant as possible, but she still had a bit of tension that made it obvious she wasn’t where she was supposed to be. Jayce snuck up behind her – he could find pieces of joy in a rather terrible day – and tapped her shoulder.

Caitlyn jumped and turned, gaze hardening. “What are you doing?”

“I should ask you the same.” Caitlyn huffed. Jayce knew full well what she was doing which provided him with a bit of intel as to what had happened at the station. “I have a question though.”

She crossed her arms. “And what is it?”

Now or never. “Did you see a girl come through here, could have been last night or this morning. She’s about your age, pink hair with an undercut.”

Caitlyn bit at her lip as Jayce fed her the information. He was mentally crossing his fingers that she had seen anything at all. Her brow furrowed. “Actually, I did. Why do you want to know about someone the enforcers took in?”

“So they did take her in?”

“Jayce,” her voice caused worry to build in his gut, “What’s going on?”

White lies, half truths, that was all he needed. It would be more difficult with Caitlyn since he had known her since she was little, but he thought he could allude to the main topic enough to get her to continue with the conversation. “She’s a friend's sister and I need to make sure she’s okay.” All of that was true, Jayce just wasn’t including the part where Vi was from the Undercity and had possibly been involved in an explosion the night prior.

Caitlyn pursed her lips, her spine straightening. There were times when she really reminded Jayce of Cassandra. “I’m assuming you want to see her?”

“I just need to make sure she’s okay.” Jayce wanted more than anything to get Vi out of custody and get her back to Powder, but he wasn’t going to start hoping that everything would go perfectly fine. As soon as he started doing that, everything had turned to shit. Jayce wasn’t about to start testing his luck.

Caitlyn relaxed slightly, enough that Jayce could make out the exhaustion lacing her body. “She was taken into custody early this morning. She didn’t… she didn’t fight much, almost like she was in a daze.” She turned to look back at the station. “She’ll probably be in questioning right now, depending on what she was taken in for. I can’t imagine where they’ll take her if they find her guilty.”

Jayce knew.

Vi would be sent to Stillwater at only fifteen – a place that held some of the most hardened criminals. He couldn’t imagine what the enforcers were thinking the first time around. Jayce wondered if she would be blamed for the explosion in the Undercity. His jaw tightened. He wasn’t going to let her suffer in a cell again. “Thank you, sprout.”

Caitlyn caught his arm as he stepped away. “You’ll help her, right?”

“Of course.” Jayce swallowed. He wondered if saving Vi now meant she’d never properly meet Caitlyn, if they would still have a relationship. He hoped he didn’t ruin that for them.

With that thought white hot in his mind, he strode forward and opened the station doors.

Getting past the front desk was rather difficult. The enforcers didn’t seem all that pleased that he wanted to meet with someone they had in custody. He wasn’t all that pleased that he immediately offered to pay bail without knowing all the details.

Jayce couldn’t stop himself though. Powder’s expression filled his mind, her eyes wide in terror. She wanted to see her sister so bad, and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that happened.

He didn’t hold the same power that he did in the future: Jayce wasn’t the Man of Progress anymore, he was just Jayce Talis. So far he’d enjoyed that, but now it was just making everything a little more difficult.

Despite the struggle, he’d made his way through and was led down a winding hallway by a younger enforcer who still had a smile on his face. Jayce tried his best not to scowl. He’d seen what the enforcers had done in the future, hell, what they had done now, but he had to play nice if he was going to help Vi. He took a breath to steady himself, that was the key thing, the only thing he needed to focus on at the moment.

He could worry about institutional change after.

The enforcer opened a solid metal door for him and stood next to it, hand still on his gun. Jayce rolled his eyes. All of it was a bit extreme for a fifteen-year-old that was clearly not going to do any harm.

He crossed the breadth and stood in the room. It was bare – which was to be expected. There was a pane of glass as well which he assumed was a two way mirror. He wasn’t surprised to know that he was being watched, but he still wished he had a bit more privacy with Vi. He was sure Vi wouldn’t say everything that happened with enforcers breathing down her neck, and she was too smart to assume that she and him had total privacy.

The girl finally looked up from the table she was sitting at. Around one of her wrists was a handcuff that kept her attached to the table.

“Jayce, what the hell are you doing here?” A fire was lit inside her again. Her face hadn’t been cleaned and like Powders had several cuts and smears of dirt and soot on it. Once again, the enforcers couldn’t even do the bare minimum.

“I’m here to help you get out of here.”

Vi put as much distance between them as she could, which wasn’t a lot because of the chain. “I don’t need some Piltie’s help.”

He pushed on. “What happened, Vi? Viktor found Powder-”

“Don’t.” Her voice was sharp, cutting into him like a knife. “Don’t talk about her.”

That caught him extremely off guard. Out of all the people Vi wanted to hear about, he assumed that it would be Powder. The two seemed nearly attached at the hip back at The Last Drop, and she’d been offly protective of the younger girl. Now, it was as though that was stripped away.

Her expression twisted in fear at the sound of her sister’s name.

“Vi.” He tried his best to sound assuring, carefully watching his words. “Please tell me what happened. I want to help as much as I can here.”

The girl was quiet for a good amount of time. He could sense that the enforcers were frantically scribbling in their books, making sure to catch every single detail about the accident. Jayce wished he could tell them all to fuck off.

“You swear?”

Jayce nodded. He could still sense the anxiety wafted off of Vi, but it appeared to be dissipating little by little. Their original companionship hadn’t started on the best of terms either, and it was more than a little rocky, but that didn’t mean it had to be like that this time around. He put his hand above his heart. “I swear it, Vi.”

The girl was quiet for a moment as she snuck a glance at the glass. “I don’t know everything that happened. There was… a man. And there was some sort of monster. They took my dad.” He noticed she was avoiding saying anyone’s name. That wasn’t too shocking: Zaunites weren’t known for selling each other out to topsiders. “I tried to get him back, but then… then there was…” Vi ducked her head. Her expression morphed into one of pain.

He decided to lighten the girl’s load. “I saw that part from a distance.”

“Everyone is gone.” Vi choked back a sob. She tried to cover her face with her hands but the handcuffs prevented her from doing so. “It was her.” Vi’s voice cracked. “She tried to help, but it was too much.” She let out a watery laugh. “The one time one of her things works.”

Jayce let Vi’s admission wash over him. There was only one ‘she’ that he imagined Vi would be talking about. He didn’t want to imagine that Powder, this Powder, was still capable of such destruction, but he knew Vi wasn’t lying. The bigger question was how Powder had created such a large explosion without the Hex Crystals.

She must have been a better engineer than Viktor had initially given her credit for.

Jayce took a step back. He turned to face the glass, trying to look more at the enforcers than Vi. “I’m going to speak with them and get you out of here.”

Vi glanced up at him. “They think I did it.”

He looked back at her. His voice hardened. “I’m going to get you out.”

Jayce didn’t want to think about all the money it took to get Vi out, nor the conversations and threats he gave in order to let it work. There was a fury that flowed through his veins at the interaction. Something as simple as gold coins was enough to make the enforcers bend to his will.

Vi walked next to him as they left the station, her shoulders squared and head ducked. She refused to look at anyone, letting her hair cover her eyes. As they made their way to the border, Vi stopped in her tracks. “Where will you take me?”

“Back home.” He told Powder he’d get Vi back, and he intended to follow through with that.

Judging by Vi’s expression, he should have thought that decision through a bit more. “No,” she shook her head, “I can’t see her.”

“Vi-”

“No, Jayce, you don’t get it.”

He wanted to argue back, to say how much he did get it. He wanted to tell her that he had known someone who had hurt hundreds but still came crawling back because he loved the man more than he ever thought possible. That wouldn’t do any good though. He let out a long sigh, squeezing his eyes shut. Once again, just when things were working in his favor, something had to go and throw a wrench in his plans.

“Okay.” He took a step back, closer to the Undercity. “Just… don’t leave her completely, alright?”

Vi chewed at her cheek. “I just need some time.” Her shoulders raised. “Is she safe?”

Jayce nodded. “Viktor and I are taking care of her; she’ll be in good hands.”

“Good.” Vi pulled up her hood.

He watched as she went and tried his best not to call at her to come back. “Stay safe.” It was a difficult request of someone like Vi, but it made his heart untense just slightly.

She didn’t say anything back, just ran off down the streets of Piltover. Jayce knew she’d be back in Zaun sooner rather than later, but he still worried about all the trouble she could cause. Hopefully the previous night’s events taught her a thing or two.

He huffed and turned his back. Explaining everything to Powder was going to be near impossible. How could he say that her sister didn’t want to see her, that she needed space after what the younger had done, accident or not? That was too much for someone’s Powder’s age to comprehend no matter how smart they were.

Then there was Viktor.

Jayce didn’t actually know how the man would react to him showing up empty handed. He hoped Viktor would understand, that he would use that wonderful brain of his and see what had happened. Perhaps Powder told him – or at least told him a part of what happened. Most of all, he hoped the other didn’t hate him. He couldn’t lose Viktor now, not when they had just met, not when they had decided they’d be partners again.

The trip back to the Undercity was more anxiety inducing than he would have liked to admit. It wasn’t because of the smog, or the crime, or anything like that, this time it was all because of Jayce and his own actions. He was the only person he could truly blame at the end of the day.

He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and prepared to tell Powder some of the worst news of her life. It was much easier said than done.

Chapter Text

In the week after the accident, the trio fell into a bit of a routine.

They were still “living” at the inn and Jayce could count on one hand the amount of nights he spent in Piltover. He’d gone back to visit his mother – filling her in on everything that was happening. She wasn’t too pleased that he practically dropped his life in Piltover to run after a guy he’d just met, in her eyes at least, but she supported him and could tell that he was happier.

Jayce tried his best to keep it together. After all, he was happier, more so than he’d been in years. There were still parts of life that made him want to rip his hair out, that made him question if he was actually doing the right thing, but he powered through. There was only a year to fix everything and he was determined to do it. Viktor and he had figured out how to stabilize the crystals in a night – this would be doable.

His mother made him leave with food and a promise that he would introduce this mysterious man and Powder to her soon. Jayce tried his best to assure her he would, but he doubted his mother actually believed him. Ximena didn’t try to stop him though as he brought more supplies and belongings down to the Undercity.

It was odd how quickly topside felt less hospitable than Zaun. Sure, he still had friends and family there, but after everything he went through the first time – seeing how they treated him as a child, young man, how they acted towards Viktor, Jayce couldn’t find it in himself to hold the same adoration that he once exhibited. It didn’t feel like the City of Progress anymore.

If anything, he felt annoyed by the dazzling city and the people who flaunted their wealth inside of it. There may be liars and thieves in the Undercity, but at least many of them had a good reason to be. Stealing to survive was far different from stealing to rise above those you took from.

Making his way back to the inn, Jayce realized that a necessary change was unavoidable. “I’m back.”

Powder looked to him first, the girl leaning over Viktor’s shoulder as the man fixed one of her toys at his desk, a few other projects from actual clients sat beside it. “How was your mother?”

Jayce shrugged as he put down his things – the room was too small for the three of them. Even if he did spend more time in Piltover it would still be tiny for Viktor and Powder. “She was a bit pissed, but I can’t blame her.”

Viktor smirked. “She didn’t like that her son ran off to the Undercity?”

“She didn’t like that I failed to tell her first.” Jayce corrected. He gazed at the scene before him. He never would have believed it: Viktor was alive and healthy working with Powder, the two of them practically attached at the hip. Ever since that night, the girl refused to leave Viktor’s side for anything which caused more than a few problems.

Jayce padded around the room, trying his best to figure out a way to brooch the subject without upsetting Viktor – or Powder for that manner.

“Do you have something you’d like to say, Jayce?” Viktor’s tone was slightly annoyed, which didn’t make him feel any better. He’d much rather avoid any ill feelings.

Jayce sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped together on his lap. “I was thinking-”

“That much was obvious.”

Jayce couldn’t help the smile that formed across his lips. “We should probably look into a more permanent solution, a place to live I mean.”

Viktor quickly stitched together the last part of Powder’s toy and handed it to the girl. She broke into a grin and hugged the man for his help. “We?”

“Well, I mean-” Jayce sputtered. “For you and Powder at least. Somewhere more stable.” So far, the inn had proved capable, but he was sure Raine’s manager wasn’t completely pleased that the woman allowed them to stay. “Somewhere bigger too.” He cringed. It felt like he was fucking things up all over again.

Viktor meticulously put away his sewing supplies. “You’re not wrong; we could do with a little more space. Something closer to the lab would be nice as well.”

Jayce hesitated to call what they had a lab. It was more like a hideout. The place worked, Viktor wouldn’t have it any other way, but he still had his own reservations about it. At least they put up railings so Powder was safer when she came with them. The girl, unsurprisingly, loved it. He didn’t want to point out that moving closer to the lab also meant moving closer to the fissures, something Viktor couldn’t really afford. If he spoke up about that though… his partner was sure to be in a bad mood.

“Exactly.” Jayce quickly learned to pick his battles. “What about your old place, would that work?”

Viktor shook his head. “It’s still too small. Besides, I spoke with the landlord and it was already sold.”

He didn’t miss how the man’s expression darkened at the mention of his old home. It wasn’t surprising that the space had been sold, Viktor had been gone for a few years, but there was a look of remorse and sorrow over the other’s face that was hard to miss.

“I’ll help you look.”

Viktor grimaced. “You’d get scammed again.” Or pick somewhere further from the lab, with healthier air, which would certainly be more expensive.

Jayce sighed. “Alright, then you’ll come with me?”

“There are supplies I need to get, food for one.” Living out of an inn really wasn’t the best setup, especially not with a growing young girl.

An idea sparked in his head. “I’ll get the supplies, and you can ask around to see if anywhere has open space.”

Viktor raised a brow. “And how exactly does that solve the issue of you being too trusting?” Jayce couldn’t help but feel a bit insulted.

“Um, I could go with.” Powder’s voice broke through. She gripped onto the stuffed rabbit she was found with, eyes wide. She took a step away from Viktor’s side. “I used to…” She looked up at the man. “I’ll make sure he pays a fair price.” Powder had a small smile on her face, but it was apparent that she was still more than a little scared of Jayce. He reminded himself that her offering to separate from Viktor was a good sign, a sign that she was getting better.

“You sure, Powder?” He asked. Viktor gave him a wide eyed glance as the girl stepped over to his side.

She nodded. “Someone has to make sure you pay right.”

Jayce couldn’t argue with that logic. “Alright then. V will go house hunting and the two of us will go shopping.”

Viktor and Jayce quickly readied themselves before Powder changed her mind – though they would surely help her if she did – and left the inn feeling a bit lighter than they had before. Raine gave them some kind words as they passed. She looked just as shocked to see Powder out and about.

The girl had been rather reclusive in the past week, though nobody was blaming her.

Watching Viktor go was difficult for both of them. Jayce knew he’d be safe, that he knew the Undercity better than both of them, but there was still a tightness in his chest that wouldn’t leave. He wanted to make sure the man was always within his gaze, or at least somewhere he knew well like the inn. It seemed the day was going to be a test for Powder and Jayce.

Powder did much of the leading, making sure that Jayce was taking the right turns and twists down to the markets. She was still hesitant to speak up, her voice low and shaky, but Jayce didn’t let it bring his hopes down. Powder was far from anyone that would hurt her; she had Viktor and him to look after her and they’d never let any harm come to her.

It turned out having the girl with him was more help than he initially would have thought. Not only did she make sure he haggled right – a practice he wasn’t accustomed to in Piltover – she pointed out the things they actually needed and the things that were better left behind. Powder also had an eye for mechanics as well which he hadn’t expected to be the case so early on. She didn’t understand all the words he said – likely because she worked more with a “whatever works works” mentality – but she could recognize the parts she’d seen in Viktor’s diagrams.

Never his journal. Jayce knew how well kept a secret those writings were. He’d only seen them a handful of times and that was well into their partnership. He could still remember the curling handwriting, written almost exclusively in Viktor’s mother tongue. Jayce rolled his eyes the first time he saw it, half joking when he said the man didn’t need to worry about anyone stealing his ideas because they couldn’t read it.

He regretted his words as soon as he saw Viktor’s shoulders fall ever so slightly.

Powder’s expression perked up when she caught sight of a vendor across the way. Jayce followed her line of sight, securing the parts that Viktor wanted. It appeared to be a baker. “You want something sweet?”

Powder looked up at him, eyes wide and mouth in a tight line. “Can I?”

The softness of her voice made his heart break. “Of course.”

He’d never personally interacted with Jinx – never really saw her up close; he’d only seen the aftermath of her actions. Jayce couldn’t ignore the anger that sat heavy in the bottom of his stomach for what Jinx had done. She’d bombed the Council Room, trapped Viktor under a mountain of rubble, if it hadn’t been for that Jayce wondered how much could have been avoided. He wouldn’t have used the Hexcore on Viktor: he could have actually followed through with his promise and destroyed it like he said he would.

Perhaps there would have been more time to help his partner the first time around before the arcane burrowed into his mind and convinced him of the impossible.

Jayce shook his head. That was all in the past now, a million years away. The girl in front of him wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t let her get to a point where the only thing she thought herself capable of was destruction. There had already been enough of that to go around.

Powder picked out her treat, a cookie with what seemed like chocolate and nuts. She didn’t immediately eat it like he expected, instead picking it apart meticulously to savor every bite. When was the last time she’d gotten something like this? The question nagged at the back of his head. She deserved it for the hell she’d been through the past week, and Jayce would do anything to see her face light up again.

“How about we sit for a bit while you finish eating.” He offered.

They found a bench not far from the rest of the market. Jayce kept a keen eye on everything and everyone to make sure they didn’t try anything. He looked a tad more intimidating now since taking Viktor’s advice to find some new clothes that would fit in with the rest of the Undercity. He couldn’t help but hold onto some of his Talis red, a reminder of where he came from. The whites were traded for dark grays and muted greens. Viktor looked rather shocked the first time he saw Jayce in his new clothes.

Jayce ignored the bolt of electricity that coursed through his body.

“How did you know Viktor?” Powder’s voice interrupted him from his thoughts.

“Oh, well,” I met him after you and your siblings blew up my apartment and he stopped me from jumping. That was a bit too heavy – and no longer true – explanation to give to a twelve-year-old. “I heard about him at the Distinguished Innovator’s Competition.” Jayce couldn’t help the smile that inched across his face. “His ideas were wonderful. He wanted to introduce new filtration systems that could help the people of the Undercity.”

Powder hung onto his every word, but her brows pinched together. “I thought you said you were friends?”

Give it to a child to start finding the holes in his story. Jayce was glad she was starting to speak up more, but he'd rather it be about any other topic. “I, we, we are now. I just…” Warmth grew in his chest. “I really needed to see him.” She didn’t ask anymore questions about how exactly Jayce and Viktor knew each other, and for that he was extremely grateful. She’d probably go and tell everything he said to the other man though, which he was far less grateful for. “How about you? You said you heard about him before?”

She ducked her head. “From Ekko. He saw Viktor at Be-” Both grew silent. The man’s death hung heavy in the air. Powder had learned about it when he told Viktor, overhearing Jayce’s whispers when he and Viktor assumed she was asleep. She’d cried for hours after that, another loved one in her life stripped away from her before their time. Viktor held onto her, letting her sobs wrack both of their bodies. Jayce could do nothing but watch. She was still afraid of him then.

“I saw him a few times too.” Powder’s voice drew quieter and she curled into herself. The two sat in silence as Powder finished her treat – not looking as enthusiastic as she initially was. Jayce didn’t say a word about it. She took his hand as they walked down the way, and he also didn’t say a word about that either. Today was the first day Powder wasn’t distancing herself from Jayce. He would take what he could get.

They got the last of their things. The materials Jayce and Viktor really needed would be back at Benzo’s shop – or whatever was left of it – but he wasn’t going to bring Powder there. Not so soon after what happened. He wasn’t sure how the place looked at the moment either, just hopeful that someone had cleaned it up.

“Stop it.”

Jayce glanced down. “What was that?”

Powder didn’t look back. “Stop it.” She said it more forcefully this time. One of her hands came up to her face, rubbing the side of her head.

He stopped walking and maneuvered them to the side of the street, out of the way of passersby. “Powder, what’s wrong?”

“I said stop it!” She tugged her hand away from Jayce’s. Her hands clamped over her ears. Her fingers twisted in her hair, tugging at the strands roughly. She backed up to a wall and slid to the floor.

Jayce crouched down, making sure there was a space between the girl and himself. “It’s just me, Powder, it's Jayce.”

She whimpered; her eyes filled with fat tears. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to.” She shrugged as though someone was clamping down on her shoulder. A few people stopped and stared at her outburst. Powder kicked her feet, stomping on the uneven cobblestone. “Shut up!”

“Powder.” Jayce kept his voice low and steady. “I know you didn’t mean it. It’s okay.” He only knew bits and pieces of what actually happened, from what Vi and Powder said. Somewhere in the middle was the truth and he knew he would never find it. Not fully. “It’s just you and I. Powder and Jayce.” He dared to inch closer, still not touching her.

Powder let out a few more yelps, surely drawing attention now, but he didn’t pay them any mind. What was important was that the girl was okay. That was the only thing that ever mattered.

He wished Viktor was with them – he was better at handling Powder’s breakdowns – likely because he understood her better than Jayce did given they grew up in the same place. That was something Jayce would never understand.

The girl’s limbs stopped flailing; instead, they tucked closer to her – arms by her sides and knees to her chest. Her breaths grew less erratic, steady. “Is it alright if I put my arm around you?” Jayce offered.

Powder didn’t answer with her words, instead planting herself at Jayce’s side.

He lowered his arm around her thin shoulders. Another thing she and Viktor had in common, they were practically skin and bones. Jayce decided he would remedy that; he couldn’t stand seeing them wither away. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head and pinched her eyes closed.

“Alright then.” He let out a sigh. “We can take a second to get our bearings. I bet you’re tired right now.”

Powder huffed. “‘m not.”

Jayce chuckled. “I’m sure you’re not, Powder.”

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, curled up beside each other. He would have rather been back at the inn – at least there he could protect Powder from others’ looks. It seemed that was something Zaun and Piltover had in common: you never could escape the judgement of others.

Jayce began to talk to fill the silence, a trait he always wished he could train himself out of but never did. "I’m working on a new filtration system for the lab, that way I can make sure both you and Viktor are getting fresh air when we’re there.” He’d yet to tell Viktor about his plans, and he was sure the man would have a few choice words at first, but Jayce wasn’t going to yield on this part. He needed to make sure Viktor wasn’t making himself any sicker.

Besides, he didn’t like how the respirator covered Viktor’s face. That was something which deserved to be on display.

Powder twisted beside him. “Can I help?” She lifted her chin, looking up at him. Her eyes were droopy.

Jayce smiled. “Of course you can help, Powder.” The girl yawned. “Alright, I think it's time we get back.”

Powder didn’t try to resist this time. She let herself get pulled up. Jayce held the girl close to his side. Her gaze was still tired, every second she came closer to completely falling asleep. He hoped that they could make it back. Jayce continued with the idle one sided conversation.

They were a few blocks from the inn when Jayce spotted something that made his skin crawl. Or rather someone.

Slinking around a corner, Jayce spotted Silco. The man was impossible not to notice, with his almost gray skin and piercing diseased eye. His scarring was covered by what he assumed was makeup, but it still peaked through – impossible to conceal.

Jayce pulled Powder impossibly closer to his side and tried his hardest to get away as quickly as possible. He didn’t know if Silco had the same plans with Powder that he had the first go around, but he wouldn’t let that happen. Powder wasn’t going to suffer through that again. Silco had no idea who Jayce was, but that didn’t matter.

Silco was part of the problem as well – the one that distributed Shimmer to the Undercity, the one that brought upon further pain and destruction. Silco was another element he needed to take care of. Jayce wasn’t sure how to handle him, but he was going to: he’d met with the man before, he’d find a way to do it again.

The two men locked eyes for a moment and a look of discontent flashed across Silco’s face. Jayce couldn’t help the scowl that spread across his face.

So much to fix in such a short amount of time. He couldn’t help the anxiety that sat heavy in his stomach. Ten days passed since he woke up in the past, and even if he had found Viktor, even if he had “saved” Powder from Silco’s grasp, there was still so much to do.

Powder wrapped her hand in his.

He glanced down at her. One step at a time. Three-hundred and fifty-five days to go.

Chapter Text

Four days passed since Jayce and Powder’s adventure out into the open. Viktor had gotten a new apartment since then, one that was closer to the lab, and Jayce had done all he could to renovate the place a bit so they weren’t breathing in fumes from the fissures. Viktor – thankfully – hadn’t said a word about it.

Jayce could see the state of his partner’s body. It was healthier than before, sure, but he knew it was only a matter of time before Viktor’s health took a turn for the worse. He’d been distracted with other things that he let the most important thing fade into the background: Viktor. That happened before. Once when he learned Viktor’s name wasn’t on the Hexgate patents, a fact he was told was due to his lack of a last name which was utter bullshit in his opinion, and Jayce wasn’t going to allow it to happen once more.

Most of his research – what was left of it at least – was in the Undercity. Books, journals, notes, all of them were tucked into the spaces of Viktor’s apartment. Not in the lab, even if Jinx wasn’t around to steal his things he didn’t want anyone else getting their hands on Viktor and his work.

More and more of Jayce’s life was bleeding into the Undercity, a fact he never would have thought possible. Viktor practically had a designated drawer for him, filled with a couple sets of clothes. Neither of them said a single word about it.

With each passing day it got harder and harder to remember that in Viktor’s eyes they’d only known each other for two weeks. To Jayce, those weeks felt like an eternity, a calm before the storm even.

“Are you going to sit and daydream all day, or are you going to finish fusing those pieces?” Viktor’s voice broke him out of his thoughts.

Jayce looked down at the pieces in his hands: it was a part of a new water filtration system, a way to help the Undercity gain back something as simple as clean drinking water. “Right, sorry, I’ll… get back to it.” Despite his words, Jayce found it hard to refocus on his work. He knew it was important; he wanted to continue working, but his hands wouldn’t move. His mind was too consumed with Viktor.

When did his downward spiral begin the first time? It had been a few years between their first meeting and Viktor’s need for a crutch in place of his cane. After that… there hadn’t been much time at all. Without the Hexcore corrupting Viktor, did that buy them more time? Then again, Jayce was already wading through uncharted waters by going back in time. Maybe this Viktor was just better at hiding his sickness.

“Jayce.” Viktor tapped Jayce’s leg with his cane, “Truly what has gotten into you today?”

His mind grappled for excuses, but they all eluded him. Are you okay? What medications are you on? Do you need rest? How bad are your lungs? Was your skin always this pale? “There’s just a lot on my mind, V.” It was a poor reason, but he could find no other. At least this time he wasn’t lying.

“Do you care to share any of those things?” Viktor was hunched over in his seat. He looked down at the papers in front of him, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. Jayce tapped his back and the man straightened his spine. “We are partners after all, I expect you to share your troubles with me.” He finally tore his eyes from his work.

Jayce became hypnotized by Viktor’s golden gaze. His eyes were far more beautiful this way, how they naturally were, instead of the gray glaze that washed over them when he was overcome by the arcane. “There’s some materials I need.” The formulas were already put together in his head. He never called himself a chemist, but Jayce put in a lot of hours to figure out what could save Viktor in the past since the Hexcore didn’t seem to work the way both of them would have wanted.

Viktor put the papers down. “Then you should get them, no?”

“They’re in Piltover.” He didn’t miss the flash of pain across Viktor’s face.

The man tried his best to hide his deeper feelings for Piltover since the first night they met – especially in front of Powder. His words could be… a lot if he started going. Viktor understood that Piltover was Jayce’s birthplace and he did his best to respect that. “You’ve returned several times since we started our work, what stops you now?”

Jayce honestly couldn’t put a finger on it. He’d been back just last week to visit his mother, but that felt different. Even if he had an explicit purpose for returning to Piltover, it felt wrong. Every time he stepped into the glittering city he couldn’t help but feel like an outsider. At least he didn’t have to deal with his face plastered everywhere – that was something he never got used to.

It made his skin crawl.

He ran his fingers across the filter before him. “I just… It feels bad.”

“How so?”

“It’s like…” Jayce shook his head. “I belong here, with you, with Powder-” he always made sure to include the girl when he could, “- and going back there feels like a betrayal almost.”

“Jayce.”

His heart beat heavy in his chest. He’d never get tired of hearing his name fall from Viktor’s lips.

“You are not betraying us by returning to your home, especially if you return out of necessity.” Viktor’s voice was tense; he bit his bottom lip.

Jayce wanted to drop to his knees, to tell him that Piltover wasn’t his home. There was no place that was home. The only thing deserving of that name was Viktor – wherever the man was that was Jayce’s home. He stayed in his place though. Those thoughts were to be tucked away into the corners of his mind, not said aloud. He couldn’t lose Viktor because of his own selfish desires.

He couldn’t help but be a little selfish though. “Would you come with?”

Viktor froze for a moment, his jaw hanging open ever so slightly. “To Piltover?”

Jayce nodded in response. His words failed him.

“Are you sure that’s the best idea? It’s just… they don’t particularly like trenchers.” Viktor wasn’t wrong, not in the slightest. His ability to secure a place in the Academy – even if those days were behind him now – was astonishing, a testament to how far Piltover went to make sure the two groups stayed separate.

“Don’t call yourself that.” Jayce edged closer. “I will be with you every step of the way.” Viktor let out a hollow chuckle. “No offense Jayce, but it isn’t like house Talis has a great social standing.”

A beat passed. He couldn’t place a finger on when he’d told Viktor about his house, but maybe that was just one of the things the other picked up while at the Academy, or maybe it was the new timeline playing tricks on him. “You’re not wrong there.” He placed a hand on Viktor’s shoulder. “If you truly don’t want to go, you don’t have to. I won’t be offended.” Offended, no. Slightly saddened, yes.

“We’re going to Piltover?” Powder’s high voice perked up from across the way. She’d been sitting at her own desk – a colorful thing of blues and pinks – and now came bounding over with wide eyes.

Viktor smirked. “I guess we are.”

V, you don’t-”

“Eh,” He looked up at Jayce and the man felt ready to melt on the spot, “Perhaps it won’t be that bad.”

Jayce could only hope.

Of course, this was Piltover, and things were never that simple.

Jayce sighed as he tried to explain the situation to the guard for a third time. “This is my partner-”

“Partner?” The guard’s face erupted into a look of amused shock.

“Coworker, acquaintance, friend, whatever you want to call it, and his… ward.” Jayce still wasn’t sure what to call Powder in this situation, or really at all. She was sort of like a mentee or apprentice, but those words didn’t carry the same weight. She was more than that, but she certainly wasn’t Viktor’s daughter, even in the adoptive sense.

The guard rolled his eyes. “And why are you bringing them up?”

It took everything in his body to not push past the man and get on the elevator himself – no more questions. Viktor and Powder stood just behind them, the girl holding onto the elder's hand with a fierce grip. For all the excitement she previously had, much of it seemed to have dissipated and been replaced with worry.

“We’re inventors, and we need supplies that are only found in Piltover.” Jayce bit his tongue to keep his words civil.

The guard leaned against the railing like he had all the time in the world. Maybe he did; maybe he got some sort of bonus for turning away Zaunites that wanted to travel up. “So he’s your assistant.”

There was no question to his words which only made Jayce’s blood boil further. “Partner.”

The guard didn’t appear to accept his explanation, and Jayce was reminded once more of how much leeway he gave Piltover in their treatment of the Undercity. He’d committed his own atrocities towards the civilians, more pain and destruction than he wanted to take fault for, but it was the little things too. All of those small acts piled up atop each other to form a system of betrayal and discrimination that he’d been ignorant to for much of his life.

Jayce squared his shoulders. If there was one thing he did know though it was that his form could be intimidating. All those hours spent in the forge provided him with an impressive build. “Are there any other questions you’d like to ask?” His tone was slightly mocking, but he couldn’t help it.

“Don’t let them cause any trouble.” The man said before stepping to the side and finally allowing the three into the elevator.

Jayce let Viktor and Powder go first, for fear that the guard would pull some sick trick and shut the door behind him before they could follow. He locked eyes with the other for a moment. “I don’t let them do anything. They’re people who can do as they please.” There was a scoff, but Jayce brushed it off.

Viktor’s hand found his arm as the elevator started its ascent up. “There’s no need to get violent on our behalf.”

I would ravage cities for you, watch them burn to the ground. I would travel to the ends of the Earth and back again if you told me too. “Like I told him, we’re partners and partners look out for one another.”

Viktor got a far away look in his eye that Jayce noticed happened rather often when they were close. He prayed to Janna that it wasn’t a sign of his disease progressing, that it wasn’t the dam cracking before Jayce even had the chance to begin fixing it.

Powder looked between the two of them, a look of confusion – like she was trying to figure out what was wrong with her latest project. Was it a gear slightly too tight? Was the wiring faulty? She didn’t say a word as she quietly observed.

Jayce could only guess what was going on in that brilliant mind of hers.

Before anything else could go wrong, the elevator stopped with a groan and the three stepped out. The light was a bit blinding after being in the Undercity, something that seemed to affect Viktor and Powder more than Jayce. The two men kept the girl between them, that way she’d be protected and they could guarantee she wouldn’t wander off. Judging by how she clung to Viktor’s arm, Jayce doubted they’d have a problem with the latter.

People stared at them, of course they did. For one, Jayce hadn’t exactly had the forethought to bring clothes that would make the other two blend in a bit more with Piltovian society – not that he expected Viktor would have even taken them. Even Jayce appeared more Undercity than topside thanks to the garments he’d meticulously picked out with Viktor’s approval. The approval wasn’t a necessary step but he’d be lying if he said it didn’t make his heart soar just a bit.

Whereas he wanted to fade into the background, to protect the two from the glances and glares they received, Viktor marched forth with his head held high. Jayce was a little taken aback at how easily he made his way down the streets that he almost forgot that Viktor had once called Piltover home as well. It wasn’t that long ago that they could have ran into each on their way to classes or while getting meals.

Jayce wished they would have the first go around. A lot of things could have changed.

“What shop was it you needed go to?” Viktor’s words were tight, on edge.

“Oh, well,” this was a bad idea, he shouldn’t have forced the two topside when it was so obvious that Piltover brought Viktor pain. “It’s close to the apothecary if I remember right, a building or two over.”

Viktor hummed. “I will make a stop at the apothecary then.”

Jayce didn’t ask for what, giving the other more room to breathe than he typically would. After years of being around the other man he knew that boxing Viktor in when he was upset would only lead to the man lashing out in ways he quickly regretted. Neither of them wanted that, and Powder didn’t need to see that.

The girl glanced between the two like she was choosing who to follow. Her eyes landed on Viktor. “I can go with Jayce.”

The man smiled at her and patted her shoulder. “He’ll keep you safe, okay, králíček?” She nodded and leaned further into Jayce’s side.

The trio split as they came upon their destinations. He didn’t miss the way Viktor’s face hid a grimace as he passed through the door of the apothecary, a bell dinging as he did so. He and Powder stood for a moment before turning. Viktor was more than capable of taking care of himself, Jayce didn’t doubt that for a moment, but sometimes he worried that the man would get so caught up in his own abilities that he’d forget other people were there to lighten the load.

Powder was entranced the moment they opened the shop. It was small, though still larger than the ones he’d been to in Zaun. The shop was far more organized as well. Each shelf was labeled, like was with like; there were signs with different prices and deals. She looked like she itched to reach out and touch it all, but she kept her hands by her sides, quietly observing. It was a chemist's shop, filled with different vials of various colors, barrels of dried goods and jars and strange things that Jayce didn’t recognize. He’d only come to the shop a handful of times throughout his life, and every time he hoped it would be his last.

It was just a tad eerie.

But he knew this was the only place in Piltover that had what he was looking for. The dark corners held some of the greatest medical achievements – though most topsiders brushed them off because getting terribly sick wasn’t something that could possibly happen to them. They were blessed with clean air and water while those in the Undercity labored in the fissures consuming toxic gas and water shining with oil.

“How may I help you sir?” A voice called out to him from the counter.

He went to the counter, his voice turning hush. “I was looking for some medications.”

“Sir the apothecary-”

“Specialized ones.”

The individual, who couldn’t be older than eighteen, raised a brow. They shuffled behind the counter. The sound of clanking keys filled Jayce’s ears. “Is this for yourself or a friend?”

Friend didn’t hold the same weight of who Viktor was to him. The man was so much more. “My partner, he’s-” there was no good way to say it “-he grew up in the fissures and has had lung problems for as long as I’ve known him.”

“Hm,” the teen rifled through one drawer and then another. “What are his symptoms?”

Jayce rubbed his hands together. It was difficult not to imagine what Viktor would be like several years down the line, when his disease would worsen substantially to the point where he was nearly bedridden. He had to remind himself that Viktor wouldn’t get like that, that he wasn’t like that. “Shortness of breath, a persistent cough, chest pain, he has pretty frequent infections.” The more symptoms he listed off the further his heart sank. To think that he left Viktor’s side for sometimes days on end while his condition worsened. He hung his head and his arms fell limply at his side.

A small hand found its way into his. “Viktor uses a cane too, but I don’t think his leg is because of his lungs.” Her voice was tiny, but she met the person’s eyes and held her head high.

The worker smiled. “Thanks kid.” They took out three vials filled with liquids of various colors and a bottle filled with white pills. “If it's what I think it is, these should help. Obviously, meeting him in person would be better or getting a write up from a doctor-”

“He doesn’t really do doctor’s.” Jayce grimaced. He never trusted the doctors in Piltover; he said they could never understand the cause of his ailments because they hadn’t seen them for themselves.

“That’s what I thought.” The worker went down the line of vials. “Do you have a background in chemistry by chance?”

“I took some classes at the Academy.” Jayce didn’t want to say how little he truly knew for fear that he’d lose what was sitting in front of him.

The employee looked hesitant. “Look,” they put a hand over the vials, “messing with this stuff can be deadly if you do it wrong and sometimes… Sometimes it doesn’t work the way you want it to.”

“I’m a scientist,” Jayce assured. “I’ll do a million tests. I already have some formulas drawn up.”

“Can I see them?” They asked. Jayce plucked his journal from his bag without thinking; he’d do anything to help Viktor. The employee looked over the pages, their fingers sliding over the formulas as they mumbled to themselves. “It looks promising, and these will certainly help bring the intended effects.”

Jayce was close to getting on his knees and begging. “Please. I can’t lose him.”

The employee looked up and handed him the bottle of pills. “These are regular anti-inflammatory pills. Take them as needed but don’t take more than three in a day.” They sighed before handing over the vials. “You better do a whole lot of tests before you even think about giving these to him.”

“I will.”

Powder squeezed his hand as she looked up at them. “Are you from Zaun?”

They smiled, so small Jayce thought he’d imagined it. “No, kid, but a girl I loved very much was.” They turned back to Jayce. “I didn’t have the knowledge to save her, but if you… If you can somehow cure your partner-” their eyes tinged with red, “-then I hope you do a lot of good with what you learn.”

Jayce took in every piece of information and stored it in his mind. This was bigger than Viktor, even though he was the most important thing in Jayce’s world. Curing him could mean curing many more.

He gripped the vials in his hand. To think that taking steps like these, at the right time, could have helped Viktor immensely. He’d been too caught up with work before, and the other had seemed so put together. Viktor was good at hiding his pain, even towards the end when Jayce was more than aware that every step brought immense agony when the cells in his body were fighting against him.

If he had just focused on the little things then nothing would have–

Powder tugged his hand and looked between him and the employee.

He quickly paid and shoved the vials into his pocket. Exactly how he’d find the time to get in the lab and work on the formula eluded him, but he was certain that he could make it work. It was going to take more lies than he would like, skipping around how exactly he knew what was wrong with the man, but if it saved Viktor’s life then he deemed it necessary.

“You’re doing it again.” Powder said as they stepped out of the shop.

“Doing what?”

She looked down at the street – cleaner than any of the ones in Zaun, stones more even with fewer gaps between them. Viktor had once said it was easier to walk in Piltover because of it. Powder’s eyebrows screwed together, and she frowned slightly. “It’s like you’re not here. Viktor does it too. He gets really quiet and goes somewhere else.”

“I’m sorry, Powder,” he replied, though not certain of what he was apologizing for. It wasn’t like he could stop it. His mind drifted – stuck between one life and this one. It was hard to keep them straight.

They met Viktor, and the man had a scowl on his face. Powder bounded to his side. He didn’t try to dissuade the girl, but it was apparent he was tense.

“Did something happen, V?” Jayce wanted nothing more than to step forward and wrap the man in his arms.

Viktor scoffed. “I am not allowed my prescriptions anymore since I have no coverage from the Academy.”

Jayce’s heart sank. Of course, Piltover would strip away any kindness they’d given to Viktor during his time at the Academy. Of course, they’d stop caring the moment he wasn’t working for them. Of course. “What were they, maybe we can find another-”

“Testosterone, Jayce, among others.”

The street went quiet and he tried to put together what Viktor had said. Jayce couldn’t believe he didn’t know about it sooner, years sooner. Had Viktor not trusted him with this? Did he think Jayce would think of him differently, that he would hate him? There was no world in which that was a possibility

He looked the man over, all sharp corners and waves of anger. He couldn’t lie, it made… a few things clear. “What about in the Undercity? Is there anywhere we could go there?” Viktor shook his head and began to walk down the street. “I’ve tried but they tend to have more extreme adverse effects.”

Jayce put a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll figure this out, V, I promise.” I can help you. I’ll work into the earliest hours of the morning to make something that can help you.

Viktor grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, lásko.”

Chapter Text

Jayce was losing his mind. He’d been back in the past for practically a month and the familiar feeling of failure dug into his bones. He tried his best to put on a brave face whenever he was around Viktor and Powder, never wanting to upset either of them. But everyday it got harder and harder. Jayce tried to remind himself of the things he did accomplish.

He’d gotten started on creating Viktor’s new medication. It was terrible, the late nights in the lab, sneaking off in the middle of the night and hoping that Viktor didn’t realize what was going on. There were some times when he said he was going back to visit his mother, and sometimes he really was, but he would also take time to work on new concoctions. He was never fantastic at chemistry, but he’d practically become a pseudo-expert overnight. If it meant helping Viktor, keeping the man by his side out of pain, then it was all worth it. The medications were still far from even animal trials, but progress was progress.

There was the apartment too which he’d been spending more and more nights in. The couch wasn’t comfortable at all, but he didn’t want to kick Viktor from his own bed. The man deserved something nice, well, nicer. Powder slept in her own room most nights too, though there were the nights when he’d hear her small steps make the floorboards creak and trail into Viktor’s room. Jayce never tried to stop her.

They’d created several different prototypes over the course of the month as well: a water filtration device that proved capable for up to ten gallons at a time now, the air filter that could be placed in a room and clear it from toxic fumes in about twenty minutes, the beginnings of a device similar to Jaye’s old mercury hammer – though this one would strictly be used for mining, and of course the brace that he still saw as their most amazing device.

It felt wonderful to create things that were truly going to be used for good. The only problem was getting them into the hands of citizens.

That was where another problem arose. Jayce had practically forgone any patronage from the Kiramman’s and he didn’t want to strip money from his family business since his mother deserved it above all else.

Viktor stepped back into the room – he’d gone into another and Jayce learned that was where he took his testosterone. Although he wasn’t ashamed, he didn’t like other’s staring him down while he took his shot. He’d made a vague mention about some ex who took a little too much enjoyment in the fact that he was trans. Jayce was just worried about what would happen when Viktor ran out. The day would come sooner rather than later.

Jayce didn’t press any further. “Um, V, I think we should talk.”

Viktor raised a brow. “About what?” He sat and crossed his arms.

He didn’t know if he had ever felt so much anxiety. His darkest moments were mostly filled with hopelessness, but there was hope in his chest. That made it all the more difficult. “About the future.”

The man let out a chuckle. “You make it sound like a marriage proposal, our work.”

“Well,” Jayce turned his head so the other wouldn’t see the blush spreading across his face. Powder spotted it though, and her eyes went wide with realization. Kids. He wiped a hand down his face. “People have always said I’m married to my work.”

Viktor hummed in agreement.

“But really. If we want to get this to the rest of the Undercity-”

“Zaun.” Viktor looked just as surprised at his intrusion as Jayce.

One of the first steps in helping the people of Zaun was calling their society by its correct name. “Right, if we want to get it out to Zaun, then we’ll need funding and investors.” He wished there was a way to completely avoid that, but the meager money the two of them made from fixing things – practically freelance mechanics – only did so much. Finding investors meant playing politics in a way. Jayce wasn’t completely hopeless in that regard, Mel helped immensely all those years ago, and many of the lessons were stored in the back of his head. He never thought he’d be breaking them out again.

“Tch.” Viktor shuffled through his notes, distracting himself. “We’ll need to get their attention then.”

Their eyes locked for a moment and the gears in Jayce’s head turned. “I might have an idea, if you’re not completely opposed to it.”

Viktor shifted in his seat. “That depends on what the idea is.”

“The Distinguished Innovators Competition?” He’d thought it over the night before while tossing and turning on the couch. It would mean another trip topside, something he knew would cause his partner and Powder a bit of anxiety, but it was a real chance at getting attention on their work. It was an open competition – at least in theory; plus, if Jayce was with – someone from Piltover – those running the competition would be less likely to deny their application.

Viktor’s hand fell from the desk; he massaged his knee, kneading the muscles until Jayce was sure they were pleasantly numb. “The last time I went to one I was under Heimerdinger’s guidance.”

Jayce remembered it too well, as did he remember the competitions they two of them entered as partners. It was at the start of their Hextech career, when – like now – they desperately tried to get everyone to believe in them.

In an act he was sure he’d regret, Jayce put his hand over Viktor’s. The other’s skin was far paler than his own, the contrast was hypnotizing. His fingers were slim, perfect for maneuvering and fixing the small pieces in their work. Viktor did it so gracefully.

Powder bounded over to Viktor’s other side. “Please can we go? I’ve wanted to see the Competition for years.”

Viktor huffed out a laugh at her enthusiasm. “You’re not nervous of topside?” Powder shook her head. Jayce knew she was lying, at least a little.

“Well then, králíček, I guess we can enter.” Viktor spoiled the girl rotten.

“Yes!” Powder jumped and raced off to her side of the lab. The sound of her tinkering filled the space once more.

Viktor had a small smile on his face, but his eyes held a deep sadness. It reminded Jayce of another time, a darker time, water rushed below their feet and down to the river below. He’d been so close to losing the other.

“Do you really think Pilties will have any interest in these?” Viktor gestured to the designs laid across the table.

Jayce rested his hand on the man’s lower back. He couldn’t help it. The man didn’t have his back brace, so all Jayce could feel was the smooth skin beneath his shirt, spine bony. “All it takes is one. One investor and then we have a foot in the door.”

Viktor grimaced. “I abhor these kinds of events.”

“Too many in your Academy days?”

Viktor paused for a moment. “Yes.” The word came out rushed.

Jayce felt the muscles tense under his hand. “Well, we have a week until the competition.”

“Less than that.” Viktor rolled his eyes at Jayce’s surprise. “Just because I’m in Zaun doesn’t mean I don’t know when these kinds of things are.”

“Of course.”

They worked tirelessly in the days leading up to the competition. It reminded Jayce of the early days of Hextech, when it was just the two of them in the lab. There was Powder though, and it was a good thing the girl was there. She pulled the two away for meals and made sure they didn’t sleep sprawled across their desks. Jayce was thankful. Sometimes she’d run off for the day, which terrified him at first, but Viktor assured him she would be fine.

Viktor put the finishing touches on the hammer – the right amount of practicality and flare – the second part to get investor’s eyes on their work. “She’s likely sneaking around with Ekko.” Jayce squinted. “I didn’t know those two were friends.”

“I think Powder has a bit of a crush on the boy, if I’m being honest.”

He thought over the girl’s actions the past few times he’d seen her go. She did seem to be a bit more nervous. “And Ekko?”

“I think they’ll give it a shot in the future.” Viktor held out a hand.

Jayce passed over the ratchet wrench. He didn’t want to say that there was a possibility they wouldn’t have the chance to if Jayce screwed up the next eleven months. Fuck. Eleven months seemed like such a short amount of time. The first month passed in a blur, what was to say they rest wouldn’t.

Viktor flicked his arm. “Pay attention, lásko. This is no time for goofing off.”

Jayce grinned at the way Viktor’s voice curled around the phrase – another one he’d taken from Jayce’s own vocabulary. His eyebrows furrowed. “What does that mean? You keep calling me that.”

The tips of Viktor’s ears reddened. “Eh, it means partner.” He didn’t meet Jayce’s eyes. “That is what we are after all.’

“Lásko.” The word felt strange on his tongue.

The other swallowed. “Your pronunciation is a bit off, but passable.” Viktor returned to his work.

“I’d like to learn more Zaunite.” Jayce rested his chin on his hand as he leaned on the desk.

“You should focus more on your work now that you’ve gotten us wrapped up in the Innovator’s Competition.”

“It’s our work.”

“Yes, well, if everything goes sideways I will scratch my name from the designs.”

Jayce didn’t hide his displeasure at the thought. The idea that Viktor’s name wouldn’t be attached to their work brought a sour feeling to his stomach. They were partners which meant they shared their successes and helped each other when they failed. It was always supposed to be that way.

They arrived in Piltover a day before the competition, something Viktor actually suggested. “Transporting everything the day of could cause many issues. If something goes wrong we won’t have the time to fix it.”

Jayce was the one to suggest staying with his mother. He knew it was a big move – and he thoroughly pushed back the thought the situation felt similar to bringing home his boyfriend to see if his mother approved. Viktor had met Ximena before, the first go around, and she loved him. Jayce knew that it would be just as great the second time around.

Powder was excited as well, though that was more due to the Innovator’s Competition and seeing all the inventions that she never had the chance to see before.

If anyone was close to losing it, it was Viktor. The man was more snippy than he usually was. He smacked Jayce’s leg with his cane when the latter said he could carry everything. “I’m more than capable of lugging a box around, Jayce.”

He knew it was nerves, but Jayce still didn’t get it completely. The man had been fine, perhaps a little tense, the first time they’d gone to Piltover together, but this time Viktor looked even paler and unsteady.

They walked in step, Powder bouncing between them. She didn’t have much of a problem filling the silence with a million questions about what kind of inventions there would be, who would be there, and if she could set up her own section at their booth. Jayce told her yes immediately.

When they arrived at the Talis estate, Viktor hesitated at the door. “I could find a place to stay for the night.” He held the box at his side with white knuckled grip.

Jayce shook his head. “Trust me, V, she’ll love you.” He ruffled Powder’s blue locks, “And you too, Powdita.”

Powder rolled her eyes as she moved out from Jayce’s grasp. “What are you freaking out for, Vikki?”

Viktor gave her a pointed look at the nickname. “I am not freaking out.”

“Yeah you are.”

“I’m not.”

Jayce knocked the door as the two continued their bickering.

The door swung open and they were greeted with the sight of Ximena Talis who had a bright smile on her face. “Mijo,” she pulled her son into a hug, “I’m so glad you’ve brought your partner around for a visit.” He tried not to blush at his mothers words. “Come in, come in.” She ushered them through the door. “I made lunch.”

He’d written to her about everything – well, most things – so she knew about Viktor and Powder, but he hadn’t been too clear with many of the details. “Mamá, you didn’t need to do that.”

She pinched his cheek. “Nonsense. It’s a pleasure.” Ximena led them to the kitchen.

Jayce didn’t miss how Viktor strayed towards the back. He placed a hand on his back. “You okay?”

Viktor gripped at his cane and sucked in a shaky breath. “Just… I haven’t done anything like this in a while.”

“Like this?”

“Meeting new people.”

Jayce wanted to interject and say that just a month or so ago Viktor met him, but he decided to keep that to himself. “It’s just my mom.”

Viktor chuckled. “It is a large step, no?”

He couldn’t really deny that. The first go around, it had been about two and a half months before he wore Viktor down enough to have dinner with his mother. He’d been just as nervous then, fiddling with his clothes and massaging his knee until the skin was red and raw.

Jayce guided him down the hallway. “It’s one day. If it becomes too much, I can show you to your room so you can take a breather.”

“Thank you, lásko.”

“Of course, querido.”

Viktor didn’t comment on the nickname, and Jayce was immensely glad. He didn’t know why he let it slip from his tongue. It was dangerous, allowing himself to indulge in his less-than-platonic feelings, but they poured from him before he could stop them.

Powder was already sitting at the kitchen table, hands tucked under her thighs. Viktor stood beside her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for allowing us to stay here, Mrs. Talis.”

Ximena waved a hand. “No need for such formalities Viktor, Ximena is fine.”

Jayce shot Viktor a look which caused the latter to roll his eyes. “Do you need any help?”

“You’re a guest, Jayce can help.”

“I can-”

Jayce shook his head with a grin. “You can try to argue all you want, but it won’t work.”

Plates were brought to the table and the four took their seats. It was wonderful – nontraditional by Piltover standards – but Jayce loved it. Most of his mother’s cooking came from her homeland – Ixtal. She didn’t speak about life there much in public, but she’d told him wonderful stories growing up.

Viktor seemed shocked at the spread before them. “This is wonderful, Mrs- Ximena.”

She smiled at him. “I’m glad you enjoy it, not many around here do.”

He nodded. “Yes, it is the same with Zaunite cuisine.”

Jayce couldn’t argue with that. It had taken him a bit to grow accustomed to the flavors from Zaun, but now he found himself seeking them out more and more. “Has everything been alright up here, Mamá.”

“Yes, mijo, I’ve been able to hold my own.” Her eyes twinkled

“I wasn’t say-”

“Yes, yes, I know.” She chuckled. “I’m glad you still think of me though.”

The conversation was warm like a wool blanket, wrapping around them and bringing them together. Viktor relaxed at his side, and Powder began to jump in more, sharing her ideas with Ximena and asking more and more questions. There were a few that made Viktor gently reprimand her, but Ximena didn’t seem offended by it. The meal stretched on longer and longer. Each of them sat well after their plates were cleared.

When they finally stood, Jayce was quick to help his mother clean up.

She stood at his side as she dried dishes. “Jayce.”

“Yes?”

She stole a glance back at Viktor who wiped the table. Powder rambled again, still stuck on the Innovator’s Competition. “¿Él es tú compañero…. O novio?”

A flush rose on his face. He ducked away and focused directly on the task before him. “Compañero.” There was a lilt to his voice that betrayed his words.

“¿En realidad?”

“Sí, Mamá.”

Ximena raised a brow. He knew she didn’t believe it for a second, not with how he talked about Viktor, not with how close the two of them were. Ximena put a hand on his arm. “No lo pierdas.”

Jayce smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

>

“I hope this is okay.” Jayce showed Viktor his room. “Mine’s right across the hall if you need anything.”

Powder was already setting up in Viktor’s room; Jayce explained the situation to his mother at length, and she was more than happy to accommodate.

Viktor’s shoulders shook as he stepped into the room, glancing around at everything. “It’s more than okay.”

The sadness was back in his eyes, dulling the gold. Jayce wanted to step forward and pull Viktor into his arms, maybe cradle his face in his hands until he was sure that Viktor understood how much he adored the man no matter what. Never did he want to see the light fade from the man’s eyes, for the brightness to dimmer and fade until it was gone. Gray.

“I will see you in the morning then?”

Jayce nodded. “Good night, V.”

“Good night, Jayce.”

The door closed before him and he let out a long breath.

Jayce tucked himself into bed. It was a bit small now, but he’d experienced worse. His eyes refused to shut no matter how much he knew he needed to rest before the competition in the morning. He stared at the posters on his walls, childhood relics that his mother didn’t have the heart to get rid of.

So much magic.

The memories swirled in his mind. Jayce wanted to help, that was the only thing he ever wanted, but he failed to assist those that desperately needed it. Instead, he formulated upper class trade deals and made weapons that took lives. He didn’t know how long he sat in bed, staring up at the ceiling, until the crack of his door opening stole his attention.

He sat up, heart racing. “Powder?”

The girl padded across the room, worry in her eyes. “Viktor’s having a nightmare.”

Jayce swung his legs over the side of the bed before he could fully think over his actions. “Okay.” He placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Does he usually get nightmares?”

Powder shrugged. “I can’t tell. He’s usually quiet.”

The man’s heart broke in two. Of course, Viktor learned how to hide his sobs, to control his fear even when he was unconscious. If there was any one that could figure out how to do that it was him.

Powder broke away from his side as they stepped into the room. She lightly shook Viktor’s shoulder. He trembled, eyes squeezed together in what seemed like pain. “Vikki, you got to wake up.” She shook his shoulder a bit harder. “I brought Jayce, come on, wake up.”

Jayce could tell she was working herself into a fit. Powder’s eyes began to redden as tears threatened to spill. He stepped to the side of the bed. “I got him, Powder. You think you can lay down.” She shook her head. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Alright, it’ll be okay.” He turned his attention back to the man on the bed. Viktor’s shoulders were up to his ears, his body curled up like a small child. The position couldn’t have been comfortable at all. He brushed through the man’s hair, gently scraping against his scalp. “It’s alright, V, I’m here. We’re at the Talis estate, and everyone is safe.”

He could feel Powder’s eyes on him, likely questioning why he wasn’t trying to wake the man up. Jayce didn’t fold though; he knew Viktor hated being jolted awake. “It’s going to be okay, querido.” He continued his slow movements for what felt like a lifetime. Powder relented and slumped by his side, resting her head on Jayce’s shoulder.

Viktor’s eyes began to blink open. “Jayce? What are you doing here?”

He smiled. “Powder came into my room and said you were having a nightmare.”

The man stared for a second, like the memories were flashing before his eyes. “It was nothing.”

“It didn’t look like nothing.” Jayce stood, scooped up the girl who was now dead asleep, and placed her back into bed. “Do you need anything else?”

Viktor sat up in bed, the covers pooling at his waist. Jayce couldn’t lie – he’d imagined seeing the other in this state for years. “Would you-” he started, then shook his mind. “Nevermind, good night.”

Jayce took a step forward. “No, come on, what were you going to ask?” He teased. Viktor’s head fell as did Jayce’s grin. “V?”

“Could you,” the man wrung his hands in his lap, “Could you stay?”

Jayce’s heart thudded in his chest; he felt his face grow flush. “Yeah, of course.”

There was quite a bit of maneuvering needed for the three of them to fit on the bed. Powder laid between them, curling up at Viktor’s side. Jayce slid under the covers and looked over her side to see Viktor as the man laid back once more. Their calves crossed at the end of the bed, locking them together. He felt a warmth rise in his chest, soft and pleasant. “Rest up, querido, I’ll be here in the morning.”

Viktor sighed and let his eyes fall closed.

Jayce was finally able to rest as well.

Chapter Text

Jayce should have expected that waking up next to Viktor would be leagues more anxiety inducing than falling asleep next to the man. Logically, he knew that he ended up in the other’s bed, but emotionally? That was a completely different question altogether. Powder was awake already, getting ready for the day in the bathroom. She said she wanted to impress everyone at the competition, show them that they were all wrong about Zaun. Jayce found it sweet.

With her gone though, there wasn’t anything between him and Viktor. Their limbs had twisted together during the night, and Jayce rolled closer to Viktor’s side unconsciously once the opportunity presented itself. The other didn’t seem to mind, not when he wrapped himself around Jayce’s torso.

Jayce let himself be held. Viktor was cold – he always was no matter the weather – but it was a welcome chill. Their chests were nearly pressed together, hearts beating as one. He counted every mole he could see, every hidden freckle, every line: he wanted to remember Viktor in case it all went to shit. He’d carve out a space in his mind that existed just for the man before him.

Viktor’s eyes began to open. “Jayce?”

“That’s me.” He watched the gears turn in Viktors’ head, memories from the night before flooding back.

Viktor huffed. “What time is it?”

Jayce gave a half shrug. “Not sure, probably around eight.”

“Too late.”

He chuckled. “Only you would say that.” He could spend the whole day in bed with Viktor, the two of them inching closer and closer. Jayce sighed; there were important things to do though, things that he needed to do. “I guess it's time to get up then.”

“Chci zůstat tady, s tebou.” Viktor groaned. His voice was a bit deeper in the morning, rough with disuse.

Jayce fought back the urge to press his lips to the man’s temple. “There’s important things happening today, for us.”

Viktor rose from the bed, stretching his hands over his head. His body cracked and joints popped. “Fine. If you insist.”

Jayce slid from the bed. “Come on, we’ll have breakfast and get ready.”

Powder kept giving them strange looks, but she kept quiet. Ximena wasn’t so.

“How did you two sleep?” She gave her son a knowing look.

His mind filled with questions, the first of which being – did she know? There was the possibility she’d passed Jayce’s room, seen it empty, and assumed. Walking into the kitchen together, still in sleep clothes, didn’t help their case either. He dug into his food instead of answering.

“Very well, thank you for offering your home.” Viktor answered, a smile on his lips.

“Truly it's no problem. I’m glad to host my son and his partner any time.” There was a wicked sparkle in her eye that nearly made Jayce choke on his food. “What time does your competition start?”

“Eleven!” Powder jumped in. She was the most excited Jayce had ever seen her, practically bouncing in her seat.

Ximena smiled. “Well that’s quite early.” She pinched her son’s cheek. “You should start getting ready then, right, mijo?”

“I know, I know.”

Breakfast was quickly eaten and the two men had to tear themselves away from each other so that they could get ready and dressed for the competition. Jayce scowled at the clothes set out in front of him. There were two options – two very different options. One was typical by Piltover standards. It looked a lot like his old Academy uniform, but there was more red, more House Talis colors, still a lot of white though. The white blinded his eyes. It was too pristine, too clean. Jayce found the sight a bit repulsive now if he was being completely honest with himself.

The other option called more of his attention. It was a dark green shirt with red and silver detailing. He’d worn it on the streets of Zaun before – after all it made him blend in a little more. There were dark brown trousers and several belts set to the side. If anything, it reminded him of an outfit he wore the first time again – Viktor had been there too. Well, not Viktor exactly, but Jayce knew he was there in a way.

He sucked in a breath as he picked up the darker colors. The fabric wasn’t as smooth as the other set, there were a few burn marks from work – they’d certainly seen better days – but Jayce couldn’t find it in himself to truly care. He didn’t want people to look at their booth because he was playing the role of Piltovian elite; he wanted eyes on their booth because they actually cared about the sight before them.

Jayce looked himself over in the mirror as he finished buckling his belt and cuffing his sleeves. He looked different than he had just a month ago. Not a bad different, just, different. He’d let his beard grow out again, mostly because he had more important things to focus on than shaving. His hair was a bit longer, only by about half an inch. It was still noticeable though; he was surprised his mother hadn’t called him out on it.

He ran his hand through his hair. The man before him was familiar in a way that made his heart clench.

There was a knock on the door. “Are you finished, Jayce?”

Viktor’s voice pulled him to the door. When he opened it he swore he was going to collapse on the spot. Viktor had made an effort as well. His shirt was a deep wine red with thin black stripes. His trousers were black as well, though there were small details like gold stitching from repair that made them feel like they were really Viktor’s. His vest, a muted green, almost gray, and it hugged his torso in a way that made Jayce want to drop to his knees and worship the man in front of him.

“Are you alright, lásko?” Viktor’s eyebrows pinched together.

“You look-” Jayce swallowed down a string of words that were better left unsaid, “-good.”

Viktor smirked. “That is the goal, no? First impressions are rather important.”

Powder came rushing down the hall and pulled at Viktor’s sleeve. “Can we go now? I don’t want to be late.”

“Sure thing Powdita.” He ruffled the girl’s hair which earned him a glare, but there was no true malice to it. “I’ll get us a carriage, we’ll gather our things, and then we’ll be on our way.”

“Finally,” Powder groaned, “You two were taking forever.”

Getting a carriage proved somewhat difficult as it seemed there were many others who had the same idea as him, but Jayce was persistent. Powder was ecstatic to be riding in one of them, saying how she never had before. She looked out the window with wide eyes as they went down the streets, the wheels rolling smoothly and the gears and pistons providing a nice background noise.

Viktor, however, looked even paler than usual and a bit green. The man mumbled to himself and rubbed his hands together. “...al naa… suhbi… naa yih”

Jayce was used to the man speaking in Zaunite; he knew what those words sounded like. It was a little rough, but rounded at the same time. There were sounds that weren’t used much in Piltovian that Jayce found himself seeking out in Viktor’s ramblings. This language though, this wasn’t like either of them at all. He tapped the man’s foot with his own. Perhaps his question could distract Viktor from his nerves. “What language is that?”

Viktor flinched ever so slightly. “It’s, um, Shuriman, well a very old variety.”

“I didn’t know you knew Shuriman as well. You’re trilingual?”

Viktor shook his head. “I just know that prayer. It's to Janna, for protection in a sense.”

The goddess’ name shot him in the heart, air was stolen from his lungs and the synapses in his brain stopped firing. Janna was likely looking down at him at that moment and laughing at his sorry state. Jayce rocked back and forth ever so slightly and stared at the carriage floor to try to calm himself. “I didn’t know you were a worshipper.” So many things he didn’t know; so many things he’d failed to notice. He thought he knew Viktor more than anyone, that they were the only two people in all of Runeterra that fully understood each other, but Jayce was proven wrong time and time again.

Viktor paused for a moment and drew a long breath. “My mother was.” He inched his leg closer to Jayce’s. “I didn’t know how she could believe in something so powerful while we were all suffering. But,” the corner of his mouth twitched, “It is a good way to remember her.”

“There’s more to it, right?” Powder jumped in to ease the tension. “Bey- bey tru?” The girl struggled to place the syllables.

Viktor chuckled. “Bey’fet ihru ga.”

“Right!”

They spent the rest of the carriage ride filling in the rest of the prayer. Ever so often Powder would get a few words right and poke fun at Jayce for failing to pronounce it correctly. Viktor began to look calmer, but his leg never left Jayce’s – resting against the man’s thigh ever so gently.

Finding their assigned booth was difficult, and the sight made Jayce rather sick. It sat towards the back of the rows upon rows of booths. Jayce could have sworn there was a dark shadow over it, obscuring the view from anyone that would walk past. The excitement and joy he’d been feeling quickly dissipated. Their chances of getting investors were growing slimmer.

“Jayce, stop fretting.” Viktor reprimanded him. He placed a hand on Jayce’s shoulder and took a screwdriver he’d been fidgeting with from the other’s hand. “I know the circumstances are not… optimal-”

“That’s putting it lightly.”

Viktor pursed his lips. “Yes, but, we are still here are we not? All hope is not lost just because we got a bad placement.”

Jayce rubbed his temples. “I just don’t see why though.” The man glanced at him; the sadness was back in his eyes. Jayce would do anything to send it away, to make sure Viktor never experienced the emotion ever again; he didn’t deserve anymore agony. “Okay,” Jayce huffed, “I do see why, but that doesn’t mean it's right.”

“It’s not.”

Jayce didn’t fully understand it, even if he was part of a lower house, he would never be in the same social standing as Viktor. There was so much that worked against the man, not just his Zaun upbringing. People in Piltover didn’t exactly see him as an equal. Jayce had witnessed it first hand and wanted to scorn his past self for not doing more to stop it.

After only thirty minutes, Powder was getting antsy. “Can I please look around.”

“Not alone you can’t.”

“Vikki.”

Viktor shot her a scolding look, but it softened just as quickly. He turned to Jayce. “Do you think you could watch the booth for a bit while I show Powder around?”

“Of course.” The girl’s eyes lit up and she dragged Viktor away before either man had much of a chance to say anything else. Powder’s rambling grew quieter as the distance between them grew larger.

And then Jayce was alone.

It wasn’t too bad, he had to tell himself that; he’d been to competitions in the past alone and those had always still been a good time. Funny enough, he got just as much attention then as he got now.

A few people stopped by, though as soon as they realized what he had set up they were quick to walk away. Those in Piltover didn’t demand the inventions he and Viktor created the same way those in Zaun did. Piltovians didn’t wonder where their next glass of clean water would come from; they didn’t worry about waking up and breathing in hair that clogged their lungs. They didn’t understand those sorts of things.

Jayce began scribbling away in his journal, made a few sketches that would never see the light of day and wrote a few notes that could possibly be expanded on. “Jayce? I haven’t seen you in ages.” Caitlyn strode towards the booth, looking more than a little shocked.

“Cait! What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “I’m taking in all the bright new inventors.”

Jayce raised a brow but didn’t call her out on it. Caitlyn hadn’t changed much in her appearance since the last time they’d seen each other – though it wasn’t really that long ago. Still, they usually saw each other more than they did not, with the Kiramman’s funding his past research and all.

Caitlyn examined the prototypes laid on the table. “You look different.”

He couldn’t deny that; Jayce really had changed in the month since he’d gone back in time. Not just physically. “I’m trying out a new path.”

“Is that why you left?”

Jayce tensed. “I didn’t leave.” Caitlyn gave him a deadpan expression. “Okay, maybe I did, but I had to.”

“And why is that?” She crossed her arms. There was a band of leather around her wrist, almost like a bracelet, which he could have sworn he’d seen before – he just couldn’t place from where.

He avoided her eyes, though it felt silly to feel like he was in trouble in the eyes of a fifteen year old. “There was someone I had to meet, then when I did, well… We’ve been doing a lot of work together.”

“You went to the Undercity.” Her voice dipped and her expression fell.

“I went to Zaun.” Small steps, Jayce had to start with the small things. “It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Caitlyn rubbed her thumb against the leather around her wrist. “You like it there?”

Jayce shrugged. “I guess so, but that’s mostly because of who I’m with.”

“What’s her name?”

He froze.

It wasn’t a fair assumption, though he couldn’t blame the girl for jumping to it. Jayce knew that when he talked about Viktor, even if it wasn’t explicitly about the man, he had a lovestruck expression on his face. He couldn’t help it. Viktor was the most amazing man in the entire world, and Jayce felt extremely lucky to spend more time by his side. He smiled. “His name’s Viktor. He used to be a student at the Academy, but decided to return to Zaun.” He could see the gears turning in her head.

For someone like Caitlyn, it must have seemed impossible for someone to give up life in Piltover for one in Zaun. At her age – even when he was much older – he wouldn't have dreamt of it either. Now? Now, Jayce would go to any place in the world if it meant he was at Viktor’s side.

“Are you happy with him?”

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Even when life got difficult, even when things went horribly wrong, even when it seemed like everything was crumbling around them – Jayce never felt more happy.

“Good.” She held her chin high. “I should leave you to your work. You better not leave me hanging again.”

Jayce rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Cait.” He sat back in his seat, arms crossed against his chest, as he was once again left alone. He took a moment to take in the sight before him. There were dozens of other young inventors, most were from the Academy and were dressed in their neatly pressed uniforms, but there were a few that he didn’t recognize. There was still a common denominator though: at least ninety-five percent of the competitors were from Piltover.

He could see it in the way they carried themselves, the way they sweet talked people that happened to stop at their booth. Jayce could piece it together so easily because he saw those traits in himself. At the moment, he wasn’t doing a good job at showing them, nor did he really want to. If someone was truly interested in what they worked on, they would stop and ask about it. Most people didn’t stop.

Jayce put on his best smile though – appearances were still a little important.

“I see you’ve handled yourself well.” Viktor stepped behind the booth; Powder trailed behind him, looking a bit tuckered out.

He offered his seat to the girl who curled up atop it. Jayce’s smile fell. “There wasn’t much to handle.”

“Have the judges come by yet?” Jayce shook his head. “Then there is still time.”

While that was still true – they could impress the judges and end up with the crowd’s eyes on them – it wasn’t the likeliest of options. Jayce placed a hand on the man’s shoulder as he took his seat. Viktor’s muscles were tense, particularly his upper back. He hid it well. Jayce massaged the muscle gently. “Hopefully that prayer of yours brings us some luck.”

There was still an hour before judging ended, and in that time no investor came to inspect their work. Jayce tried his best not to let it get to him, to not allow the annoyance to blossom into anger. He expected this. He knew that topsiders wouldn’t appreciate work that was meant to help Zaun; still, he hoped there’d at least be one of them who had a shred of sympathy.

It would appear that wasn’t the case.

The judges did come – they had to after all – but he could tell they didn’t care for the prototypes that sat before them. Their questions were surface level at best and condescending at worst. “And what was your last name again?” One of the judges asked Viktor, her voice lazy and slow.

Viktor gripped the handle of his cane so hard Jayce feared it would snap. “I don’t have one.”

“You need a last name for the paperwork.”

“Then put ‘of Zaun.’” His tone was dark and his gaze was icy.

Jayce swore his heart stopped.

The judge looked down at Viktor, but he didn’t falter under her gaze. “Is there a problem with that arrangement?”

She scribbled down the words and quickly moved to the next booth.

Viktor’s shoulders fell. “I’m sorry, but I believe I’ve truly ruined our chances of placing now.”

Jayce shrugged, though his actions were a bit stiff. The man had looked wonderful in a way that made his face grow hot. “You definitely made an impression though.”

Jayce snuck out to get a quick lunch for the three of them, and they quickly ate at their booth. They exchanged jokes and conversation. He learned the hours spent in one spot were easier when Viktor was there with him.

Two or three people stopped by their booth before judging. A pair of them, an older couple, actually took time to ask questions about their work – how they planned to improve their designs and what other applications they imagined. They were intrigued with Powder’s work as well, praising the girl for her efforts.

Then there was judging.

Everyone stood before the stage. Jayce picked up Powder so she could have a better view and hung his other hand by his side. Viktor’s was close, so close in fact that their fingers brushed. Taking a risk, he curled his finger around the other’s, just their pinkies.

Viktor stalled for a moment, stealing a glance between them, but he didn’t stop the man’s advances. He linked their fingers together. Jayce felt a smile rise on his face.

“Good day everyone.” Jayce’s spine straightened as the announcer began their speech. “It is the Academy’s greatest pleasure to host the Distinguished Innovator’s Competition. We of Piltover take honor in celebrating the efforts of some of the brightest minds.” He’d heard speeches like this before, and they always bored him. Even when he was younger, still in his Academy days, they didn’t feel right. He’d noticed that most of the individuals in the competition were from Piltover, but that was where his analysis ended. He didn’t think to look under the surface as to why that was.

He leaned down to Viktor’s ear. “What are your bets on topsiders taking the top three?”

Viktor raised a brow at his vocabulary but smirked. “That is barely a bet. If it’s practically a guarantee.”

“Top four?”

“I think they’ll get the top five.” Powder jumped in, a devilish grin on her face.

“Come on, V, everything’s more fun with three.” There were a few eyes on them, cold and judging. Jayce didn’t care though.

Viktor linked more of their fingers. “The Demacian girl will take fourth.”

“I’ll bet against that. I think the Noxian will.”

The speaker continued on their way as the trio tuned back in.

“As always, we will begin with our honorable mentions.” The speaker had a plastic smile on their face, the kind Jayce saw on many Piltovian elite. They made a big show of handling an envelope, breaking the seal, and taking out a crisp sheet of white paper. “Our first honorable mention, for her research in botanic genomic engineering, is Ms. Sky Young.”

The men looked at each other for a moment and both turned away just as quickly. “A Zaunite. I can’t say I expected that.” Viktor's eyes were wide and his jaw dropped slightly.

“She deserves it.”

“You know her?” Viktor asked, slightly accusingly.

Jayce bit the inside of his cheek. “Um, I know of her, word travels in the Academy.” He needed to get the man’s gaze off of him as soon as possible, the golden gaze threatening to make him erupt.

Viktor turned back to the stage. “I guess that is true. There were many rumors and mishappenings that came across my ears when I attended.”

“Makes sense, small classes-”

“Interesting gossip-”

“Word gets around.” Neither man looked at the other. None of the statements were wrong, in fact, most of them were horrifically right. Word did travel fast around the Academy, especially if the details were gory. Jayce would never understand how he hadn’t heard of Viktor before. The man surely drew attention to himself just by his shere existence.

The rest of the awards were as expected – all Piltovian citizens. Jayce tried not to let it get to him. He didn’t expect them to win, not with how the judges looked at Viktor – practically sneering at him – but he still hoped they’d get some sort of attention. That was all they needed.

Stripped away once again.

The crowd began to dissipate after the winner gave their speech. Jayce pretended it didn’t sting.

Viktor pulled Jayce back to their booth. He must have seen the kicked puppy expression in the other man’s eyes. “This is only one attempt, lásko, I’m sure we’ll have other chances for investors to see our work.” He let go of Jayce’s hand and began to pack up their things, slowly and methodically.

Jayce set Powder down and the girl jumped to help. “I think they’re stupid for not picking you guys.”

“Králíček.” Viktor’s voice dipped, a slight warning.

Powder rolled her eyes and continued on her way. The more she warmed up, the more outspoken she became.

Jayce got to work as well, unscrewing different pieces and putting them back into their travel spaces. A small off-white envelope stole his attention. It was closed with a green seal with a symbol he knew all too well. He’d gotten a letter from this individual before, in a time when he didn’t quite recognize himself. Jayce thought about tucking it into his pocket and continuing with his work, but he couldn’t. Hiding things from Viktor was wrong; they were partners and that meant they had to be open with each other.

“Hey, V?”

Viktor tucked their journals into a bag. “Yes?” He caught sight of the envelope in Jayce’s hand. A flash of recognition went across his face. “Perhaps we got someone’s attention after all.”

A pit settled in Jayce’s stomach. This wasn’t the route he imagined himself taking, if anything he wanted to avoid this kind of entanglement as much as possible, but the letter was a sign that his wants weren’t going to be upheld. Working with Silco again could blow up in his face, and Jayce couldn’t risk that.

He looked from Viktor to Powder; he couldn’t risk letting them down either.

Chapter Text

Viktor’s apartment was tense as soon as they decided to actually talk about what had occurred. Neither was particularly good at this, typically dancing around subjects or focusing more on the matters that wouldn’t tear their partnership in half. This was not one of those matters.

Powder was off in her room, meant to be sleeping after the day’s adventures, but Jayce knew better. It was likely she was pressed up against the door – maybe even had it cracked open – so she wouldn’t miss a single bit of what was going on in the kitchen.

Both men stood around the table, the letter set out before them. It was in the same tight script Jayce had seen before, Silco’s signature overpowered by his initial. Jayce thought about throwing it out, or maybe burning it. He knew Silco had more connections in Zaun than either he or Viktor; he held power and likely even more ever since Vander died.

But Jayce knew Silco, at least slightly. The man could be like a conniving snake when he liked. He was fairly certain this would be one of those circumstances. Jayce didn’t want to become a sellout again, working for someone else’s gain, forgetting the crux of his and Viktor’s work. Then there was the whole Shimmer business that Jayce didn’t know the full extent of. How many people did it already affect? How large was Silco’s business? Were there massive factories sitting in Zaun that held vats of Shimmer just waiting to be distributed?

“I believe we should at least give him a response.” Viktor’s muscles were tight; Jayce could tell by the way he held himself. The trip had been hard on his body, but Jayce knew better than to tell Viktor how to take care of himself.

Still, he sat and hoped the other would follow his lead.

Jayce rubbed his temples. “It’s Silco though.”

“And?” Viktor slid into a seat and looked over the letter once again. “What do you know about Silco? You’ve grown up topside. Have you ever been in the same room as the man?” His tone was more hostile than it typically was when he spoke with Jayce.

He bit back his response. He’d been in the same room as the man; he’d been so close there were only a few feet between them. Of course, that was a lifetime ago. In a sense, that encounter hadn’t truly happened.”I know he can be dangerous. Isn’t that enough?”

Viktor huffed and leaned back in his seat. “He was the only one to give any real attention to our work. Besides,” he ran a hand through his hair, “He’s the best option if we want to help the people of Zaun.”

Jayce’s lips became a thin line. He swallowed down any harsh words that bubbled up in his mind. He didn’t want to piss off Viktor and risk losing it all. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt either. It was a balancing act that he wasn’t sure he was capable of. He took in a deep breath to try to calm the anger that rose in his chest. The last thing he wanted was to snap at Viktor of all people – someone who didn’t deserve it at all.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Viktor leaned in.

“Obviously we aren’t going to agree on this-”

“Only because you can’t see that this is our only option!” Viktor cringed as soon as his voice rose. The man didn’t yell, not really; Jayce couldn’t remember a time he ever did.

It made him more than a little nervous.

Viktor crossed his arms and picked at his shirt sleeve. “I am… sorry for raising my voice. That was unnecessary.”

Jayce couldn’t help but form a tired smile. “You don’t need to apologize. I shouldn’t have been so hostile.”

The man refused to meet his eyes, instead staring down at the wood table that was filled with nicks and covered in scratches. A heavy beat passed where neither of them spoke up. The only sound was the streets of Zaun seeping through the cracks in the wall.

“You are too quick to forgive.” Viktor’s voice was quiet, barely reaching Jayce’s ears. His face was pinched together, brow drawn tight and lips twisted in a frown. He picked at the tips of his fingers as he bore holes into the table with his gaze.

There was a weight to Viktor’s words that Jayce couldn't place. They’d only known each other for a bit more than a month, but it still felt like a lifetime. It was as though both of them laid themselves bare for the other without a single question. They just did it because that was what felt right. Jayce couldn’t stop himself from showing Viktor everything – well, almost everything. There were some parts that were better left forgotten.

Jayce stood from his seat and stepped to Viktor’s side. He didn’t touch, just hovered his hand over the man’s shoulder and waited for approval. Viktor gave it without question. He leaned into Jayce’s side, his temple resting against Jayce’s hip. “We still have to figure out what we will do.”

“Can it wait until the morning?”

Viktor shook his head. “This is important, best to get back to him as soon as possible.”

A creak came from down the hall and a few more groans from the wooden floor followed. “Powder?” Viktor turned to face the girl who stood in the hallway, her stuffed rabbit fisted in her hands. “What are you still doing up?”

The girl padded over and stood at Viktor’s side. “You’re talking about something.”

“Yes we are, králíček.” Viktor never tried to exclude Powder, though Jayce didn’t know if filling her in on these details was the best course of action.

“I didn’t think you and Jayce argued.”

Jayce chuckled. “We’re not arguing, it’s just a very hard conversation, Powdita. Nothing you need to worry about.”

Powder gaze hardened. “Who wrote the letter?”

Shit. “It’s nothing. How about I read-”

“It’s from Silco.” Viktor corrected. He looked up at Jayce and silently asked the man to trust him.

Powder stood still for a moment. She gripped her rabbit a bit tighter, rubbed her fingers across the fabric. Jayce could practically feel the worry wafting off of her. “I remember him.”

Jayce didn’t know how to react to that. What did that entail? Was there some way that Powder retained some of her memories from the first time they lived these months? Was it starting to come back to her? If that was the case, were other people going to get their memories back as well?

Would Viktor? Gods, Jayce didn’t know if that was the best possibility or not.

She climbed up onto Viktor’s lab, taking care to not put unnecessary pressure on the man’s weak leg. “Vander didn’t like to talk about him much, but I remember him being there at the start.” Powder hid her face in Viktor’s neck. There weren’t many times where she talked about Vander, and neither man tried to force her too. The girl had been through enough grief for her age – suffered from terrible visions and hallucinations – she didn’t deserve any more pain.

Jayce was rather relieved she was talking about this timeline still and didn’t have memories from the first one. Nobody deserved that agony. He ran his fingers through her hair. “He helped take care of you?” It seemed impossible. He knew some of the details of the first go around – how Silco had taken in Powder and made her into Jinx, said she was his daughter. Jayce wasn’t aware that they had a history before any of that.

Powder nodded weakly. The girl was exhausted. “He knew my mom and dad.” Her voice cracked and she clamped her hands over her ears.

Viktor began whispering reassurances. He reminded her where she was, who she was with, what was real and not real. Jayce didn’t know how he was so good at it, but he was immensely grateful. He’d tried many times to help Powder in these moments, but he always feared he was making it worse.

Powder’s face twisted together in pain.

“Powder, it’s okay.” Jayce rubbed her back. “We don’t need to think about Silco right now.”

A few moments passed. The girl hiccuped and sucked in shaky breaths.

Viktor’s expression contorted to one of distress. Jayce knew what was running through his mind – blaming himself for telling Powder, guilt for making her break down. He cupped the back of Viktor’s neck, massaging his thumb across the man’s skin. “We don’t need to figure this all out right now. Let’s take the night to calm ourselves.”

Neither Powder nor Viktor opposed the decision. The letter was folded back into its envelope and Jayce carried Powder back to bed. She clung to his shirt and asked if she could stay in Viktor’s room for the night. He didn’t say no, couldn’t say no.

And when Viktor held onto his wrist to ask him with nothing more than his eyes for Jayce to say, he couldn’t say no to that either.

The bed was smaller than the one back at his mother’s place, which required them to get closer. Jayce tried not to let it overwhelm him. It was rather impossible though. Viktor was so close; he still had a few wrinkles across his face – his brow pinched together. He wanted to smooth it away, to take the stress from his body. Viktor held on to too much, and Jayce knew there was so much he didn’t say and he prayed that Viktor would let him help handle the load.

One day. One day it would happen.

Viktor woke up first.

Jayce rose to a half empty bed. Powder was splayed across the mattress like a starfish. There was pattering coming from the other room that got his attention. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He let Powder sleep in a bit more; the last night had been rough. He placed the blanket back over her and padded out of the room.

He raised his arms over his arms, stretching out his back, as he made his way into the kitchen. “Morning, V.”

The man stood at the counter, a mug of what Jayce assumed was sweetmilk. There was another mug on the counter, and Viktor handed it to him. “Thank you, for last night.” He didn’t meet Jayce’s eyes, instead just staring down at his drink.

Jayce took a sip of the hot tea. He stood across from the man. There wasn’t much room between them, their legs were practically intertwined. “I’m always here whenever you need it.”

Viktor smiled, but he shook his head. “Should we talk about the letter?”

“I guess, yeah.” He sighed. “Let’s make breakfast, and we can talk over that.”

Viktor didn’t argue. He set down his mug and took things from the fridge to start working on the meal. The man wasn’t one to keep much around in terms of food – Jayce had seen his apartment back in Piltover and was shocked at how little he kept around. With Powder living with him and Jayce staying nearly every night, he had real food now.

Jayce made sure that Viktor was eating full meals too. He didn’t want the man to wither away in front of him. They worked in tandem, just like they did in the lab. Eggs were cracked and sausage was fried. Jayce put bread in the oven as well, just to get it warm again.

“I still think we should meet with him.” Viktor flipped the eggs.

Jayce leaned against the counter. “You’re right.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Even if Silco is questionable, he showed interest in our work, and he’s powerful.” He took another sip of his tea. “I want to meet with him.”

Viktor raised a brow. “I don’t think that’s the best decision. Perhaps I should.” He patted Jayce’s shoulder. “Having a Zaunite speaking with him may increase the likelihood he works with us.”

He put his hand on Viktor’s wrist. “I don’t want you to go alone. What if something happens? What if it doesn’t go as well as you think it will?”

Viktor squared his shoulders. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, Jayce.”

“I just worry.” He let his hand fall. Jayce worried far more than he ought to, more than was necessary. He wouldn’t say it was completely unwarranted – not after everything he’d been through and not with how dangerous he knew Silco to be. Jayce wanted to protect Viktor, not because he thought the man couldn’t protect himself, but because doing so made Jayce feel safer. “Please let me come with you.”

Viktor gestured down the hall. “What about Powder? I’m certain you don’t expect to bring her as well.”

“Of course not,” Jayce shook his head, “We’ll…” He hadn’t really thought about that part. Then it hit him. “What about Ekko?”

The other man smirked. “Now you trust him wandering around Zaun with her? My you truly have grown accustomed to the slums.”

Jayce rolled his eyes. “I was wrong to not have faith in him before. I’m not sure where they go off to, but Powder always comes back safe and happy. I can’t argue with the facts.”

“Surely not, you’d make a terrible scientist if you did.” Viktor took out three plates from the cabinet and set food on each one. “Today then?”

“What?”

“Best to get this out of the way, yes?” He turned and set the plates on the table as Jayce pulled the bread from the oven.

He was about to ask more questions, what time they would leave, what they should bring, but he came to a screeching halt as Powder staggered into the room. She yawned as she sat at the table, her hair a mess of blue locks. “G’morning.”

Viktor patted the girl’s head. “Good morning to you too, Powder.”

Breakfast was tense, more than Jayce would like to admit. Powder was smart, and immediately caught on that something wasn’t entirely right. “What are you two planning?”

“We have a meeting with an investor today. Perhaps you’d like to spend the day with Ekko?” Viktor was quick, learning from the previous night. He sipped his sweet milk with a calm expression.

The girl frowned, but didn’t ask for any more details. Jayce was sure she was already aware of who they were planning on meeting. “We’re working on something new. They’re supposed to be hoverboards, but right now they don’t really… hover.”

“You’ll get there eventually,” Jayce assured her. He tried not to think about the prospect. He’d only caught glimpses of Ekko’s hoverboards before. They were amazing feats of engineering, and if he had come up with the designs so young, then he was truly gifted.

The three avoided any more conversation about Silco and the meeting, instead deciding to enjoy the breakfast they shared together. It was easier said than done as the topic was fresh in everyone’s minds. The previous night festered like an open wound.

It was obvious that each of them wanted to say something, to ask more questions, to make sure they were all on the same page as to what the plan was, but none of them broke the tension. Instead, it weighed over them like a sheet of metal, and Jaye was out of practice with forge work. He did the dishes as Viktor and Powder got ready for the day.

Viktor always took care with Powder, making sure she was put together even if her adventures brought her apart again. He learned how to braid her hair like Vi used to – though Jayce had to admit he was the one that actually knew more in that instance, all those years of taking care of Caitlyn. He helped her pick out her clothes, though there weren’t many options, and would tease her on the days she was seeing Ekko because he knew those were the days when she really tried to make an effort.

“He’ll like you regardless of how you look, králíček.”

Powder’s face erupted into a fierce blush as she tore through the sitting room, cramming journals and gadgets into her bag. “I’m not trying to impress Little Man, Vikki.”

Viktor clicked his tongue. “Sure you aren’t.”

Jayce handed her a premade sandwich wrapped in brown paper. “We’ll be back before dinner time.”

Powder looked a bit hesitant. The blush on her face faded, and she looked a bit more pale than usual. “You’ll be safe, right?”

He couldn’t help but wrap the girl in a hug. She was so frail, even more so than Viktor. Just a month of more proper eating and care didn’t fix a lifetime’s worth of malnutrition and fear. “Of course, Powdita. I have Viktor; he’ll keep us out of trouble.”

That earned a laugh. “You’d be useless on your own down here.”

He pulled back and brushed her bangs to the side. “Then it’s a good thing I have you two here to help.”

Powder gave him another quick hug and then jumped back to give Viktor the same treatment. “I’ll be back before dinner and tell you all about the awesome hoverboard me and Ekko made.” She hollered out a “bye” as she left, practically running down the hall in a way Jayce knew pissed off the neighbors.

He sighed. “Never thought I’d be taking care of a kid at twenty-four.”

Viktor smirked. “Neither did I, but I think we’re doing a good job.”

Jayce’s heart thudded, and he fought back the adoration that bloomed in his chest. Not the right time. “Maybe we should start getting ready as well?”

Viktor tapped his chest, a thin piece of fabric the only thing stopping his palm from reaching bare skin. “I am already ready, drahý, perhaps you should get ready while I gather our things.” He stalked off through the kitchen.

Jayce couldn’t help but follow the man with his eyes. “That’s a new one. What does it mean?”

“Idiot.” He deadpanned.

Jayce feigned shock. “We’re trading insults now? You wound me, V.”

“Go get dressed.”

Jayce could hear the smile in the man’s voice which brought a warmth to his chest he wished would never leave. “Alright, querido.” As he left to get changed, he couldn’t ignore the anxiety that rose in his chest. They were actually going to see Silco.

Jayce had only seen the man once before, excluding the time he caught a glance of him in the market, though that didn’t really count. He didn’t know what to expect. Would Silco be the same as he was before? He’d be younger now, just as everyone else was, but he was still a bit older than Jayce. Obviously Powder wasn’t with him, so perhaps he was different then the last time Jayce had seen him. He wasn’t completely sure of the relationship between the two of them, even with Powder’s words the previous night.

Had Powder calmed him the first go around? Would he be more viscous now that he had less to lose? Jayce didn’t know what to think. There were so many variables being thrown around every day. But this was something they had to do, Viktor was right.

He was right about a lot of things.

Jayce sighed as he buttoned up his shirt. If he had just listened the first time then all of this would be–

“Jayce? What is taking you so long? Have you forgotten how to dress yourself?”

He turned and was greeted by Viktor who leaned against the doorframe. His face was contorted in confusion. “No, just… a lot on my mind.”

Viktor took a step forward. “You always say that.” He steadied himself on his good leg and hung his cane from his arm – the left. Jayce didn’t know how he didn’t realize the change sooner. Before, the man always used his cane on his right.

Viktor raised his hands and buttoned the rest of the shirt.

It was moments like these that Jayce felt almost helpless – and rather stupid. It was hard seeing Viktor healthy, well more healthy, and knowing that in a few years his health would decline. He’d rely on his cane more until it became a crutch and then even that would fail him. His cheeks would grow sunken along with his eyes. Viktor was always skinny, but he would grow skeletal. Jayce just wanted to help.

Viktor’s hand held his cheek. His fingers were cold; Jaycee knew he blamed it on poor circulation. “You’re stuck in your head again, lásko.”

Jayce leaned into the touch. “Sorry.” “Don’t apologize, just tell me what’s going on.”

He couldn’t, not all of it. He didn’t want to scare Viktor away or risk losing everything they’d worked so hard on. Jayce tried to play it safe. “I’m terrified of what’s going to happen.” Viktor smiled; his eyes twinkled. “That makes two of us.” He stroked Jayce’s cheek with his thumb. “But I will be there to assist you, and you will be there for me. We are partners after all.”

Jayce brought his hands to Viktor’s hips, toying with the belt loops absentmindedly. “Partners.”

Chapter Text

The men talked over their plans on the way. Most of them were half-baked at best, but there were parts that were crystal clear: funding, trade access, ownership over their designs and products, stopping shimmer distribution.

Far easier said than done.

Walking to the location Silco had given them made Jayce’s heart nearly explode from anxiety. The last place he’d expected to enter was The Last Drop. It looked similar enough to the last time he’d been there, though it was practically empty. What was once a place of music and charm – a nice place of joy away from the torment of the world – was hollow and desolate.

A woman sat at the counter, nursing a drink.

Viktor took a few steps to walk in front of Jayce. “Silco wanted to meet with us.” There wasn’t any sort of tension in his voice, though Jayce knew the man was just as nervous as he was. Viktor just knew how to hide it. He kept his head held high and his back as straight as possible – making himself as imposing as he could despite his less than intimidating form.

The woman turned to face them. Her eyes were dark, a bit of a tired edge to them. There was a cloak thrown over her, covering practically all of her side. “You two the scientists?”

“Yes we are.” Viktor smirked. Whenever he got into these kinds of situations, Jayce saw him transform into a different person. He wished he could have seen the man like this in front of the Council, telling them exactly how it was and what they needed to do. He would have been great. “Will you show us where he is?”

The woman gestured up with chin. “He's up the stairs in his office; it’s hard to miss.”

Viktor walked away without a word, and Jayce shot back a “thank you” as he followed the man. Viktor took in a breath before starting the stairs.

Jayce couldn’t help but put a comforting hand on the other’s back. He knew Viktor would shoo him away if he wanted; Jayce wouldn’t complain if he did. They made their way up the winding stairs. They were rather uneven, and they groaned whenever either of them put a foot on them. Jayce just hoped none of them would end up breaking.

Silco’s office door was hard to miss as it exuded an air of “don’t come in”. Jayce took that as a sign that they were in the right place. He rapped his knuckles against the wood before he could convince himself he was making the wrong choice.

“Come in.” A smooth, muffled voice spoke.

Jayce shared a final look with Viktor before he opened the door.

The office looked rather bare, which was shocking. For some reason, Jayce expected there to be… more. He had to remind himself that Silco couldn’t have holed himself up in The Last Drop for long. It had been roughly a month since Vander had passed, so Silco didn’t have much time to change everything about the bar. Still, to Jayce it just felt off.

Silco looked them over as he sat in a high-backed chair. “Hello, gentlemen. I assume you got my letter.”

The man’s voice felt slimy across Jayce’s skin. “That we did.” He stood at Viktor’s side, their hands almost touching. He took a deep breath. It was a good idea to present themselves as a united front, the two of them against the world. Well, the world in this case being a simple man.

Sometimes man was the most dangerous thing.

Silco rose from his chair and slunk around the desk, though he didn’t fully step from behind it. He kept a hand on the wood. “We can skip the formalities. Your work yesterday impressed me, and because of that, I suggest a partnership of sorts between us.”

Jayce couldn’t hold back his hostility. “What makes you think we want to work with you?”

Viktor tapped the man with his cane. He was lucky Viktor didn’t hit him harder.

He grimaced. “What can you bring to the table for us?” All of Mel’s lessons came to the front of his mind. Even if Jayce didn’t like it, he’d learned to play politics at least somewhat. This time he wasn’t alone either.

Silco raised a brow. “Funding for one. That is why you entered into the heinous competition after all.”

Jayce had to bite back a remark. There was a small part of him that still felt tied to Piltover. It was difficult to separate himself from the region entirely, not after he lived there for so much of his life. “We-”

Viktor cut him off. “We would require further access to the Lanes, gaining access to foreign trade would also be desirable.” He took another step forward, though not far from Jayce’s side. “I’m aware that you now control the markets.”

“You’ve done your homework.” Silco smirked.

Jayce had no idea when Viktor would have gotten that information, maybe when the man was out on the streets. He knew more about Zaun then Jayce did, so perhaps that change was simply obvious to him.

Silco shuffled through several papers on his desk. “You can’t expect me to allow you such access without a form of payment.”

“No,” Jayce held his hands behind his back, keeping his spine straight, “Of course not.” Here was something he knew a fair bit about. There were always trade negotiations going on between the Council members and other nations. It was mind numbing work – and not something Jayce held much pride in – but it meant he knew more than Silco likely imagined. “We could formulate a sponsorship of sorts between ourselves and you.”

“Sponsorship?”

He’d spoken to Viktor about the idea, and although the man wasn’t overjoyed, it did make the most sense given the circumstances. “Yes, though, we would ask for more flexibility than the typical arrangement.” Jayce found himself slipping into the politician role the longer he spoke. “You’ve established that we need your funding, that’s nonnegotiable; however, we want unrestricted access to the Lanes and foreign ports. In exchange, you would get twenty percent of our profits and oversight over our research developments.”

Viktor cane tapped on the ground. “Though we expect final say over what projects we will pursue. We will not develop weapons, or anything else used for harm. We aim to see Zaun flourish and its people safe.”

Jayce swallowed hard. There was something in Viktor’s eyes, the way he carried himself, the confidence that began to waft off his body, that sent a shiver down his spine. He wished he could have seen the man in this position sooner: it would have been breathtaking.

Silco stalled, appearing to mull over the decision. “You ask a lot from me.”

“It’s better to shoot high.” Jayce felt a smirk form across his face. His and Viktor’s asks were nothing in comparison to what Silco had wanted from Piltover the first time.

“Yes, that is indeed true.” Silco brushed through his hair. “However-” Jayce felt his heart leap, “- I ask for thirty percent of your profits and access to your development facilities.”

“That’s-”

“Understandable.” Jayce interrupted Viktor. The man could be a bit hot headed at times, and they couldn’t afford to lose the deal forming before them. He shot Viktor a look, his eyes wide and pleading. Trust me.

Viktor pursed his lips, but didn’t counter the request.

“Our lab is over the fissures, just so you’re aware of the conditions.”

Silco all but scoffed. “The conditions in Zaun have never been optimal.” He trailed a finger along the rim of a glass that sat on his desk. “What foreign nations do you expect to trade with? Is Piltover included in this?”

Jayce bit his lip and wrung his hands. That was the crux of the situation, wasn’t it? Everything would always come down to the situation between Piltover and Zaun. There was no avoiding it. He stared down at the ground and tried to come up with a response.

“Noxus and Demacia would be preferable. There are also possible investments in Bilgewater if we play our cards right.” Viktor spoke with a smooth tone.

“Ixtal too.” Jayce quickly added. The other men looked a bit shocked and confused at his addition, but neither of them made a comment. Ixtal had been on Jayce’s mind since he stayed at his mother’s. The nation was known for its alchemy, and that included its medicines. Gaining access to their knowledge and creations was the best way Jayce knew to heal Viktor – that wasn’t relying on Hextech of course. Still dangerous and risky, but he hoped it was less so.

Silco looked between them. “So Piltover is out of the equation?”

“Yes, though we were thinking of putting more pressure on them.” Viktor added

“And how do you suppose we do that?”

Jayce grinned. “By cutting back on illicit trade with the Council.” At least there were some parts of his past life that were helpful. “I have insight from the Kirammans-” not completely incorrect, he did know some things about the Kirammans and their trade prospects, the exact information about the rest of the Council was just found through a slightly different way. “Regarding the illicit trade of Council members such as Salo and Hoskel.”

“And you believe I have something to do with that?”

Jayce shrugged and tried his best to appear calm and collected. “Perhaps not, but most illicit trade happens in Zaun, doesn’t it?”

Silco smiled like a snake at Jayce’s use of “Zaun”. “You both hold more potential then I could have expected.” He drummed his fingers along his desk. “This would ruffle a lot of feathers topside if they realize who’s behind it.”

“We would start slowly.” Viktor spoke up. “Make it appear as though supply is simply low or shipping processes are interrupted. In that time, we increase our trade with other nations and begin to appear more powerful.”

Jayce held himself back from wrapping his arms around Viktor and peppering him with compliments. He truly was one of the brightest minds Jayce ever had the pleasure of meeting. The tension in the room began to thin as the conversation continued. He grew more confident in his words and movements, as did Viktor. It felt like the first time they presented their findings to the Council, trying to convince them that their inventions would bring nothing but progress and prosperity to the world. Of course, this didn’t work out the way they wanted. This however, this, could create real change.

Jayce never would have expected Silco would be the one to bring what could very well be peace.

Drinks were poured as the minutes stretched on. Jayce cringed as he sipped on the alcohol. It was stronger than anything in Piltover, though weaker than the stuff he and Viktor knocked back on their first meeting in this timeline.

Silco had taken to scribbling notes in a small book. “If you are opposed to creating weaponry, trade with Noxus may be difficult.”

Viktor’s leg was pressed against his as they both sat on the sofa. “Beginning with Bilgewater may be a necessity then. Though trade there is even more illicit than that between here and Piltover.” His brow was furrowed together in concentration.

Jayce found him utterly beautiful. He rested his head in his hand. “What about Ionia? They’re a more peaceful nation, plus Piltover has a port there that we can utilize.”

Silco sighed. “Relations between them and Zaun aren’t exactly the best at the moment.”

Viktor cringed at his side. Jayce suddenly felt like he knew nothing. Politics were politics, sure, but it appeared that Zaunite politics were rather different than Piltovian ones.

More time passed, and before long, the topic of Shimmer arose. “There is another detail we must address before we formalize our partnership.” The moment had been quiet, and Jayce’s voice broke it. “Shimmer. We can’t finalize this if you continue your distribution of the drug.”

Silco crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knee. “Is that so? And here I was believing you require my assistance.”

Jayce’s expression hardened; a frown formed on his face. “This isn’t a joke. Shimmer is a highly addictive drug that will run rampant on the streets if you don’t cut back the supply.”

“You are making your own people sick.” Viktor added. His voice was hollow. He didn’t look up; instead, he peered down at his folded hands. They were trembling ever so slightly that most people wouldn’t realize it, but Jayce could. He could sense the tension rising in the other, the way his breaths began to grow less steady, his eyes dancing across the room more. Viktor was nervous, more so than he had been for the rest of the meeting.

Silco rolled his eyes. “You can’t expect dozens of people to stop their addictions at the drop of a hat. It would wreck their bodies.”

“No.” Jayce clenched his jaw. This was a realm he wasn’t as well versed in. Between that and Viktor’s sudden bout of anxiety, he feared for the outcome of the meeting. They needed this to work out, more than anything. They needed the funding and they needed the trade, the access and reach that working with Silco could bring them. But Jayce didn’t want to be part of more harm. His heart sank to his stomach when he imagined it.

“We would need treatment centers.” Viktor spoke up, his voice quiet. “That way we can monitor individuals in recovery and ensure that they are healthy and safe. Shimmer would only be available at these facilities.”

The room went silent again as the trio thought over the possibility. It would be difficult, for a multitude of reasons. They would need a facility to house individuals which would be hard to obtain. Then the word would need to be spread, and with how little people in Zaun trusted one another, he wondered if they would believe it.

There was a shuffling by his side, and Jayce saw Viktor take to his feet. “You were a revolutionary. You wanted Zaun to be an independent nation.”

“I still want it.” Silco spit out.

“Then you must act like it.” Viktor’s face contorted together in a near unreadable expression. “A country can not be created by fear and violence alone. You must provide security and peace as well.” Even if he spoke lightly, there was still conviction to his words.

Jayce found himself immediately enraptured. He imagined another version of the man standing before him, dressed in a blue blanket and golden gears. Viktor had been a leader at one point, of dozens upon dozens of people – it wasn’t as vast as Silco’s empire – but it had been quite something. He blinked a few times to bring himself back to the present.

“Do we have a deal then?” Viktor’s hand was out for Silco to take.

The man looked it over before taking it. “We’ll formulate a proper contract soon. Preferably sooner rather than later.”

Jayce looked at the men before him. Never would he have imagined the scene, it almost felt like something out of a dream with how unbelievable it was. He stood from his seat and shook Silco’s hand as well. “We’ll formulate a contract for you to oversee and bring it once it's completed. We can decide the finer details then.”

Silco nodded, but his body was still tense. “I have one other concern.”

Jayce raised a brow. “Yes?”

The man averted his gaze, turning to look out the window behind his desk. “How is Powder?”

That was the last question either of them could have expected. Jayce didn’t think the man really cared about Powder. He knew in the past timeline she was taken in by the man, raised as his daughter, but he didn’t think it was out of anything other than wanting the ability to control her and create a weapon.

From the expression on Silco’s face, the way his fingers came up to rest against his lip, Jayce could tell there was something more.

“Powder is doing well,” Viktor answered. “She has some troubles, but she is not suffering.”

“Good.” Silco almost seemed to curl in on himself, something Jayce never would have expected from a man like him. He was meant to be the kingpin of Zaun, the brutal leader, the man that everyone in Piltover feared. All Jayce could see was a broken man who struggled to keep his empire together.

He and Viktor left after that, but he couldn’t shake the meeting from his head. There was some sort of tension between Viktor and Silco that he couldn’t place. They were making their way back to their apartment when Jayce decided to ask the question that he couldn’t evade any longer. “Did you know Silco? Before all this, did you meet him?”

Viktor stalled for a moment by his side, his cane nearly getting stuck in a divot in the road. “It was a long time ago, and only for a few moments.”

He couldn’t help his expression from asking for more information.

“I was around Powder’s age, maybe a few years older.” Viktor sighed, and the corners of his lips turned down. “I was alone and on the streets. He found me and offered me a place to stay for the night.”

Jayce tried to hide his surprise. “What was he like?”

“Still cold, perhaps rude by some standards.” Viktor huffed out a laugh. “He was stronger back then though, more… revolutionary I guess.”

The conversion fell away, and Jayce was happy for it to do so. He didn’t know how he felt about everything he’d learned in the past couple of hours. There was so much conflict in his head that it made him dizzy. He tried not to let it get to him, the fact that there was so much about Viktor that he still didn’t know. He’d known the man for a decade and there were still mysteries.

Viktor was a chilling presence at his side, bringing him back to reality when his mind threatened to float away. “Perhaps we should get lunch and then head to the lab?”

Jayce furrowed his brow. “How long was that meeting?”

“Several hours, drahý, perhaps not as long as I would have expected.”

“You think it would have gone longer?” He couldn’t hide his shock. Jayce was well aware that trade meetings and political bargains could stretch on for hours, days – even weeks in some cases – but he hadn’t thought meeting with Silco would take quite as long. He rubbed his temples in an attempt to get his brain working again. “Gods, this is going to be difficult.”

“You expected it to be easy?” Viktor teased, his free hand coming up to rest on the small of Jayce’s back. “I thought you would have learned by now: nothing is easy in Zaun.”

Jayce sighed. “Nothing is easy at all.”

That wasn’t entirely true. There were easy things in life, he simply didn’t have the confidence to say them out loud. Viktor was easy, and not in a condescending sort of way. Being near him again, learning more about the man, falling for him all over again – that was easy. Jayce could never imagine a world where he didn’t. Though he was terrified of failing yet another timeline, at least he’d be at Viktor’s side if it happened.

Lunch was acquired, and the men hunkered down in the lab to make sure everything was perfect for when their partnership with Silco was official. It was best to get a head start on all of the most difficult parts, that way trade could be started sooner. Jayce kept an eye on the clock to ensure that they would be home before Powder. He couldn’t help but keep glancing at Viktor as well. There was something itching in the back of his mind. Something was off.

That was when it hit him.

He coughed, unsure of the best way to broach the topic. “V?”

“Yes?” Viktor lifted his goggles.

“You know what day it is, right?” Jayce felt anxiety rising in his chest.

Viktor set down his tools. His expression fell as he placed his goggles onto the desk. “Yes, Jayce, I know what day it is. I know what time it is. I know what I’ve skipped.”

Jayce couldn’t even begin to imagine what the other was going through. It was one thing to have his prescriptions cut off, to be down to whatever testosterone and pain medications he had, it was another to have none. “Querido-”

“I will be fine, Jayce.” Viktor’s voice hardened. “I will figure out how to fix this.”

A moment passed and Jayce stood from his seat, taking a hesitant step forward. He opened his arms and felt relief when Viktor fell into them. The man fisted his hands into the back of Jayce’s shirt and was certainly drenching his front in tears, but he didn’t mind. He ran a hand along Viktor’s spine, the other holding the back of his head. “You don’t have to figure it out alone, V, never alone.”

Chapter Text

Jayce wasn’t sure how long he’d been awake for, all he knew was that the lab was nearly pitch black aside from the few lamps and candles he set up around the place. The different tubes and vials he had filled with various liquid swirled and shimmered. One was green, another red, several were more or less clear. He ran a hand down his face and tried to wipe the sleep away as well.

He had to get this right.

Viktor needed his medications more than anything; they were some of the only things keeping him afloat on his worst days. They were why he was even capable of having good days. Jayce hated seeing the man break down, hated seeing what Piltover had done to him. If they had just kept his name in the system, made sure he was still supplied with refills, this wouldn’t be happening. Jayce would have had more time to develop something that could help him in the long run.

Of course, that didn’t happen. There were shipments from Demacia that they had secured after finalizing their deal with Silco two days earlier. They wouldn’t arrive for a good while though, which meant Jayce was still left with what he acquired from the apothecary and the other substances he picked up from the Lanes. He could only imagine what Viktor would have said if he knew the man headed into the Lanes alone. Jayce wasn’t completely helpless in Zaun, but there were still practices he wasn’t accustomed to that made life a bit more difficult than it needed to be.

He was adapting though, slower than he would have liked, but improvements were visible. He sucked in his breath as he worked his way through another equation. Viktor’s finer expertise would have been valuable, since he knew more about chemistry than Jayce did, but he was hesitant to share the experiments with the other man. He didn’t want to anger Viktor or make him think Jayce didn’t believe him capable. That wasn’t the case at all. Jayce just wanted to help – the only thing he ever wanted to do.

He groaned as he scratched the equation out. Another failure before he even got to proper testing. Part of him wanted to just start mixing shit and hoping it worked out in the end. Then, he remembered what he was doing it for, who it was for, and knew that he couldn’t be so careless. This was Viktor, the most wonderful man in the entire world, he deserved more than half-assed work.

“It appears you’ve had a late night.”

Jayce jumped in his seat at the sudden intrusion. “Silco? What are you doing here?”

The man drifted around the room like a phantom. “You allowed me access to your facilities; I am taking advantage of the offer.” He looked over Powder’s desk, covered in pink and blue paint and several different gadgets. “I didn't expect anyone to still be here.”

“What do you want?” Jayce was snippy, but he didn’t care. It was late, and Silco was an annoyance.

“Not everything I do is meant to harm someone, Talis.” Silco spit out Jayce’s house name like it disgusted him. Perhaps it did.

A shiver went down his spine as he failed to recall giving it to him. Silco must have caught it at the competition. The thought didn’t ease his anxiety. How long had he been slinking around there, spying on everyone, readying to strike? “I find that hard to believe.” Antagonizing the man that gave him and Viktor access to trade routes and funds likely wasn’t the best decision.

Silco danced his fingertips along Powder’s desk; he didn’t disturb anything, everything stayed perfectly as it was. It was still the mess the girl left it as. “Has she been staying with you all this time?”

The question caught Jayce a bit off guard. “Uh, yeah, ever since the night of the explosion.” He knew Silco had to be a part of it. He wasn’t sure exactly what the man had done, nor how much control he had over everything, but Jayce knew deep in his bones that the man was the root cause of that specific incident.

Silco sighed. “I didn’t plan to hurt her, or any of her siblings.”

“Yeah, well, you did.” Jayce huffed and turned in his seat. Focusing on the medicine was more important.

“I tried to look for her that night.” Silco’s voice drew closer. “I saw from a distance as Violet slapped Powder.”

Jayce stiffened. He didn’t know about that part.

“Then,” Silco stood at his side, “Viktor comes along and snatches her away before I have the chance to comfort her.”

It took every ounce of self-control to not throttle Silco. There was a dangerous glint in the other’s eye, something that told him if he didn’t choose his words carefully he could lose it all. Everything would come crashing down around him. Silco was a ticking time bomb, and Jayce couldn’t figure out which wires to cut. “At least she’s safe now.”

“I helped raise her, Talis. I knew her mother and her father and Vander.” Silco’s hand clenched as it rested on the table, his knuckles going white. “Do you have any idea what it's like to love someone so much you’d burn the world for them?”

One figure appeared in his mind.

Viktor, his pale skin dotted with moles, all hard lines and sharp edges. Viktor who stood by his side as they developed Hextech despite Jayce all but abandoning him in the lab. Viktor who Jayce defied the ethos for time and time again because he couldn’t bear the idea of losing him. Viktor who had tried so hard to fix himself that he couldn’t see he was already perfect. Viktor who, despite the odds, was once again at his side even though Jayce was the last person in the world that deserved a second chance.

Jayce swallowed. “I know that love extremely well.” He focused on the various vials and formulas before him. A part of him was scared by how much he loved Viktor, how much he would give for the other man. In every timeline where they came together they caused destruction and desolation, but Jayce couldn’t bear to be apart from him. Their souls were so intertwined that he’d rather give everything up if it meant for a moment longer with Viktor beside him.

Silco let out a long sigh. “There are those that tear us to pieces, but we gladly let them.”

Yes, Jayce knew that quite well.

“These are for Viktor I presume.” Silco gestured to the experiments.

Jayce ran a hand through his hair. “He’s sick, and I can’t let it take him away.” Not again.

The room was quiet for a moment, only the hum of the air purifiers to fill the void. Silco stepped back and trailed along the various tables and desks. “There’s a doctor who may be of use to you. Viktor knew him once, though I don’t know if they’ve kept in contact.”

Jayce straightened in his seat. “Where can I find him?”

The man gave him the location, and a few directions that he tried his best to file away. Despite the time spent in Zaun, he hadn’t grown used to the peoples’ odd way of guiding others. He thanked Silco, though he wished he held his tongue. This was another thing he could hold over Jayce’s head, but it was necessary. Anything for Viktor.

He had the misfortune of running into Viktor as he tried to sneak back into the apartment. He needed at least a few hours of sleep before he went out again. It would be no use if he collapsed on the streets before making it to the doctor. “You’re out late, eh, or early.” The space was still dark; the sun had yet to rise over the horizon. Stars still twinkled in the sky.

Shit. “V, what are you doing up?”

“I believe I can ask you the same.” He leaned against the counter with a smirk on his face. He didn’t appear mad, though there was an air of worry to his voice. Jayce swallowed hard.

Viktor looked mesmerizing, and Jayce was just a man.

“Zlatíčko,” Viktor adopted a teasing tone, “Are you alright?”

“I just… Needed some air. It’s been a stressful few days.” He made his way further into the apartment, allowing himself the pleasure of standing in the other man’s space. Unlike Jayce, Viktor slept bundled up. The night’s attire included thick socks – which Jayce would never understand – sleep pants, and a sweater that he could have sworn was his own. Most would find it silly that he was so infatuated with a man who wasn’t showing a sliver of skin, but he wasn’t exactly known for being typical.

Viktor opened his arms. He didn’t waste a second more. The man whispered assurances into his ear that just made his stomach churn. Lying to Viktor felt awful, especially lying about this, but he didn’t know what else to do. It felt wrong to just bring the subject up randomly – plus he still hadn’t gauged how Viktor would react. Jayce could have sworn he felt lips pressed against his hair.

“Tell me what’s going on, Jayce, please.” Viktor ran a hand along his neck, along his jaw. He held Jayce’s face like the man was precious. “I can’t help you if you don’t let me.”

“V…” His voice slipped away from him, dying. “Please.” Jayce didn’t know what he was asking for, but he gripped onto Viktor with everything he had. He couldn’t stand to be even an inch away from the other.

Viktor’s presence was grounding. “I’m here; I’m not going anywhere.”

Jayce looked up and drowned in the man’s golden eyes. “Can we talk tomorrow? I’m so tired.”

“Tomorrow then. But I truly mean it this time. I don’t want whatever is eating you up inside to tear you apart.”

He couldn’t guarantee that was going to happen, even if he did tell Viktor even a sliver of what was going on, it would still consume him completely in the worst of ways. Jayce sighed into Viktor’s neck. “Let’s go to bed, cielito.”

Jayce woke early the next morning, well, the same morning he guessed. Guilt filled his gut as he readied himself to meet the man Silco told him about. He couldn’t tell Viktor, not when he was unsure of what would happen. He swore to himself he’d fill the man in when he got back. Jayce just hoped he came back with good news.

Viktor was out like a light, curled under the covers. Jayce couldn’t help but brush through his hair for a moment. It had grown out a little, still not as long as it once was. He wondered if Viktor would cut it; he wasn’t sure if he wanted him to.

“I’ll see you soon, Viktor.” Jayce stepped through the apartment as lightly as he could, making sure not to wake Powder either. She slept a lot lighter than Viktor. Jayce pulled a piece of paper from his notebook and scribbled down that he was going out but would be back soon. He was already coming up with some sort of alibi for where he’d go. They did need some extra wiring soon; he’d pick those up on his way back. He set it on the kitchen table to ensure that the two would see it – hopefully before they started worrying about where he was. He dipped out and felt his heart drop as he realized he was once again going behind Viktor’s back.

Jayce slunk down the streets of Zaun. The inklings of day were dripping into the trenches. Soon people would begin to awake, and Jayce would once again feel out of place. It was easier to make his way around when it was more barren.

Finding the doctor was difficult, if only because of the fear licking across his skin. Jayce found himself in an area he hadn’t been in before. The alleys seemed darker, the air thicker. He wished he would have brought one of the portable air purifiers. Even though he spent most of his time in Zaun, his lungs were used to the air in Piltover.

He all but stumbled into the doctor’s lab. The sight of it sent a shock of anxiety through his heart. It was darkened, the only light coming from a few lamps and a giant cylinder filled with a light green liquid. There was a form within it, but it was difficult to see behind the glass which was dirty and almost fogged over.

“What purpose do you have in coming here?” A rough voice called out from his left. A man sat, his face half-obscured from what appeared to be a scarf or long collar. Jayce couldn’t make out the details around him. From what he could tell, the man’s skin was scared, still violent looking.

Jayce tried his best to put on a brave face and calm himself. “Silco said I could find you here.”

Singed – the name Silco had given him – lulled his head and returned to whatever he was working on at his desk.

He took a step forward. The closer Jayce got the more uneasy he felt, but he powered through. It would all be worth it in the end. “It’s about my partner, Viktor.”

Singed paused and turned back to face him. “My, how is the boy now?” He could hear the smile in the man’s voice, though it didn’t seem like a pleasant one.

“He’s sick, and he doesn’t have any more medication.” Part of him felt terrible for giving out some of Viktor’s most private information, but another thought it was for his own good. If working with Singed kept Viktor alive and well, it would be worth the anger he got later.

Jayce wouldn’t blame him if the man hated him after this.

“Well then.” Singed clicked his tongue and the sound echoed through the room. “That is quite the predicament.” He stood from his desk and walked throughout the room with practised ease.

Jayce watched his every movement. “You’ll help me then?”

“I can give you supplies that may assist his ailments.” The man sifted through various objects on his shelves.

There was a question he couldn’t hold back. “How do you know Viktor?”

“I can’t say I’m shocked the boy didn’t tell you.” Singed brought down several different vials. “He was always cut off from others.”

Jayce flinched back as though he’d been burned. “He’s not… He’s just a reserved person.”

“Perhaps.” The man continued to make his way through his belongings and lab as though Jayce was nothing but a fly on the wall. “But he didn’t have the fortitude necessary for my experiments. He never understood.”

His fist clenched at his side. He wished he had the mercury hammer; his fingers itched for it. “Just tell me how to help him.”

Singed paused. He slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a vial of glowing purple liquid. He placed it into Jayce’s palm before the latter could pull away. “He must accept the mutation.”

Jayce looked down at the vial of Shimmer in his hand. Pure fear coursed through his veins. He wanted to drop it, but he didn’t want to cause any kind of damage or let it seep into the world. There was already enough damage done to Zaun. He held it out in front of him like it would burn him. The sight of the vial made him sick. “No, no. I’m not giving him Shimmer.” Jayce tried not to raise his voice.

Singed grew tense, his demeanor shifting to something darker. “You want to help him and this is the only way.”

He thrust the vial into Singed’s hand. “This can’t be the only way.” Jayce would never let Viktor succumb to the drug once again. It had caused him undo harm the first time, and Jayce couldn’t let him fall apart.

Singed had a wild look in his eyes. “Shimmer will save him.”

“It’ll ruin him.” Jayce’s voice cracked at the word. He staggered back. All the people in the commune that had been ravaged by Shimmer, the dozens in the streets and back alleys who were already addicted to the drug. It wasn’t helping them – not anymore – it was tearing them apart piece by piece and making them into people they weren’t. “I’ll try anything else, just… just not that.”

Singed turned his back. He walked up to the glowing cylinder and placed his hand on the glass. “It seems you don’t understand either.”

Jayce huffed. “The only thing I need to ‘understand’ is that you can’t help people without wrecking them first.” He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. He didn’t look back for a second. Singed wasn’t going to give him the help he needed, the help Viktor needed, so fuck him.

Anger boiled in his chest as he made his way back to the apartment. There was nothing he could do to quell it. The feeling curled through his entire being and nearly consumed him whole. Jayce took a few breaths as he got closer to the door. He wasn’t angry at Viktor or Powder; so, they didn’t deserve his wrath. It was all because of Singed and his inability to do any real good.

Jayce shut the door as quietly as he could behind himself as he made his way into the apartment.

“Catching you sneaking back in twice in one day. Some would call that concerning.” Viktor was standing in the kitchen once again, cooking up breakfast as Powder sat at the table.

“I- I went out to pick up parts.”

“And yet you have nothing.” Viktor’s tone was clipped.

Jayce silently cursed to himself. He’d been so clouded after the encounter with Singed that he’d forgotten all about the wires.

“Vik-”

Viktor put up a hand. “We’ll talk about this later. Sit. “

Jayce complied with the order. Powder raised a brow as she looked at him, and even she had a tinge of annoyance in her expression. Jayce rubbed the back of his neck. He really fucked it up this time.

Breakfast stretched on for what felt like an eternity. The entire time Jayce bounced his legs and darted his eyes around the room. He felt like a cornered animal. Never in his life did he think Viktor would actually hate him – even if he worried about the possibility – but the look in his eyes made Jayce believe he’d finally made the man snap.

Powder caught onto the tension well and made an excuse to see Ekko after she finished breakfast. Jayce felt awful for practically kicking the girl out of the apartment, even if Powder had done it of her own volition; it didn’t calm his anxiety at all.

Then it was just him and Viktor. In a different context he would have adored it. Jayce wouldn’t have to stop his wandering hands and dip in tone. It would be perfect.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t what was happening. No, instead he was suffering internally while anger wafted off of Viktor in waves he never thought possible. Even in the first go around, when Jayce had done some truly awful things, Viktor never hated him.

Viktor stood, and his gaze kept Jayce glued to his seat. “Now will you explain all of this sneaking around you’ve been doing?” His voice was pinched as he held back.

Jayce didn’t deserve his reservation. He took in a deep breath and let it shake out of him. “The first time I was coming back from the lab.”

“And what were you doing at the lab at such an hour, hm?” Viktor took a step closer. With Jayce still sitting, he towered over the other.

He felt like he would fall apart. “V, I want you to know that I’ve only ever wanted to help you.”

“What did you do, Jayce?” The way Viktor said his name didn’t carry the same gentleness, or even teasing lilt, that it typically did.

He was going to break. “I was making a treatment, for you.” Jayce, despite his fear, reached out to hold onto Viktor’s forearm. “I don’t want you to be in pain anymore. I don’t want you to… to get sick.” Again. Again. Again. Jayce didn’t know what he’d do with himself if he had to watch the man before him wither away again when he knew there was something he could do to stop it.

Viktor ripped his arm away and took three steps back. “And you never thought to tell me?” Betrayal laced his words. “This is my body, my health you’re talking about.” The man’s brow furrowed together. “And you didn’t consult me.” Viktor's chest rose and fell at an unsteady rate. Jayce moved to help him, but the man put up a hand. “Where were you, just now, were you back at the lab?”

Jayce bit his tongue so hard he felt blood rush through his mouth. “I met with a doctor.”

“Jayce.”

He dropped his head into his hand. “I met with Singed.” Viktor flinched back, and he felt his entire world crumble to pieces. “Silco thought he could help and he said-”

“So now you trust Silco, is that right?”

“Querido-” Jayce stood and tried to reach out to Viktor, but the man slapped his hand back.

He glared. “Don’t call me that when you don’t mean it.”

Jayce drew back, almost collapsing back into his seat. “I do mean it.” He shouldn’t have been surprised that Viktor had learned what the word meant. It wasn’t like Ixtali was an endangered language without any teachers and textbooks. “I mean it with everything that I have, Viktor. I just wanted to help you, and I know that I didn’t do it right, and I should have brought it up to you first but I–” He choked on a sob that bubbled up in his throat. “I was terrified you’d hate me for it. For all of it.”

Viktor was quiet for a long while, several different expressions flashing across his face.

“I… I don’t hate you.”

Jayce felt the most relief he felt in a while.

“But I’m angry that you did not consult me first.” His hand was curled in a first at his side, the knuckles white. Jayce would let the man unleash his anger on him, let Viktor do whatever he wanted. The thought only scared him for a moment. At least then there would be a tension in the air so thick he thought he’d choke on it.

Viktor sighed and unclenched his first. He pinched the spot between his brows. “What did he tell you?”

“I don’t know if you-”

“Jayce.” He put up a hand. “I want to know everything that the doctor said about me. This is my life you’re talking about after all.”

Jayce couldn’t argue with that logic. He told Viktor everything he’d learned in the short encounter with Singed. The meeting couldn’t have even been a half hour. It felt like an eternity in his mind. He spoke about the bruising words Singed used to describe Viktor – which the man didn’t appear all that phased by. He spoke about the giant cylinder and the obscured figure within it which Viktor appeared to have a reaction too. Finally, he spoke about the vial of Shimmer that had been placed in his hands and how hopeless he felt believing for a split second that they were devoid of any more options.

He wanted to grovel at Viktor’s feet, to show his regret and guilt and penance. The man’s gaze kept him seated though. The two of them sat at opposite ends of the table, both in deep thought.

Viktor sighed. “I do not wish to take Shimmer. I’d rather… avoid that as much as possible.”

Jayce remembered reading through Viktor’s notes the first time, seeing the self experimentation trials with the drug. He could only imagine how scared and in pain Viktor was in those moments. Worst of all, Jayce hadn’t been there to help.

“I gave it back to him. I… I know what it can do to people.” What it did to you.

Viktor looked up to meet his eye and sighed deeply. “I’m going to head to the lab.” Jayce immediately began to move himself to get ready as well.

“Jayce.” Viktor put up a hand. “I would like to go alone today.”

He couldn’t stop the disappointment from spreading across his face. He knew the man could make it out in an instant.

“I’m not leaving you behind or kicking you out, I just… I need a moment to be alone.”

“Whatever you need, V.” Jayce wanted to wrap his arms around the man, to hold him close and promise that he’d never do it again. He kept to himself, not wanting to distress Viktor any further. It was difficult to do, see him walk out of the apartment and know that he couldn’t follow, but Jayce pushed the sickness in his stomach down. He would wait an eternity for Viktor if he had the time, but he didn’t.

Jayce tried not to think about that either.

Chapter Text

Three days later and Viktor was still a bit pissed at him. Jayce couldn’t really blame him, not after how much he had done behind the man’s back, but it didn’t really help the situation at all. They still worked in the lab together, after a day had passed and Viktor had given explicit permission that Jayce was allowed to join him again. They’d also stopped sharing a bed, though that was completely because of Jayce. He wanted to give the man a bit more space before he went back to how everything was before their argument.

It really hadn’t been that bad of a disagreement, as far as actual shouting and arguing went, but Jayce knew there was something broken between them after. He hoped it wasn’t frayed beyond repair; if it was, then he wasn’t sure making it past the next year was worth it. Jayce knew that wasn’t the best way to go about it, but he couldn’t help the thoughts from infecting his mind.

The two of them tried to act as civil as possible whenever Powder was around, but she could tell that something happened between them. She was smart like that, brighter than Jayce had initially given her credit for in the first go around.

It was afternoon, the two men were too stuck in their next project that they decided to take their work back to the apartment to figure it out in a more comfortable space. Powder sat at the kitchen table and scribbled through some problems. The two put together their own curriculum of sorts to make sure the girl was getting some semblance of a proper education. It wasn’t nearly as structured as it should have been, but it was better than nothing. This way they were able to tailor her education to her wants and needs better which meant the work she was doing was far beyond what she’d be looking at in a typical classroom.

Jayce was helping her through a math problem as Viktor paced around the kitchen trying to figure out their latest chemical formula.

He’d gotten involved with the medicine like he should have been from the start.

Viktor groaned as he set his notebook down. “To je hrozné.”

Powder giggled but didn’t say anything else.

Jayce’s brow pinched together. “Powdita, do you know Zaunite?”

She shrugged. “Not really, just a few words, the last one means bad I think.”

“‘Awful’ is a better translation.” Viktor resumed his pacing as he mumbled out a mix of Zaunite and chemical compositions to himself.

It was one of those moments where Jayce felt the wall of separation again. He knew he’d never understand what living in Zaun was like, he would always be someone from Piltover, but there were times when it was far more obvious than others. Jayce shook off the feeling of otherness and began to explain the math problem to Powder as clearly as he could.

A knock on the door interrupted him. He and Viktor shared a look. Nobody was meant to be there.

Viktor, as he was already standing, made his way to the door. Jayce’s heart was in his throat as the man checked to see who it was. He tried his best to return his attention back to the work he and Powder were doing, but the mix of fear and curiosity was too much.

“Hey, Viktor.”

Fuck.

Jayce got to his feet in an instant, telling Powder to stay put as he went to Viktor’s side. Low and behold Vi was standing in the doorway, with no one else but Caitlyn by her side. The pieces began to fall into place – the bracelet, the blushing, the overall awkward demeanor. Looking back he should have realized that the two had met somehow somewhere. It must have been after Vi was released.

Caitlyn’s expression froze into shock as soon as she saw him. “Jayce? What are you doing here?”

“I live here, well, practically.”

The four of them were quite the sight, all standing in the small hallway, crowded together. Viktor got himself together first. “Do you want to see your sister, Violet?”

The girl folded her arms against her chest, trying to hide away from the gaze of everyone else. “I- yeah. I do.”

Jayce and Viktor shared a look. Powder stopped asking for Vi ever since the first time. Neither had any sort of idea as to how she would react to her sister randomly showing up in her life again, unannounced and with a new topsider by her side. Still, they showed the two girls in without fail and prepared themselves for the worst.

Viktor made sure to get Powder’s attention first, leaving the rest to trail behind ever so slightly. “Powder.” The girl looked up from her work. “Your sister is here to see you.”

She dropped her pencil and her body froze. Her eyes trailed Vi as soon as the older stepped from behind Jayce and made her way into the kitchen. “Hey, Pow Pow.”

There was a heavy silence that hung in the apartment. Jayce was certain he could hear a pin drop. It was horrible, waiting for either of them to have any more of a reaction. Vi looked ready to bolt, though she kept her ground. Caitlyn was still mostly standing behind him, presumably realizing what was happening wasn’t for her to intervene with.

Powder was unreadable. It was heartbreaking, the way Jayce failed to discern what was going on in her head. He liked to think he had gotten pretty good at that, but his skills were failing him. Viktor put a hand on her shoulder and it was the first time the girl moved in minutes. She flinched ever so slightly – something she never did at Viktor’s touch. “Králíček, it’s alright. She’s here to talk with you.”

Powder jumped back as much as she could in her chair. “I don’t wanna talk to her.” Her face pinched together. “She left me.”

Viktor shot Jayce a desperate look. They were still tense around each other, the pain palatable, but they had to put themselves back together just a bit to help the girl before them. Jayce took a few steps forward, putting out an arm to stop Vi from walking closer. The space between the two girls was necessary to keep. If it went too poorly then Powder could have another one of her attacks, and Jayce wanted to do whatever he could to prevent that.

He bent down at Powder’s side. “Powdita, you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but maybe-”

Powder leaned away from him and further into Viktor’s side. Her eyes widened once again as she looked back to the hallway where Vi and Caitlyn were standing. “Who is she? What is she doing here?”

Caitlyn’s shoulders drew up nearly to her ears. “My name’s Caitlyn Kiramman.”

Jayce swore to himself. She probably should have kept her mouth closed.

Anger washed over Powder. “You’re with a Piltie?” Jayce wanted to remind her that he was from Piltover as well, even if it was easy to forget at times, but he didn’t want to anger her any further. “Is that what you’ve been doing? You left me for her?”

Vi stepped forward despite Jayce trying to stop her. “I didn’t leave you, Powder. I just… It hurt.”

Powder curled further back. “I didn’t mean to.” Her voice cracked. Jayce wanted to carry her away, protect her from the world. He didn’t imagine this would ever happen, that of all the kids to take care of he’d be looking after Powder – not after what she’d done in the first timeline. But seeing her so scared, seeing her terrified because of someone she loved, Jayce wanted to shelter her.

“I know that, Pow Pow. I don’t blame you.” Vi paused in her steps. “I needed to see you again, to make sure you were okay.”

“You don’t care!” Powder scooched her seat away from the table, fisting her hands in her hair and squeezing her eyes shut.

Oh fuck. “Vi, you should step out.” He put a hand on Powder’s back, rubbing away the tension in her shoulders.

Vi flinched back. “She’s my sister, Jayce, I’m not leaving her again.” Her voice hardened as much as a teen’s could.

“This is serious. Powder needs a moment to calm down.”

“I’ve helped her before.”

“You’re not helping right now.” There was more bite to his voice than he would have wanted. The last thing he wanted was to ruin the relationship between Powder and Vi, if anything he wanted to fix that just like he wanted to fix everything else, but the timing was all wrong. “Vi, just give us a second. We want to help you.”

He could see the anger rise in Vi’s body. Caitlyn placed a hand on her shoulder which helped a bit. They stepped back through the hallway. He let out a sigh and followed them. Jayce wished Vi had given some sort of heads up that she was dropping by – it would have made things a lot less awkward. He wanted to rush back into the apartment and help calm Powder down, but he trusted Viktor with the girl. Viktor would know what to do.

Why did things always have to go to shit just when they were looking up? Did Janna hate him or something, was this divine interference?

Jayce shut the door behind them as quietly as he could to not cause Powder to jump anymore than she already had. He rubbed his eyes. It had already been a long day, and it was barely past noon.

Caitlyn was the first to speak up. “Are you finally going to tell me what’s going on? Was that your partner? Since when did you have a kid with him?”

“She’s not their kid, she's my sister.” Vi interjected.

Jayce put up a hand. “Just let me… explain everything. The girls looked at him with matching expecting expressions. It was a lot to explain, and he wasn’t sure how much time he had before Viktor came knocking telling the three they could come back in. He decided to go with the abridged version – it wasn’t like Caitlyn and Vi needed to know the intricacies of just what he and Viktor had been doing anyway.

“Viktor found Powder after the explosion.” He didn’t need to explain all of that, the memories were likely too painful for Vi. “We’ve been taking care of her since then. I’ve practically moved to Zaun since meeting Viktor. We work together, creating things that will help Zaunites more than Piltover ever did.” He couldn’t help the venom that laced his words. Jayce looked to Vi. “We’re teaching her as much as we can. She loves the lab. Powder’s a smart kid, and we want to do everything we can to help her grow.”

Vi rubbed her arm, head falling. “I meant to see her sooner, but…” Jayce didn’t miss how Caitlyn leaned in ever so slightly, her hand coming near the girl’s.

“You were in pain.” Jayce understood that more than anyone. Everything he did, everyone he saw, was a reminder of what he failed to do in the past. He saw the flashes of the boy he killed in every Zaunite child he passed on the street. He saw glimpses of Viktor dying whenever the man winced or became unsteady on his feet. He saw Caitlyn’s anger consume her until she became someone she wasn’t in every enforcer he passed.

Everyday life was too painful to bear.

Vi was drawn taut like a bow. “I still love her, I always will.”

“She loves you too.” Jayce assured her. “Coming with someone from Piltover probably wasn’t the best move though.”

Caitlyn winced but didn’t try to counter.

“But trust me, she wants to see you. It’s just hard for her right now.” His brain struggled to come up with some sort of plan. “How about I wait out here with Cait and you go in when Viktor gives you the okay?”

Vi nodded.

A few more minutes passed in silence, none of them trusting themselves to say anything of real merit. There was a swift rapping at the door that made Jayce jump back. He turned to Vi. “Are you ready?”

The girl sighed. “As I’ll ever be.”

Viktor let her in, shooting a confused glance to Jayce before he shut the door. He wanted to assure the man that everything would be alright, that this was just a slip up and Powder would be back to her old self in no time. He couldn’t assure that though which caused his stomach to twist and turn into a horrible mess. Everything was so messy as of recent.

Jayce looked at the door like it had personally offended him. Even if it was his plan, that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“So.” Caitlyn’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Do you want to tell me the full story now?”

Jayce wanted to tell her everything and nothing. There was much he couldn’t say, especially not to Caitlyn as much as it hurt him to think. The girl was practically his little sister, someone he’d known for most of her life, and they weren’t ones to keep secrets from each other.

He laughed, but it was hollow and dark. “I don’t know how much I can say.”

“What do you and Viktor do exactly?” Caitlyn crossed her arms and leaned against the wall behind her.

“Well,” Jayce tried to think about what things he could share, certainly not anything surrounding Silco. Caitlyn was Piltovian – more than he was at this point – and she had threadlike connections with the enforcers, plus her mother was on the Council. Everything would come crumbling down if he let out even a crumb of information about Silco. “We’re creating products to help the people of Zaun, like air purifiers, prosthetics, mining equipment.”

Caitlyn’s eyebrows screwed together. “Why go to the Under-”

“Zaun.” Jayce huffed out the word.

“Why come here though? Certainly you could do the same work in Piltover, more easily, and with proper funding.”

He didn’t want to get mad at her. Caitlyn was a product of her environment, even if it wasn’t the best product; she was parroting things she heard from her parents and teachers and other elite members of Piltovian society that she mingled with. Plus, she was just fourteen.

Then again, Powder was even younger and understood more about the realities of the world.

There was a shout from behind the door that made him jump. He tried to calm himself. If Viktor needed help, he would ask for it. The man was always telling Jayce that he could take care of himself.

Exhaustion was weaving its way into his bones. “I can’t trust that the products would get to Zaun if I made them topside. Plus, I need Viktor and he’s here, so I’m here.”

“Why him?” Caitlyn’s tone, thankfully, wasn’t rude. If it was, Jayce didn’t know what he would do with himself or what he would allow to spew from his lips. She ducked her head slightly. “You never mentioned him to me before.”

This was one of those times when he would have liked it for others to remember at least small parts of the past. If everyone knew about his previous partnership with Viktor – more so the parts before it all went to shit – that would make things a whole lot easier. He would have liked Viktor to remember some too, to know just how much history the two of them had, how connected they really were. “I heard about him at the last Innovator’s Competition.” He slipped back into his old lies. “He was amazing and I knew that I had to get closer to him.”

Caitlyn studied him like Jayce was her newest case. “That’s a year’s worth of time where you supposedly did nothing though. Did you see him at all between then and when you decided to move down here?”

Jayce’s muscles tightened. He should have known that lying to Caitlyn of all people wasn’t the smartest decision. She was already on her way to becoming an enforcer, a fact Jayce wasn’t sure how he felt about anymore, and she’d been solving riddles and mysteries when she was still in primary. There was no getting by her if she wanted to figure him out.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, no.”

“What not?”

“Um, it’s… it was hard?” He knew he didn’t sound half as convincing as he would have liked.

“Hard?” She repeated.

Jayce shrugged. “He was working for the dean, and I was doing my work. There wasn’t much time to really act on anything.”

Caitlyn huffed. “You could have written him or something like that. Obviously he’s all over you now.” There was a twinge to her voice that shocked him.

“Cait, are you jealous?”

“What? Of course not.”

He couldn’t help but smirk. “No, you definitely are.” He pushed himself off the wall and took a step towards him. “Don’t worry, I’m not abandoning you up top.” He went to put a hand on her shoulder, but she batted it away.

Caitlyn’s cheeks were flush with embarrassment. “I didn’t think you were.”

“Cait-”

“It’s hard not to think you’re leaving us.” She huffed. “The last time I saw you was the competition and that was ages ago.”

“It wasn’t even a month ago.” Jayce had gotten rather good at keeping track of time. He had several calendars where he kept note of the passing days.

She bit her lip. “I’m just… used to seeing you more than that.”

“Come here.” He wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder and sighed in content when she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry for not seeing you more. I’ll make sure to fix that in the future.” It was easy to forget that Caitlyn was just a kid with the way she carried herself. He knew it didn’t make her immune to everything, it didn’t mean that she didn’t bear responsibility for things – at least for the things in this timeline. “I’ll always be here for you.”

The apartment door creaked open, and Viktor’s eyes met his. He raised a brow with a silent question if the two were alright.

Jayce nodded. “You want to head back in?”

Caitlyn nodded and they followed Viktor through the door.

Anxiety rose in his chest as they made their way down the hallway. He felt a bit out of his depth. He hadn’t expected Powder to have such a reaction to Vi – of course in hindsight it made sense – but it was difficult to watch. He just wanted everything to work out, the quicker the better.

Vi and Powder were sitting at opposite ends of the table, both of them still tense. Jayce wanted to ask them what had happened, but he knew better than to dig through that mess. He’d heard enough to know it wasn’t pretty. Viktor pinched the bridge of his nose as he stepped towards the counter to make more tea. Jayce wished they could have pulled out something stronger, but that wasn’t the best move when there were three kids standing around.

“You gonna tell me who she is?” Powder’s voice was more venomous than he’d ever heard it.

From the way Viktor’s shoulder’s fell he could tell she’d been like this for a while.

Vi sighed. “Her name’s Caitlyn. She helped me get a footing.”

“In Pilotver.”

Vi shook her head. “I’m not staying in Piltover. Cait knows I want to be down here.”

Jayce didn’t know how much he believed that, nor how much she believed it. He had to remind himself that they were still kids. Everything was different this time around. Viktor and he observed the girls for a moment. There was more space between the men than Jayce would have liked, but he didn’t dare step any closer.

Viktor crossed his arm over his stomach and curled his hand around his mug.

There was another set on the counter for Jayce to take.

“Took you long enough to get back.” Powder ran her fingers down her braid. “You didn’t need her.”

“It sure helped.”

Powder rolled her eyes. “Doubt it.”

The anger was rising between the sister’s and Jayce wanted to step in before either said something they couldn’t take back. They just got each other back and there was a high likelihood they were going to throw it all away.

Viktor’s hand caught his arm and shot him a warning look. “Let them handle this themselves.”

Jayce tensed up at the touch. He wanted to lean in more, to earn more of Viktor’s touch, but he knew the time wasn’t right.

Viktor’s hand fell and returned to his stomach.

Jayce tried not to let it affect him too much. He let his voice dip to a whisper. “We’re just going to let them argue it out?”

“That’s what siblings do, is it not?”

Jayce couldn’t really deny that. Even though Caitlyn wasn’t his biological sister, they’d gotten into their fair share of spats over the years. Especially when they were younger. Jayce had his own angsty sort of phase in secondary school. He sipped on his tea. “We’ll intervene if something goes wrong.”

“Of course.”

The men watched as the girls’ voices began to fall. There weren’t as many slights and accusations, which relieved Jayce immensely. He didn’t know what he’d do if Powder and Vi ended up hating each other again.

Vi ended up scooching her chair to the side of the table, sitting nearly beside her sister. Caitlyn still kept to the edge, crossing her arms and quietly observing. Powder shot her a few unpleasant glances every once and a while, which Jayce couldn’t be mad at her for.

He knew what it was like to feel abandoned.

He inched closer to Viktor’s side, glad when the man didn’t call him out on it. Viktor grinned and leaned to whisper in his ear. “What are your bets that those two-“ he gestured between Caitlyn and Vi “-have something going on?”

Jayce chuckled. “I think we’re in agreement there.”

“They’re rather obvious.”

Jayce looked over Viktor’s profile. His cheeks had filled out a bit more, though his cheek bones were still prominent. Jayce had realized that they simply looked that way. There was a healthy flush to his cheeks and a twinkle in his eye. “Yeah. Obvious.”

Chapter Text

The first few days back in the lab together was rough. Jayce had never experienced such a chilling environment with Viktor. Even at the very start they stood close to each other, were practically in each other’s pockets, but they weren’t like that any more. It was awkward and stilted, but Jayce tried his best not to let it affect their work.

Viktor was all hands on deck after learning what Jayce had been working on regarding his medications. The shipment that Jayce had ordered from Demacia was still a day away from coming into Zaun which didn’t make him feel great. Viktor didn’t let the shipment drag him down; he threw himself into the work.

Jayce had to admit, it was rather helpful. There was a lot of insight that he got about Viktor’s situation from the man that he hadn’t known. It made him feel sick to his stomach. He could have ended up causing more harm than good. Jayce sighed as he leaned back in his seat, pulling his goggles from his eyes. “What time is it?” The hours slipped by without much thought when they were in the lab. Most of the time, Powder was the one to bring it to their attention, but she was out with Vi for the day. Jayce wasn’t about to stop the sisters from getting together. If anything, it made his heart soar that they could still be around each other.

Viktor didn’t respond.

“V?”

Viktor jolted in his seat. His eyes were a bit red, his face flush. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

Jayce’s heart fell to his stomach. “Are you alright? We can take a break.”

“No,” Viktor shook his head and returned to his work, “I’m fine. Let’s just focus on-” A cough wracked his body and stole his words away.

Jayce rushed to Viktor’s side, placing a hand on his back and trying to steady the man. For a moment, he regretted his decision. Viktor had been quite adamant on putting space between them ever since Jayce’s meeting with Singed, but he needed to be there. Hen needed to make sure Viktor was okay. He rubbed the man’s back. “Take a moment, it’ll pass.” Jayce hoped that it would at least.

Viktor coughed a few more times and rubbed his chest. He didn’t pull away from Jayce’s touch. He squeezed his eyes. “It’s alright, Jayce. Let’s return to our work.”

“You need to take a break.” Jayce cringed as Viktor gave him a slight glare. “V, really. We’ve been working for a bit anyway. It’s alright.”

“It’s not.” The man’s voice hardened. “I-” Viktor’s hand came up to his mouth as he coughed once more.

Jayce took the goggles off of his head and placed them back onto the desk. “You’re taking a break, Viktor.” He didn’t like forcing the man to do anything. This was a time where he needed to though.

Viktor was never great at taking care of himself, always pushing himself to his limits. Jayce understood why he did it, why he always kept himself moving and working, but that didn’t make it right in the slightest.

Viktor sneered. “Stopping work isn’t going to help me.”

Jayce shook his head. “Come on, V, you know you can’t work through everything.” He watched the tension rise in Viktor’s body. He didn’t want to start another argument, not so soon after the last one, but he couldn’t help it. The man wasn’t listening, and annoyance was building within Jayce. He slid Viktor’s notebook away from him and shut it. “The longer you put off resting the worse you’re going to get.”

Their gaze locked. Viktor moved to grasp the notebook, but Jayce slid it back. “Jayce.”

“Please.” He knew he was begging like a dog at that point, but he didn’t care. Whatever got Viktor out of the lab and back to the apartment where he could rest. “We can bring some of our stuff back and work there. I’ll find a way to make it work.”

The man’s chest heaved, and Jayce could see a sheen of sweat on his forehead. “Fine.” Viktor’s voice was hard as steel. He collected his things and placed them into his bag. Jayce tried to help, but he slapped the other’s hand away to continue his work.

Jayce tried not to let it hurt him.

He placed his hand on Viktor’s back, celebrating when Viktor didn’t shoo him away. Jayce was hit with a wave of deja vu. Suddenly, he was back on the bridge, the air an orange haze. There were shouts of protestors and yells from enforcers. Bottles were thrown and flames erupted over the bridge.

“-ce, Jayce,” there was a hand on his shoulder shaking him slightly. “Come back to me, lásko.”

Jayce blinked a few times and tried to take in everything around him. They were still on the street walking back from the lab. The sun was still in the sky since they cut their lab hours short. His mind felt foggy as he tried to figure out what had happened.

Viktor’s touch was cold as the man cupped his cheek. “There you are.” His voice was smooth, nothing like the harshness it had earlier.

Jayce didn’t know how long ago that was. “Sorry about that.”

“Let’s just get back home.” Viktor still looked rough, even worse than when they left the lab. There was a high flush to his cheeks, his eyes watery and a bit red.

He mentally cursed at himself for causing a scene when he was supposed to be taking care of Viktor. He was supposed to be put together. Jayce kept his mouth shut as they continued the rest of their journey. He kept a hand on Viktor’s back, and he stuck closely to the man’s side. Viktor didn’t try to push him away. Jayce was thankful.

They finally got home, and Jayce guided Viktor to the sofa. He went to the kitchen to make the man sweet milk and something easy on his stomach. Jayce was moving in a haze, the only thing on his mind was to help his partner. He could forget all about what happened on the walk over, that wasn’t nearly as important as Viktor.

He placed the mug and plate on the coffee table and immediately left to find some sort of medicine that would ease the fever he suspected Viktor had. Jayce went through the cabinet in the bathroom, finding nothing. The anxiety in his chest rose as he looked through the small hall closet. He nearly got desperate enough to go through the kitchen despite knowing that there would be nothing there. Jayce ran a hand through his hair, tugging slightly at the strands. He squeezed his eyes shut, once, then twice, to push away the horrible images that were flashing before him.

Jayce had seen Viktor fall apart once, and he hadn’t been there like he should have been. Viktor collapsed in the lab all alone; blood had been splattered on his desk from where he’d coughed it up. His skin had been a sickly shade of gray, his form skeletal. Jayce had let Viktor slip away from him once. He wasn’t going to let it happen again.

His shoes were still on, and he started for the front door. He’d find an apothecary or something to pick up some cold medicine at. He’d walk all the way to Piltover to get it if he needed.

“Jayce!”

The man flinched at his name. “I’ll be right back, V. I’ll get something to help you feel better.”

“Jayce,” Viktor repeated, “come here.” His arm was stretched out over the back of the sofa, luring Jayce in.

He folded. He stepped up to the back of the sofa and clung to Viktor’s hand like his life depended on it. “It’ll only be a minute.”

“You don’t need to get anything. You’ve done enough.”

Jayce nearly fell to his knees. “No I haven’t.” I never have. He felt his eyes begin to sting. The last thing he wanted was to start crying in front of Viktor when that was the last thing the man needed. He needed care and support and love and someone who could do better for him than Jayce ever had. Viktor gestured for him to come to the other side of the sofa, and Jayce did. He sat himself at Viktor’s side, holding himself back from leaning into the other’s side.

Viktor rubbed his thumb over the back of Jayce’s hand. Their fingers were still interlaced. “It’s just a bad cold. My immune system isn’t the greatest.”

Jayce knew this, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“You are helping me, Jayce.” Viktor’s tone was syrupy sweet. “This is one of those times you have to trust me, remember. This is my body; I know its limits.” He wanted to argue that wasn’t entirely the truth, but he didn’t want another tongue lashing from the man. Viktor pushed himself more than anyone else; Jayce had seen where it had gotten the man before, and he refused to let it get to that point again.

He inched closer to Viktor’s side, his eyes pleading. “I can’t lose you.” His voice cracked. If Jayce lost him again, he didn’t even want to think of what he would do. Probably something stupid. Definitely something stupid. It happened before, what was stopping it from happening again.

Viktor brought up a hand to stroke his cheek, touching so gently Jayce thought he was made of glass. “You’re not going to lose me.”

He wanted to make Viktor promise him that, swear to the gods that he’d never leave Jayce’s side, but he kept his mouth shut. If the man didn’t want Jayce to make promises he couldn’t guarantee, he wouldn’t force Viktor to do the same. Life was full of unknowables, even the second time around; he wouldn’t whisper out promises that he’d choke on later.

The lock on the front door clicked and the door creaked on its hinges. Viktor wiped his eyes, pushing away tears Jayce hadn’t realized slipped away. His smile was small as he said, “It’s Powder.”

Both of them collected themselves quickly. Jayce urged Viktor to stay on the sofa, making the point that even if the sickness wasn’t anything life threatening, he was still sick and deserved rest. Viktor rolled his eyes but didn’t argue any further.

“Didn’t think you would be back yet.” Powder bounced into the kitchen, raising a brow at Jayce’s expression, but deciding not to comment on it.

He silently thanked her.

“Where’s Viktor?” Vi asked, trailing behind her sister.

Jayce noticed Caitlyn’s absence though didn’t question it. She and Vi were practically attached at the hip whenever he saw them together, but then again, Caitlyn still had a life in Piltover that he didn’t imagine she was going to give up any time soon.

Viktor raised a hand from the sofa. “I’m here. Jayce has simply resigned me to bedrest.”

Jayce shook his head. “So dramatic.” The tension that had been present in the lab had all but disappeared which he was grateful for. Whenever things got awkward between the two men, Jayce swore he felt his heart splitting in two.

Powder went over to greet the man, throwing her bag on one of the kitchen chairs. “Oh gross, you’re sick.”

“Astute observation. Perhaps you’d like to change from engineering to medicine.”

Powder grimaced. “No thanks.”

Jayce couldn’t blame her, even the small amount of medicinal work he had down was enough to make his mind melt. He was much happier working in the forge or soldering together pieces then dedicating his life to prescriptions and surgery.

Viktor chuckled. “What did you and your sister get up to today?”

The girl started a ramble all about the activities they did, most of which were likely illegal, but Jayce had grown accustomed to it. As long as it didn’t get her hurt, he was fine with it.

He glanced back at Vi who looked more than a bit anxious. Her arms were crossed over her chest, stance like she was looking for a chance to bolt – nothing like the confident woman Jayce knew her to be. They were all just kids.

“You want some tea?”

The question shocked her. “Oh, uh, no thanks. I’ll be heading out soon anyway.”

“Where are you staying?” It was a sincere enough question. He was genuinely concerned that she’d find herself in the worst parts of Zaun, too far away to properly contact if things went sideways.

Vi leaned against the counter – a shallow attempt to look comfortable. “I’m safe if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“That’s good.” Jayce was fresh out of questions that wouldn’t make everything worse.

The girl left soon after, wishing goodbye to Powder and promising to see her soon. The younger continued to talk about her day as Viktor pulled supplies from his bag and set them on the kitchen table where he was making his new home.

Jayce tried to hide his disdain.

Viktor just rolled his eyes. “You were the one who said we could work at home.”

Jayce’s heart fluttered. It was one thing to think of the apartment of his home, as their home, it was another to hear it from the other. The happiness was enough that he allowed Viktor to start up the experiments again. “Fine, but Powdita-” he pointed at the girl “- I don’t want you touching these, alright.”

Powder huffed as she made laps around the kitchen. Apparently whatever she and her sister go up too still wasn’t enough to burn off all her energy. “That’s no fair.”

“We’re making my medicine; it’s a very precise process and we don’t want you nor I getting hurt.”

She pouted. “Doing experiments in the kitchen? Real secure, Vikky.”

Viktor didn’t argue, nor did he comment on the nickname. Jayce had an inkling that it was beginning to grow on the man. “That’s only because Jayce refused to allow me to stay at the lab.”

“You’re sick!”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” A smirk grew on his lips as he flipped through their notes of formulas.

Jayce groaned. Sometimes Viktor was truly impossible. “As soon as you’re better we can head back. Until then,” he picked up a pencil and slid into a seat next to the man, “we’re staying here.”

It was two more days until Viktor was recovered enough that Jayce would allow the other out of his sight. Viktor had been correct, it really was just a bad cold, but that didn’t quell his anxiety. They had been rather productive while at home. Despite Viktor’s protests, Powder did become slightly involved, mostly to learn about the different chemical structures and formulas for the medicines. He couldn’t help but include her a little. It was also a good way to educate her a little.

Jayce could imagine a world that lasted more than the year, where Powder was able to attend the Academy. It felt like a pipe dream, but it gave him something else to work towards. The world didn’t revolve around him and Viktor – as much as he believed it did in fact revolve around the latter – there were hundreds of others whose lives were on the line if he screwed his second chance up.

He was doing it for them too.

“Jayce, I believe it's time for the next stage in testing.”

Jayce looked up from his notes and bit his lip. Viktor looked at him with a small smile, but he could make out the worry behind his eyes. There was a thin line between Viktor’s brows. “Are you sure?”

Viktor nodded. “Quite so. The rest of our trials,” he tapped the various sheets of paper splayed across the desk, “have shown promising results. I am ready.”

He let out a shaky breath. Jayce couldn’t deny the evidence in front of him – the shipments from Demacia had been just what they needed to tie up the loose ends – but it was terrifying. He couldn’t help but imagine what Viktor had looked like the last time he tried to heal himself. How much pain had he been in? What was his expression? Why did Jayce let him go through it alone?

He felt something cold and metallic press into his hand. “I trust us; I trust you.”

You shouldn’t. There was still so much that Viktor didn’t know, that he’d never know. Every day it weighed on Jayce more and more until he thought he was going to collapse under it. He rubbed his thumb over the syringe. “You sure you want me to do the injection?”

Viktor smirked. “I did just tell you I trusted you, didn’t I?”

Jayce couldn’t deny that. He helped Viktor roll up his sleeve. Their legs were nearly tangled together due to the proximity, but he didn’t find that he minded all that much. Sleeping in the same bed as Viktor for days on end had made him grow at least a little accustomed to the casual intimacy of it all. “Tell me if it hurts.”

“You’re sticking a needle in my arm. I expect it to hurt.”

“V.”

“Fine,” Viktor huffed.

“Alright, three, two, one.” He slid the needle into Viktor’s vein, trying his best not to get too squeamish. He’d done worse things to himself in the past. He paused for a moment, as the liquid seeped into the man’s blood stream. Jayce slid the needle back out and scrambled to find something to cover the small wound.

Viktor held up a small bandage.

“You were prepared.”

“One of us has to be.”

Jayce tenderly wrapped the bandage around Viktor’s arm. Even if there was only a drop of blood, he didn’t want to see Viktor hurt. He fought back the urge to press a kiss to the man’s skin. “We should wait for a bit before doing anything else to make sure you’re okay.”

“Alright, drahý.” Viktor said with a smile on his face.

This was only one medication, one that would help with his pain. It was stronger than what he had previously been taking, mostly because of the intravenous nature of it. He wouldn’t have to take it as often, or at least that was what they hoped. There were other medications they were creating, the most important of which would help Viktor’s lungs and hopefully – Jayce prayed to the gods – would get rid of the sickness that could kill him.

There was the matter of testosterone as well, which was proving the most difficult. Jayce was in contact with someone from Ixtal, using some old, and sadly weak, connections from his mother to get an in. He knew how much the hormone mattered to Viktor, how much he needed it, and Jayce would work as hard as he could to ensure that he got it.

Jayce could see how the lack of testosterone was affecting Viktor emotionally. The man was deeply saddened, refusing to stand in front of mirrors for any longer than necessary. He took to wearing more layers, though whether that was because of his appearance or how much he shivered was beyond Jayce’s knowledge.

He did as much as he could to convince Viktor that it would be over soon, but he knew words could only do so much when the man’s body was once again changing without his permission.

Jayce massaged Viktor’s arm, wincing at how clearly he could see that other’s veins. His skin was too pale. Jayce made a mental note to make sure that Viktor and Powder got more sun, even if that was a hard request in Zaun. “Do you feel okay?”

Viktor was already scribbling in a notebook. “So far, yes. I should monitor my state throughout the rest of the day though, to ensure that there’s no lingering effects.”

“We’ll do that.” He tried his best not to place too much emphasis on the first word. He didn’t want Viktor going through anything alone anymore.

Viktor smirked. “I believe we can return to work now, Jayce.”

“Right, of course.” Jayce blushed as he let go of Viktor’s arm, sliding his sleeve back down as he pulled away. “I can clear some of this away while you bring up the Bilgewater files?”

Viktor hummed in approval and went searching for the file. Like many of the blank surfaces in the lab, it had gotten the “Powder Treatment”, covered in blue and pink crayon and marker. He spread a few papers across the desk. “Which one should we start with? I was thinking of Miss Fortune’s request as it appears simple enough.”

Jayce took in the scene before him: Viktor held his chin, his brow tense in focus. There was a real spark in his eyes for the first time in days.

“Jayce. Do you have any input?”

He shook his head. “Whatever you think is best, V.” He could barely wipe the dumb smile off his face.

Chapter Text

Jayce grinned as he saw Viktor walk back into the lab after his new testosterone shot.

Viktor squinted. “What’s got you giddy all of a sudden?”

“Am I not allowed to be happy?” He rolled his eyes and returned back to their work. The shipments to Bilgewater had gone off without a hitch, though that just meant that there were more requests to fill from them and other places as word began to spread about the brilliant new inventions coming out of Zaun. They had a meeting with Silco later that he was surprisingly all that worried about. Their partnership was still in its infancy, but it was going quite well. Jayce hadn’t expected that, but he was going to take whatever he could get.

“Jayce! I need your help!” Powder shouted from the other side of the lab.

He stood with a huff as he moved to help the girl. Music was floating around the lab, Powder’s newest introduction to the space. She had been more than excited when she entered the lab one day and saw the small jukebox by her desk.

Jayce and Viktor had looked at each other in confusion, as neither man had purchased it. It dawned on them that there was only one man that could have done it – Silco. Jayce didn’t know what he was playing at, but at least nothing bad was coming of it.

“What’s up, Powdita?” He leaned over the girl’s shoulder and inspected the objects on her desk. It was a bit messy, but still organized – a mix between his own system and Viktor’s.

“I can’t figure out this wiring.” She leaned back in her seat and folded her arms over her chest. “It’s so annoying.” She whined.

Jayce chuckled. “Alright, let’s figure this out.” He picked up the small device Powder was working on, something to help with the hoverboards that she and Ekko had been working on. It was meant to increase speed. Jayce couldn’t help but see the flashes of runes before him – the acceleration one more specifically. He squashed the thought before it could haunt him any further. “Where’s this red one coming from?”

Powder answered and the two fell into an intense discussion over what the best course of action was. It was times like these where Jayce realized just how brilliant Powder was. She was more than just a force of destruction, more than someone that should hide behind someone else. She had such potential, and he wished that she would have been able to embrace it before.

A ding rang out through the lab. “I’ll get it.” Viktor answered before heading down one of the catwalks and to the lab entrance. They installed a doorbell of sorts so they’d know whenever someone needed them – mostly so that Silco could announce his presence before he was in the main area of the lab and giving Jayce and Viktor twin heart attacks.

There was a flicker of concern since he didn’t expect anyone to be calling on them, but he put his energy towards helping Powder with her problem.

He listened as Viktor’s step drew closer and knew that something was wrong. He wasn’t completely sure what it was, but it was something. “Powder,” he looked down at the girl, “You have to hide.”

“What?”

The steps were getting closer, and there were certainly more than just Viktor’s. They didn’t sound like Silco’s though – he was more than aware of what those were like. Jayce put a hand on her shoulder and guided her off her chair and towards the hallway that led to the back entrance of the lab. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

Powder tried to push back, but Jayce was stronger. “I want to know what’s going on.”

“I don’t know what it is either, just-” he huffed “-just stay put for a bit.”

Powder didn’t argue anymore. “Fine, but I want to know what happened.”

“Yes, okay, just be safe and be quiet.” He guided Powder to the hallway and quickly turned round to make sure she was out of view before stepping into the main area of the lab once more. There was a tingle in the back of his neck, usually he’d just write it off as his typical anxiety, but it felt important to listen to this time. He held his hands behind his back, trying his best to appear nonchalant and unaffected.

Viktor stepped into his view first, eyes a little wider than usual and a tight grip on his cane. “Jayce, we have a visitor.”

He looked past the man to the figure standing behind him. It was an enforcer, clad in uniform, looking ready to strike at any minute. Jayce’s mind scrambled to come up with an explanation as to why enforcers would be at their door, how they were there.

Jayce nodded. “Good afternoon, officer.”

The officer took off their helmet so he could get a better look. Marcus looked back at him.

Jayce fought back the confusion that swam in his head. He couldn’t make it obvious on his face or else Marcus would know something was wrong.

“Good afternoon to you as well, Mr. Talis.” He held his helmet at his side and surveyed the lab.

Viktor stepped forward and made his way to Jayce’s side. Jayce wished he knew more Zaunite so he could ask the man what was going on without Marcus knowing what they were speaking about. Of course, he didn’t though. Viktor eased a smile onto his face. “I repeat my question, officer, is there anything we can help you with?”

“There are reports that the two of you have been shipping undocumented material to foreign nations.”

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.” Viktor’s shoulder’s were tense, and his jaw was tight.

Marcus looked over their desk.

Fear coursed through Jayce’s heart. Their paperwork regarding Ixtal was there. So far, they hadn’t shipped anything to the nation, only received them. He doubted Marcus would care about the details of that though.

Marcus began shuffling through the papers.

“Aren’t you supposed to have a warrant before you start going through people’s things?” Jayce spoke up, a scowl clear on his face.

“Are you saying you do have something to hide?”

“I’m saying I’d like to follow the proper order of things.” It was a poor excuse, but it was enough to make the officer falter slightly.

The man looked between Viktor and Jayce. He held his chin high, one arm folded behind his back. “The Council is quite interested in these matters.”

Viktor huffed by his side. “As we’ve said: nothing is happening here aside from domestic trade, which I wasn’t aware Piltover involved itself with.”

Marcus took a step towards them. He wasn’t as tall as Jayce, but he was still an imposing figure. Jayce didn’t remember much about the man, but he appeared to be rather hotheaded. Marcus all but glared down at Viktor. “Piltover is involved when it threatens the safety of the city.”

“We’ve done nothing to threaten Piltover’s safety, officer.” Viktor practically spit out the last word.

Jayce put a hand on the man’s back before he did something that would threaten the two of them. “Perhaps the Council would be open to a discussion on these matters to resolve their worry.” It was a risk, showing their faces in front of the Piltovian elite – again – but if it got topside out of their pockets it was a risk he was willing to take.

Marcus raised a brow. “That could be… arranged.” The shock on his face was enough that Jayce knew a meeting was the last thing he expected.

Jayce plastered on his best politician smile and loosened his muscles. “Fantastic. We can get everything sorted so the Council doesn’t need to worry about what’s happening in the Undercity.” The word felt foreign on his tongue after referring to the region as Zaun – insisting that others do the same – but he was between a rock and a hard place. Calling the place Zaun would only put Marcus on the offensive once more. The Council would hear about it and begin further monitoring to ensure another rebellion wasn’t happening.

Viktor smirked and outstretched his hand for Marcus to shake. “My partner and I will be in contact then, if the matter is resolved for now?”

Marcus looked down at the appendage as though it personally offended him.

Viktor kept his hand in the air, expecting.

The officer took it with a grimace, nearly crushing the other’s bones as he did so. “I will send a notice as soon as the Council comes to a decision.”

“Thank you, officer.” Viktor responded. He wiped his hand on his pants, which Jayce thought was a little much, but the look on Marcus’ face when he realized was quite enjoyable.

Jayce stepped from Viktor’s side. “I can show you to the exit.”

Marcus shook his head already retreating. “I remember the way.”

Jayce watched the man go until he was completely out of sight, barely blinking. His heart was pounding in his chest, but Viktor brought him back to reality. “The Council, what was that about?”

Jayce winced at Viktor’s volume. “It was a stupid idea, I know.” Just when they were getting back to better terms he went and ruined it again.

“I wouldn’t say stupid.” Viktor turned his back and looked over the lab. “Where’s Powder?” “In the backroom. I didn’t want anything to happen to her.”

“Smart thinking.” Viktor went to retrieve the girl, and Jayce was left with his thoughts.

He’d developed a nasty habit of speaking his ideas before they were fully fleshed out. Viktor ran with it though, never faltering in front of others. He didn’t know how the man did it. Jayce knew it was an act, knew the real Viktor wasn’t about letting his emotions show on his face and through his body language, but he had more restraint to reel himself in when need be. Jayce envied him.

Powder came back out and began running her mouth. “What happened? Who was at the door? Did you two get in trouble?”

Viktor led the girl back to her own desk space. “Nobody’s in trouble, Powder.”

She laughed. “Doubt it. How many enforcers were here?”

Jayce seized up. “How do you know it was an enforcer?”

“Didn’t, but,” she pointed at him, shooting finger guns, “now I do!”

He rolled his eyes and huffed. “Pow-”

“You’re the one who said he’d tell me what happened. So, what happened?”

He and Viktor shared a look. They told Powder things, that was what they had agreed on. They learned the topics that she didn’t want to talk about, the things that made her upset, but they knew she hated being in the dark more than anything else. Jayce filled her in.

Powder’s face screwed together in confusion. “Now you’re playing with Piltover too? I thought you were supposed to be cutting them off?”

“That’s the long term goal.” Viktor sat himself in a chair and reorganized the paper’s Marcus had shuffled. “This could still work in our favor though. If we appear open with them, they’ll have less incentive to investigate our dealings.”

Jayce couldn’t deny that. “We should speak with Silco-” he stole a glance at Powder as he said the name; she was still content, “-before we meet with the Council. I doubt he’d want us going behind his back like this.”

Powder jumped back as one of her wires sparked. “He won’t like you going topside.”

Powder and Silco was a puzzle Jayce never thought he’d have all the pieces for. On one hand, it almost seemed like she hated the man, for a history he didn’t know the full details of in this time and the last. On the other, there were times when her words about Silco would soften, and Jayce wondered just how much of a role he had in Powder’s younger years.

Viktor nodded. “Yes, well, the decision has already practically been made.” He shot a look at Jayce which caused the man to turn his head.

He really should have taken a bit more time before rushing through with the decision, but he had wanted Marcus out of the lab as quickly as possible, not allowing him any more time to look at the work the two were progressing with. It wasn’t the smartest, nor best, decision in the world, but it was the one they had to stick by now.Jayce sighed and rubbed his eyes.

“We should tell Silco soon before anyone else gets the chance to.” Viktor added.

“Yeah, that’s probably the best idea.” He silently wondered when he was going to catch a break. At what point was it enough? When did he change the timeline so far that it didn’t fall into its old path? Hextech was already gone and had been for weeks. There was no possibility of messing with wild runes or Viktor becoming the herald. All of that was in the past now. Jayce just wanted the future to be a bit more clear.

He took a seat beside Viktor and rested an arm on the desk. He felt like a kicked puppy with its tail between its legs. “I’m sorry, V. I shouldn’t have jumped the gun like that.” His voice was just above a whisper.

Viktor placed the papers back into their proper folders and drawers. “No, you shouldn’t have.”

Jayce tried not to let the man’s words hurt.

“But-” Viktor put a hand on Jayce’s knee and rubbed it with his thumb “-we’ll make good use of this, yes?”

He nodded. “Of course. It might be a little difficult… But we can do it.”

“We’re figured out more difficult things, this should be, what’s that phrase?” Viktor pouted as he tried to remember it. “A piece of cake.”

Jayce looked the man over. He couldn’t place what Viktor was talking about. Yes, the products they’d worked on so far could be difficult, but they weren’t impossible. Standing in front of the Council, even breaking the news to Silco, felt more tumultuous than any of their work thus far. He shook it off, deciding it was just Viktor trying his best to comfort him.

Jayce couldn’t shake it completely though. There was something in the back of his mind egging him on, chewing at his brain. He pushed it aside and put all his attention to the task at hand. They’d meet with Silco after dinner, when Powder was at the apartment and he and Viktor knew she was safe. They’d take every blow from the man and hope that they didn’t completely ruin their chances of working with him.

Jayce would fix things.

“Don’t open the door for anyone, unless it’s Vi or Ekko. Even then, only do so if you’re completely sure that it's them.”

Powder rolled her eyes as she listened to Jayce’s rules. “Yeah, yeah, don’t be stupid. I know.”

He didn’t know why it was so much harder to leave her at home then let her wander about with Ekko, but it was. His heart couldn’t take it. If he told himself just two or so months ago that he would be worried about a younger Jinx’s wellbeing, he would have thought himself out of his mind. It didn’t make sense, at least at the start, but at this point he didn’t understand how it had ever been anything different.

He and Viktor stepped out of the apartment. Jayce still felt like he was buzzing as they made their way down the streets and to The Last Drop to speak with Silco. “If I would have remembered about Silco, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth.”

Viktor shook his head and smirked. “You still would have.” He leaned into Jayce’s side as they walked. “For someone so smart, you don’t use your brain half of the time.”

“

Hey!” Jayce half-shouted in mock offense. “I needed to make sure Marcus didn’t learn about all our trade deals.”

“Perhaps.” Viktor’s hand brushed over his, and Jayce quickly intertwined their fingers. “You sure did choose an odd way to go about it.”

“I thought you were the one who said this can work in our favor?”

“Only if we play our cards right.” They were a few blocks away from the building. If Jayce strained his eyes enough he could just make it out. Viktor frowned. “And if we survive this meeting with Silco.”

Jayce squeezed his hand. “We can’t both be walking into this stress out of our minds.”

“Oh?” The corner of Viktor’s mouth quirked up. “Then I guess I should get the honor since you’ve claimed it during our last few meetings.”

“You’re impossible.”

“So some have said.”

They were crossing the threshold into The Last Drop before they knew it. Jayce let Viktor up the steps first, standing behind in case anything happened with the old steps and he needed to play hero. By this point in their partnership with Silco, they’d grown accustomed to his building and office. Jayce could still see the ghosts of what the establishment used to be, especially on the first floor. The record player was still there, with pink and blue splotches that he knew the origin of. The bar area had barely changed since the first time he’d stepped in back when Vander was still around.

Jayce wondered if it was nostalgia or grief that was keeping Silco from changing it all.

Viktor knocked to announce their entrance, but didn’t wait for a response. “Good afternoon, Silco.”

There was a woman standing near the man’s desk, looking extremely angry and ready to strike – Sevika, Jayce had learned.

“Gentlemen, I don’t recall scheduling a meeting with either of you today.”

Viktor strode through the office as though it was his own. “No, but if you are allowed to step into our lab unannounced, I believe we are entitled to do the same.”

The smirk in Viktor’s voice sent a shiver down his spine, but he pushed it aside as they stood before Silco’s desk.

“What is this about?” A cigar rested between Silco’s fingers, the smoke curling in the air. He pursed his lips as he tapped it on an ashtray.

Jayce clasped his hands behind his back. “An enforcer came to our lab earlier. Marcus.” There was a flash of recognition that Jayce registered away for later. “The Council wishes to investigate our trade deals. Do you have any idea as to why that would be?”

Silco snubbed out the cigar and leaned over his desk. “No, actually, I don’t.” He looked between them. “Certainly neither of you believe I have anything to do with this? I’d be cutting into my own profits if I were to lose either of you.”

It was one of the few times Jayce thought the man to be completely truthful. There were very few things Silco cared about, his money was one of them. “Of course not. However, a Council investigation would cause quite the stir.”

“And they could learn about your less than legal dealings with Noxus and Bilgewater.” Viktor added.

“It’d implicate the two of you as well.”

Viktor nodded. “Precisely why we cannot allow a full investigation to happen.”

Silco huffed and shot a look to Sevika. She left without saying anything more. “What are you scheming?”

Jayce took his turn, seeing as he had been the one to come up with the idea. “Viktor and I have told Marcus that we will meet with the Council to calm their nerves about the issue.”

“And you told me this after.” Silco scowled. His hand came up to run through his hair. “Do either of you think things through before you speak your plans, particularly you Talis.”

Jayce stiffened at the name. He wasn’t used to hearing it in Zaun, so every time it came up it typically meant something was wrong – especially if it was coming out of Silco’s mouth. Viktor had a bit of leeway.

“If either of you step out of line for a moment you risk dozens of enforcers flooding the lanes, or worse, the entirety of Zaun.” Silco stood and leaned over his desk; his face contorted in anger even as his voice stayed steady. “You are an investment, and I do not take well to others meddling with my investments.”

“Then it’s a good thing we don’t plan on letting anything happen.” Viktor said, voice flat and expression plain. “If we don’t do this the enforcers are sure to come. How long will it be before one of your ex-partners tattles on you? How soon will the officers figure it out themselves?” He leaned over the desk as well, placing one hand on it. Jayce could see the pain that the position brought him, but Viktor didn’t move. “You’re already in the Council’s back pocket. I suggest you don’t let them see the knife you hold there.”

Silco looked at Viktor for a moment, face completely blank. It was another moment before he fully reacted. A smirk grew on his face. “Finally showing the Zaunite side I see.”

Viktor rolled his eyes. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Silco returned to his seat and folded his hands across his stomach. “I suggest you schedule your meeting soon then Of course, don’t mention your dealings with me, that’s sure to put a target on both of your backs.”

Jayce huffed. There were times in which he couldn’t stand Silco – more so than usual – and this was one of those times. He couldn’t believe the man in front of him was real, was alive, and that somewhere under the scarred exterior there was a man that knew how to love. It didn’t make any sense. It never did.

“Perhaps you should show them one of your inventions, a domestic one, to help quell their worries.”

“You aren’t worried they’ll try to snatch us up?” Jayce asked.

Silco pursed his lips. “I have a feeling you wouldn’t return to work for them.”

Jayce sucked in a breath and hoped it wasn’t too obvious. The last thing he needed was Silco digging into his history, or worse, somehow knowing about everything from the original timeline. “We’re in agreement with that then.”

“I believe we’ve reached an agreement then, gentlemen.”

Viktor shifted in his place. “Always a pleasure, Silco.”

“Likewise.” The venom in their words were similar.

Jayce knew it likely wasn’t the best idea to get on Silco’s bad side, to meddle with him until he grew so annoyed that he tossed the two of them away, but it had yet to come to that. He stole one more look back as he and Viktor left, a quick turn of his head.

Silco’s demeanor shifted. His shoulders slumped as he leaned over his desk and pressed a finger to his temple, massaging it. It was as though the fight was stolen from his body. He wasn’t a physically imposing man, especially not to Jayce, so he relied on his sharp tongue. When he didn’t have that… Jayce couldn’t find him all that intimidating. He was just a man – a worn, lonely, saddened man.

He shook his head.

It was still Silco, someone who had done horrible, terrible things, the reason that Vander was gone and Powder was orphaned once again. Jayce couldn’t allow himself to grow sympathetic. He laced his fingers with Viktor’s as they stepped out of The Last Drop. There were more important things to worry about.

Chapter Text

“This is the dumbest idea I’ve had yet.” Jayce looked in the mirror and redid his tie for the millionth time. He would have thought after all the years of being in some sort of uniform that it would be second nature, but that wasn’t the case at all. He was out of practice, just like he was with everything else that happened in Piltover. That wasn’t him anymore, but he wasn’t exactly a Zaunite either. He existed in a weird space between the two where nothing made sense. Everything made his head spin and his stomach churn.

The meeting he and Viktor were about to walk in didn’t help settle his nerves at all.

“Where’s Vi?” Viktor asked. He stepped in front of Jayce and helped straighten the man's tie, patting Jayce’s chest when he finished.

Jayce huffed. “I have no idea. She’d said she’d be here by now.”

Viktor frowned. “If we don’t leave soon we’ll be late.”

His eyes screwed closed. Jayce knew that better than anyone. There was the whole getting to the bridge thing, then there was the altercation that was bound to happen when they tried to cross the border – since no matter how many times Viktor crossed they always questioned his intention. Jayce wondered what kind of sick enjoyment the enforcers there got from sending Zaunite away. “I don’t want to leave Powder by herself for the whole day.”

“And I don’t want her stepping into the Council room.”

Jayce couldn’t argue with that. He wanted Powder to stay as far away from the Council as possible. It wasn’t because he thought she’d do something – he knew better than that now – but because he was worried what they would do to her. She was just a kid, even if they didn’t physically do anything, he knew their words could be cutting, especially to someone as young and impressionable as Powder. He slid his hands onto Viktor’s waist and fidgeted with the belt loops. “I’m fresh out of ideas.”

Viktor averted his eyes. “There is one person we could ask.”

Jayce bit his lip as he tried to sift through the other’s words. Then it struck him. “Do you really think leaving her with him is the best idea?”

“I think you know just as well as I do that Silco wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”

“Maybe not intentionally, but he still could.” Jayce, honestly, didn’t know why he was arguing. It made sense, and after what he heard from Silco, the way he talked about Powder, he doubted that the man would ever intentionally hurt her. None of that meant he was totally comfortable with the idea though.

Viktor brought his hand up to Jayce’s face, cupping it like he was something fragile and precious. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought he’d put Powder in harm's way.”

He couldn’t help but lean into the touch. “You think she’ll allow it? She’s still kind of touch and go when it comes to Silco.”

“I think she’ll surprise you.” Viktor’s lips twisted in a small smile.

“I think she surprises me enough on a normal day.” Jayce couldn’t keep the faint tone of fear from invading his voice. It wasn’t something he wanted Viktor to be aware of since he knew the man didn’t, couldn’t, fully understand why Jayce felt the way he did. It was impossible at times. All he wanted was to hold Viktor and tell him everything that had happened.

But he wouldn’t.

Jayce didn’t know what would happen if he did – if Viktor would leave, if the timeline would break down, if Janna herself would come down and snatch him back from his body. So, he kept his mouth shut and hoped it was enough.

Getting Powder to Silco was an entire fiasco that Jayce was positive he never wanted to relive. At first, the girl had been nervous, just as he had expected. By the time The Last Drop was in their sights though, she was pulling them down the street and to the door.

“Slow for a moment, králíček, I would rather not fall on my face.” Viktor huffed, getting his feet steady once more.

“Sorry, Vikky.”

At the nickname, the man rolled his eyes. “We’ll get there regardless.”

Powder bounced on the tips of her toes the rest of the way, a mix of nervous and excited energy coming off her in waves. Jayce didn’t know what to think of it. He wondered if the night of the explosion replayed in her mind when she thought of Silco. It certainly did for him. He knew Silco wasn’t at fault for the explosion; Jayce knew who was, but he was responsible for everything else, at least in Jayce’s mind.

Powder stopped in front of the door to the bar, one of the first inklings that she wasn’t all that sure about her decision.

Jayce put a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t need to go if you don’t want to. We’ll find a way to get everything sorted out.” He didn’t know how they would do that – since dipping out on the Council was probably one of the worst things he and Viktor could do – but if it stopped the anxiety coursing through Powder’s veins then it was worth it.

Jayce didn’t know when he became so self-sacrificial for her.

Powder shook her head. “No, I can do it. I’ll probably just sit in his office anyway.” “We should have brought your paints then. You could have added a little color to his life.” Viktor teased. He gave Powder a final look as he reached for the door.

Powder nodded and before Jayce knew it they were leading her inside.

The Last Drop was still dark and grim. Perhaps Viktor wasn’t all that wrong about the color thing. Sevika was sitting at the bar, a man behind it wiping a glass. Jayce couldn’t remember ever seeing him before but brushed it off. He wondered if Silco was thinking of getting the bar running again.

Powder walked up the stairs between Viktor and Jayce, taking in everything with wide eyes. Jayce recalled that she grew up here, her earlier childhood was spent looking at the walls, ducking through the starways, hiding under bars and tables. He tried to imagine what she thought of it now, if it still held the same sense of home or if all of that had been stripped away.

The door to Silco’s office wasn’t shut all the way, a fact Jayce couldn’t piece together.

“Your unannounced visits are getting quite obnoxious gentlemen.” Silco didn’t look all that surprised to see them. Jayce thought perhaps he had a line or something between the second and first floor so he was always made aware when someone stepped in. Maybe it was Sevika.

“I think you’ll find this one more interesting.” Viktor said.

Silco raised a brow. “Somehow I doubt that.”

Powder stepped from behind Viktor and stood directly in Silco’s line of vision. Jayce still had a hand on her shoulder, a small piece of protection for if anything went wrong. “We need someone to watch over Powder while we meet with the Council.” He tried his best to keep his voice calm.

Silco stood from his desk, brow furrowed. The confusion was clear on his face. “Shouldn’t you send her off with her sister?”

Viktor shook her head. “We tried, but Vi didn’t show, and we can’t leave her alone all day.”

Silco’s shoulders were drawn tight, his hands trying their best to stay steady, but Jayce could make out a small tremor in them. “Children of the lanes know how to protect themselves.”

Jayce wanted to call Silco an idiot, but he knew better than to risk losing it all – at least this time. “Don’t pretend that you haven’t wanted to see her. Now you can, and you’re throwing it away.” He took a breath. “I don’t love this idea because I think you’re a horrible influence, but it’s the only thing we can do. Just…” Jayce steadied himself. He took another look at Powder, and nodded at him. It was almost impossible to notice how small it was, but he saw it. “Don’t hurt her.”

“I wouldn’t.” Silco spoke up, voice nearly cracking. “You have my word.”

“Great. Don’t make me regret it.” Jayce and Viktor said their goodbyes to Powder, stretching them out for as long as they could. It couldn’t last forever though since they still had a meeting to get to and now they were several blocks further from the gates. It would all be fine though. That’s what Jayce told himself as they slipped out of the bar and made their way down the streets.

“She’ll be alright, Jayce.” Viktor rubbed his thumb along the back of Jayce’s hand.

Jayce gave him a soft smile. “I still worry.”

“That just means you care.”

Jayce was full of worry, for so many things, for so many people. Viktor and Powder became his entire life since traveling back in time, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

There was still so much left to do; though, he wasn’t all that sure of what he was supposed to be doing. He had a feeling that he was moving in the right direction – helping Zaun, showing the Council what the region was really like, protecting those that mattered the most to him, and of course keeping Viktor alive. But even if he had all the ideas, did as much as he could, Jayce still wasn’t sure that it was truly making any sort of dent. Part of him wanted to see Janna again, just to know if the goddess was still looking over him and thought he was following the right path.

The other part was terrified of the answer. If it was no, Jayce wasn’t sure what he would do with himself. Janna said to fix things, but there was so much that needed fixing. Even with Viktor by his side and working in Silco’s pocket, he still felt hopeless at the end of the day. It was exhausting.

As the pair stepped into the Council building, Jayce thought he was going to hurl. There were few times in life where he was as anxious as he was now, but seemingly all of them seemed silly in comparison to what he was about to walk into.

The doors opened before them, and Jayce tried to slow his breath as his shoes tapped along the tile. The last time he’d been in the Council room, he’d been a completely different person – he’d been a councilor, the defender of Piltover, someone that everyone revered. Now he was just Jayce, a man that gave away everything he had in Piltover to sink down into Zaun, or the Undercity to those standing around him.

He didn’t hold the same power he once did, but he felt oddly at peace with that. He never really wanted to be a Counselor; he’d been put into the position before he could really wiggle his way out. Jayce knew he agreed to the decision – which he now thought was one of the dumbest things he could have done – but that didn’t mean he really wanted it.

“Jayce Talis, it’s a pleasure to be in contact with you.” Mel’s voice filled the room. She was always commanding and powerful, that was what Jayce had loved most about her. She never faltered – at least not in front of others. Mel was one of the strongest people he’d ever met.

But they were long separated.

Jayce steadied himself, hands squeezing together in front of him. “And Viktor.”

He didn’t miss the grimaces on some of the Counselors' faces.

“Of course,” Mel gave him an easy smile, though Jayce knew what lurked behind it. “Viktor…”

“Just Viktor.” The man in question was gripping his cane so hard Jayce feared it would snap. “Many of us in Zaun do not have surnames.”

“Zaun?” Salo asked, face twisting in disgust.

Viktor stiffened. “That is what we call it in the Undercity.” He stood in front of the Council with brilliant defiance. “But I do not believe that is what we are here to talk about.” “Of course not.” Mel spoke again. Her expression was nearly unreadable, the poised calm smile the only thing Jayce could piece out.

He looked her over for longer than he probably should have. Mel was different, which was to be expected, but it was still odd to see. They hadn’t ended things on the best of terms the first time around – it was messy and angry and Jayce said things he shouldn’t have ever let spill. He felt almost guilty in front of her, seeing as Mel didn’t remember any of it. He was really nothing now.

Jayce found it a bit comforting.

“Yes. As Ms. Medarda implied-” Jayce turned to face Heimerdinger. Now that was a relationship he didn’t know how to wade through.

Viktor stiffened. He gripped onto his cane and hid his face so Jayce couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. Viktor looked across the other Counselors instead. Jayce took a risk and let go of his hand. He brought up one of them to rest on the small of Viktor’s back. The muscles were tight beneath his palm. He looked down at the man’s body, just with his eyes.

Viktor’s bad leg was shaking ever so slightly. He was putting more weight on his cane than before.

Jayce mentally slapped himself for not putting it together sooner. He took the moment Heimerdinger quieted to break into the conversation. “Pardon me, Council members, but if this meeting is to go on at the current pace, may I suggest seating for my partner and I.”

“Jayce-”

He shot Viktor a look.

Heimerdinger’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes, that would be for the best.” He called out for one of the assistants and the two men waited, albeit a bit awkwardly, for the seats to arrive.

As annoyed as Viktor tried to be, Jayce could see the tension fall from his shoulders when he was able to take the weight off of his leg.

“Now where were we?” Heimerdinger shuffled through some of the papers before him.

“I believe we were on the illicit dealings intercepted from Ixtal.” Shoola spoke, words steady.

Jayce would rather they talk about anything else – even the trades with Bilgewater which he knew were some of the most dangerous. But Ixtal? The only thing they had traded thus far had been Viktor’s testosterone. They were still at the very beginning with those negotiations. The prospect of shipping anything to the nation had yet to be discussed.

He felt like he was on trial all over again, but this time, Viktor would get dragged down with him.

Lie. Lie so hard. “The only contact we’ve had with Ixtal has been personal. My family is from there and thus there are still relatives I keep in touch with.” Half truths. He did have family back in Ixtal, and they did help him get in contact with the right people to get the testosterone that Viktor needed. Jayce didn’t know how much information Piltover had about Ixtal, since the latter was very secluded and kept to themselves as much as possible. He hoped it wasn’t a lot; he hoped that the Council didn’t have any information about the family he still had back there. Fuck, even he didn’t have all that much information other than names, relations, and some sort of address to get in contact with them.

The Council members looked around at each other. “It would appear your contact with these family members did not start until recently.” Bolbok countered.

Jayce raised a brow. “I wasn’t aware my personal familial relations were something that the Council cared about.” He became rattled. Sure, there were dealing that were illegal – the ones he was trying his best to keep hidden – but the idea that the Council truly wanted to dig into his history made his skin crawl. Jayce didn’t have a single clue what they would try to dig up as evidence.

“Of course not, Mr. Talis.” Cassandra Kiramman responded.

Jayce tensed up. Mrs. Kiramman knew more about him than the rest of the Council did, at least at this point in time. She didn’t know everything, but certainly enough. He didn’t know where he stood in her good graces after he had dipped out of Piltover on a random afternoon. It was a risk, and Jayce was getting nervous at all the risks he was taking.

Mrs. Kiramman folded her hands atop the table. “But there are dealings we’ve seen that make us worry, gentlemen.”

“And what would those be?” Viktor leaned forward in his seat, boring his eyes into the Council before him. “What dealings could we have possibly had that made you worry?”

“Drugs.” Salo’s voice was soft in a way that made Jayce’s blood boil. “We knew there was already something brewing within the Undercity, but to have another drug ravish them? That’s rather heartless isn’t it?”

Jayce had to bite back a laugh. They had the audacity to act as though they cared, like they would do anything to assist.

He gripped the armrest of his chair.

Jayce couldn’t lose his cool. That would demonstrate to them that he and Viktor were something that needed to be controlled, something to be managed – and of course that could only be done by the Council members themselves. He couldn’t have that happen. Even if they weren’t doing anything illegal, he wouldn’t want to work with them again. Jayce had become their pawn once before and watched Viktor suffer because of it. Not again.

“We aren’t shipping drugs.” Viktor kept his voice steady. He gave a quick glance to Jayce, the silent request for trust.

Jayce would give it to him even if Viktor never asked.

Viktor sucked in a shaky breath. “When I left my position in the Academy, I was stripped of my medical benefits as well. Without my medications I am in extreme pain every day, my lungs threaten to collapse.” He laid his cane across his lap and folded his hands together. “I will die without them.”

“So, you admit to smuggling drugs from Ixtal.” Salo had too much joy in his voice for Jayce to take him as anything other than condescending.

Viktor wrapped his hands around his cane. Jayce feared he’d pick it up and smack Salo across the face with it. He wouldn’t blame his partner. “These are measures I wouldn’t have to take if Piltover did not deny my service.” Viktor’s tongue cut into each one of the Council members with as much force as he could.

Jayce folded his hands over his lap.

Viktor’s knuckles turned white. “Was I meant to die instead of attempting to save myself? Was I supposed to suffer each day rather than try to bring myself relief?”

Mrs. Kiramman started once more. “We understand your wants Mr. Viktor-”

“These are not wants; these are needs.”

Jayce put a hand on Viktor’s knee. No matter how much he wanted Viktor to lose his cool in front of the Council members, he knew they could let everything come crashing down. They needed the Council to like them, or at the very least, they needed the Council to feel as though there wasn’t anything else that needed investigation. Giving them small breadcrumbs was one thing, but Jayce wished he and Viktor had a bit more time to think through what they would say before they said it. At the moment, everything was tense, so tense in fact that Jayce feared everything would come crashing down.

Cassandra Kiramman gave Viktor a perfectly crafted smile – not too large, not too condescending, the kind of smile that was great for speeches and photographs. “Yes, Mr. Viktor, needs. But,” Jayce braced himself for the impact of the words, “we cannot allow any individuals to act outside the law. If we allow you and Jayce to smuggle your medicines in, how would the public react?”

“With all due respect, Mrs. Kiramman,” it felt odd to speak with her once more, but Jayce kept himself together, “I don’t believe the public needs to know the details of my partner's medical history.”

“Well no-”

“Then they’ll never have to know.” There was only an inkling of guilt at cutting her off.

Mel’s nail tapped the table in a steady rhythm. “You are still not above the law, Mr. Talis, no matter if the public finds out or not.”

“But it would appear you are.” Jayce wanted to regret his words but couldn’t find it in himself to care. The Council was playing dirty trying to get Viktor to give up his medicine. Jayce could play dirty too. “How many illegal imports has the Council engaged in within the last year? What of the illegal spirits that Council members Hoskel and Salo enjoy? How about Counselor Shoola’s dealings with Shurima? Surely as Council members you do not see yourselves as above the law. Why, that would be hypocrisy.”

Jayce knew he cut deep as soon as he finished. There was a self-satisfied smirk that grew on his face after, and he had no intent to change it. He was petty, he knew that, for all the things he’d endured on the Council the first time around. Plus, it worked to light the fire under the Council members until they really started to feel the heat. After all, Viktor and his dealings with Silco were all about putting as much pressure on Piltover as they could. This was upping the stakes.

Salo’s face grew red with fury. “You are in no place to throw around such baseless accusations.”

“Who said they were baseless?” Jayce was well aware he was easing himself into a corner, but he couldn’t help it. If the Council really wanted him to produce some sort of evidence, then he would find a way. Until then, he wanted to watch them come apart.

Viktor raised a brow at his partner’s words before opening his mouth. “It would be rather unfortunate if the rest of Piltover were to be made aware of these dealings.”

“Are you blackmailing us?” Mel spoke up. There was something in her voice that came off as slightly impressed.

Viktor shrugged. “I think it only fair since the Council was so open to disclosing my personal business.”

Mel looked around at the other Council members who began to bicker back and forth with one another. There were questions raised about paperwork and assistants and untrustworthy confidants, but Jayce knew the reality of the situation far more than they did. He was once again thankful at Mel’s lessons.

He couldn’t imagine she ever thought he’d use them like this though.

The sigh Heimerdinger let out was enough to draw everyone’s attention. “Viktor, it is my deepest apologies that you feared access to your necessary medical supplies would be cut off.” Jayce could see Viktor lean forward, ready to correct the professor, but Heirmerdinger continued. “I would be happy to reconcile this matter myself and allow you to receive your medicines through your previous coverage plan with the Academy.” He nodded. “That way you won’t have to risk receiving them through illegal trade.”

Viktor tensed.

It was a good deal, Jayce couldn’t deny that, but there was still a sting to it that made his skin tingle.

“Thank you, professor,” Viktor began, “but I cannot accept your offer.”

The Council erupted once more. Jayce wondered if they always acted like such children.

Viktor tried to get their attention once more, which was already difficult since it was obvious many of them didn’t want to associate with someone from the Undercity. “I deeply appreciate Professor Heimerdinger’s offer; however, I cannot trust that it will continue to stand.”

As Viktor continued to speak, defending his decision about his own health, Jayce realized this was the most he’d ever seen the man speak in front of the Council.

“Order, yes, yes, order please!” Heimdinger raised his voice. “Viktor, if you are not willing to accept this, then would you accept the overseeing of your shipments with Ixtal to ensure everything is conducted in a legal manner?”

Viktor looked at Jayce, and Jayce returned the gaze. This is our only shot. He gave the other the faintest nod.

“Yes, Professor, I believe I can agree to that.”

Chapter Text

Jayce felt his heart stop for the millionth time that day when Mel stopped them as they were going to leave. He really wanted to tell her that they had important business to attend to in Zaun with the hopes that it would get the woman off their backs for a little bit. But after looking into her eyes, he couldn’t find it in himself to lie. He still felt guilty for how things ended, and he just couldn’t let it go.

Viktor didn’t look all that pleased with him when he stopped, but the other man didn’t open his mouth. He glanced between the two of them and rolled his eyes. Jayce didn’t understand why Viktor was suddenly so cold. He had an easy smile on his face and a warmth to his touch as they left the Council room, making a joke here and there that it was a complete waste of time of how he couldn’t believe the Council could act like such fools.

Now though? Viktor pulled away from Jayce, making sure there were a good couple of inches between them as Mel began to speak. Jayce wanted to pull the man back in, for their sides to be flush, to reach out and wrap an arm around his waist, but he knew better. When Viktor wanted space that meant he had to respect it, just as Viktor would do for him. Boundaries.

That didn’t mean Jayce had to like it though.

“Gentlemen.” Mel spoke in a commanding tone, light, but ruthless. Jayce knew exactly what she was capable of, more so than she probably did at the moment. There was magic beneath her skin, and if he knew anything about the world he returned to, she didn’t know about it yet. Perhaps that was for the best.

“Ms. Medarda.” Jayce took the hand she offered.

Viktor wasn’t given the same treatment.

Jayce frowned. “My partner, Viktor.”

Mel seemed to sense the tension and moved to correct her mistake. “It was a pleasure to meet both of you.”

“Jsem si jistý.” Viktor’s accent curled as he switched to his native tongue.

Mel raised a brow, but didn’t comment on it. “I’ve heard rumors of two inventors that are stirring up business in the Undercity. That wouldn’t happen to be you two, would it?”

Jayce risked a glance at Viktor. Mel was an expert on miniscule expression, so he knew regardless if he shared his worry openly or not, she’d figure him out in an instant.

“I think you know better than to give credence to mere rumors, Ms. Medarda.” The way Viktor said her name made Jayce nearly tremble. He wanted to pull the man away from Mel, from the Council, from Piltover, and ask him what was going on in his head.

First they had to make it through the conversation though.

Mel stood impossibly straighter. “I believe these are more than just rumors. I may not speak freely in front of the Council for fear of how they may retaliate.” She flicked her gaze between them. “But it would appear the rest of the Council isn’t here.”

Jayce didn’t know how to respond. His body went stiff as the words washed over him.

“I know of the inventions you’ve created, more so than just the ones you displayed at the Distinguished Innovator’s Competition.” Mel smiled as she watched the two of them wriggle under her gaze.

The competition felt like a lifetime ago, though Jayce knew it couldn’t have been more than a month. The last fifty-five days of his life felt like some of the longest he’d ever experienced; somehow they stretched on more than the ones in the cave did – which was truly saying something seeing as each of those felt like a decade. “I assume you liked what you saw there then.” He tried to get his nonchalance back. That earned him a slight knock to his shin from Viktor’s cane.

Mel didn’t seem phased. “It did. If I were one of the judges, I would have pushed for you to be in the top three.”

You. Not “you two” or “both” or even their names spoken together – Viktor and Jayce, Jayce and Viktor.

Jayce drew back. “I ask that you speak plainly, Ms. Medarda. What is it that you want?”

“Your tongue is going to get you in trouble one of these days.” Jayce wanted to say it already did, but with Viktor tense beside him, he wanted the conversation to be over sooner rather than later. “Alas. I believe you could truly be something in Piltover.” She looked directly at Jayce. A fire burned in his chest. “I ask that you return. If Mrs. Kiramman refuses to sponsor you, then I will see to it myself.” Her green eyes bore into Jayce’s. “What would you say to that proposition, Mr. Talis?”

Jayce didn’t miss a beat. “I would have to politely decline.”

Mel wasn’t expecting that. As much as she tried to hide it, he could see it written all over her face.

“I want to help people, and I have no doubt that having the extra funds from either Mrs. Kiramman or yourself would assist in that, but,” he snaked a hand to Viktor’s back, grinning softly as the cotton brushed against his palm, “my place isn’t in Piltover anymore. I’ve found a way to help people, truly help people, in Zaun.”

“In Zaun.” She repeated. Mel finally gave Viktor a good look, taking a moment to drink in the scene before her. “Yes, I can see that.” She took a step back. “Pardon my intrusion then. It would appear you’re spoken for.”

Jayce didn’t have the faintest clue what she was talking about but was glad the air seemed to clear. “Thank you, Mrs. Medarda, once again for the offer.”

She smiled, less threatening this time. “I look forward to seeing what you two come up with. Perhaps at the next Innovator’s Competition.”

Jayce didn’t know if he had that sort of time, but he agreed anyway. He felt bad for wanting to get as far away from Mel as possible, it wasn’t like she had done anything to him in this timeline. It was hard to separate the two lives he’d lived. Every time he went anywhere it was as though the two blended together. As much as he hated to admit it, there were even times when he looked at Powder and saw Jinx looking back at him. There were times when he saw Viktor and imagined the Machine Herald was standing before him.

Jayce knew the thoughts were irrational, but that didn’t stop them. His brain was a mess of different years and dates, events and memories. All he could do was try his best to set them straight.

When Viktor looked up at him while they walked down the glimmering walls, Jayce could sense something worrisome behind his eyes. They got a good distance away from the Council room before he decided to open his mouth. “Alright, what is it?”

Viktor corrected his expression and pulled on one of confusion.

Jayce saw through it in an instant.

“What is what? Nothing is wrong. The meeting went well, and I’m happy to be going back home.” The structure of Viktor’s sentences made his skin crawl, along with the way he spit them out as quickly as he could.

“I never said anything was wrong, just that there was something there.” Jayce rubbed a hand across the man’s back, wishing the layers of fabric weren’t separating him from Viktor’s spine. “Whatever it is, you can tell me, querido.” It was a risky move to pull, not just because they were in public. Jayce knew that the term of endearment could set Viktor off if the circumstances were wrong, even if Jayce meant it with every fiber of his being. He wanted there to be a day when Viktor believed him completely – but he was hiding far too much for the other to gift him that pleasure.

Viktor’s mouth twisted in a frown. “Ms. Medarda is right. You would do great things if you were in Piltover; I know that. You shouldn’t have to struggle to get by in Zaun with me when it’s obvious to everyone you were meant for something greater.”

“V.” He raised a hand to cup the man’s cheek. Viktor tried to turn away, but Jayce wouldn’t let him. He needed to get through to the man once and for all. Though, he’d repeat himself a million times if that was what it took to get Viktor to believe him. “I’m not struggling in Zaun. I am having the best time of my life with you and Powder there.” He flicked his gaze down to Viktor’s lips but restrained himself. “I never would have expected it, but moving to Zaun with you was the best decision I’ve made in my entire life.

“You think I could do something great in Piltover? I’m already doing something great in Zaun, with you. I don’t need Piltover’s money or their prestige or any of it.” Jayce looked so deeply into Viktor’s eyes he feared he’d drown in their golden depths. “I promise you, Viktor, I’m never going to leave your side.”

Viktor pulled away, and Jayce let him, scared that if he held on too tightly that there would be terrible consequences. “What did I say about making promises you can’t keep?” Jayce searched his mind for the phrase. When he found it, hidden beneath a million other conversations he and Viktor had had up until that moment, his heart sank. “I’ve never lied to you. V, we worked on your medicine together.” Panic rose in his throat. “Is it not working properly? Is the testosterone hurting you?” He reached out for Viktor’s shoulder, but the man flinched back. Jayce drew away. “Please, please tell me what’s going on.”

Viktor halted, and for a moment, Jayce thought he was going to say something but he closed his mouth. Jayce wanted him to open it again. He didn’t care how much the words hurt, if they dug into his skin and etched onto his bones, he would take them. Jayce would take them because they were Viktor’s and anything that he said was worth remembering.

Viktor took a step back, and then another until his protruding shoulder blades almost hit the wall. “You are a confusing man, Jayce Talis.”

Jayce bit his tongue so hard blood rushed through his mouth. There was something in the way Viktor said his name, all of it, that made his skin tingle – almost crawl. He didn’t want to be “Jayce Talis” when he was with Viktor, that life was dead and buried, all he wanted was to be Jayce and for that to be enough.

He let out a laugh, though it sounded dead to his ears. “You’re quite the puzzle yourself, V.”

“You’re a smart man though. You’ve figured out plenty of puzzles.”

“Not when some of the pieces are missing.” He didn’t mean for it to slip through, but it did. Jayce’s words were out in the open before he could fully think them through. He really should have because the way Viktor’s face fell made him feel worse than he had in ages. Jayce wanted to correct himself, to say that everything was fine, but it was clear that wasn’t the case.

No lie was told. There were pieces of Viktor’s life, this one and the last, that Jayce hadn’t the faintest inkling about. The information he did get were in short bursts and tattered pieces. He’d survived off of them for so long, but it was hard to stop himself from wanting more. “V-”

“No.” Viktor shook his head. “You are right, and I am sorry for that.” His voice was clipped in a way Jayce hadn’t heard in ages. “I haven’t… I haven’t had someone like you for a very long time. The adjustment process has been longer than I would have liked.”

Jayce didn’t know what was pulling Viktor away, but he wouldn’t pull too hard if it was hurting the other man. It was difficult, increasingly so, but he knew it was the right thing to do. “Just… Don’t forget that I’m here, whenever you need it. I’m always going to be here for you.”

Viktor rubbed a hand over his arm, the fabric creasing under his fingers. His voice was almost a whisper when he said, “I want to tell you everything.”

Jayce bit back his excitement; this was not yet something to get his hopes up for. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.” He took another step back. “I want to tell you everything too, for what it’s worth.”

Viktor laughed and shook his head. “There you are, being confusing once more.”

“Then perhaps we make a perfect pair. We’ll be unsolvable together.” For as long as you’ll let me. Jayce had no clue if the words he and Viktor spoke in the Council changed anything, if their deal with Silco was the right one. He didn’t know if he was truly helping Powder or if he was just pushing off the inevitable. He didn’t know if Vi and Caitlyn meeting sooner would help or hurt them. Jayce didn’t know a damn thing about the world around him and how it was changing, but he knew Viktor. Even if this version of Viktor was a little different, he was still the same man that Jayce fell in love with over and over again, not caring when, where, or how it happened.

In every timeline there was a Jayce and there was a Viktor, and every time their paths crossed, if even more a second. He’d seen what happened to some of the others and swore to himself that he wouldn’t let it happen again. He swore to a goddess that he wouldn’t fail, but swearing it to Viktor meant more than he’d ever want to admit.

He’d done so before, to the mage version of Viktor, and failed that time. This was his second do-over, and he prayed he wouldn’t need a third.

The sound of Viktor’s breath broke him out of his trance. “Perhaps we should head home, before we’re stopped by another Councilor.”

Jayce grinned. “That would be-”

“Gentlemen!” Just when it seemed like it was over. Heimerdinger’s voice invaded both of their ears. “I feared the two of you would be long gone by now, but thankfully that is not so.” The professor was overly cheery, too much so for Jayce’s hesitant mood.

There was still an underlying anger towards Heimerdinger from the first go around. Jayce knew it was primarily misplaced, but that didn’t stop him from feeling it.

Heimerdinger looked up at Viktor. “My boy, I’ve missed having you around. No other assistant is quite like you.”

Viktor grimaced. “Thank you, professor, but I could not languish in that position any longer.”

“Rightly so.” The yordle sounded a bit peeved at Viktor’s words, though he tried his best to hide it. “It deeply saddens me that neither of you will be continuing your work in Piltover.” Jayce cringed. “Professor, nothing we said in front of the Council was a lie, or even some sort of minor fabrication. Neither of us plan on returning to Piltover for work. If the Council would like to work with us, or if any of the traders would, then they will have to allow us to continue our dealings in Zaun.”

Heimerdinger didn’t look all that pleased to hear that. “Very well then.” He took a step away from the two men. “My office will always be open if you would like to work with me or anyone else in Piltover.”

“Thank you professor.” Viktor’s voice was clipped, hidden away.

Jayce hated to see him that way. Viktor was larger than life, especially in his eyes. He stood up against the Council, spoke in front of Silco like it was simple; he was perfect.

Brief goodbyes were said, and Jayce felt himself calm slightly. He made his way back to Viktor’s side, though he didn’t instigate any kind of contact until Viktor wanted to. “This went better than I would have expected.” He tried to be light with it, but no matter how quiet he kept his voice as they made their way out of the building, it felt too loud, too heavy.

Viktor grinned, a miniscule one, and shook his head. “How many times could they possibly ask if you’re returning to Piltover?”

“If we’re returning.” Jayce couldn’t help but laugh. Now that the stress of the situation was falling away, the absurdity of it hit him with full force. “They really want you back, V.”

Viktor grimaced. “That’s not happening.”

“I didn’t think it would.” He lowered his voice even more, making sure that nobody would overhear them. He pressed closer to Viktor’s side, still giving him an out in case the touch was unwanted. Viktor didn’t try to pull away. “Silco’s not going to like hearing about this.”

Viktor laughed. It was one of the best sounds in the entire world. “No, he’s certainly not.” He leaned into Jayce’s side. “He’ll want to tighten the rope on the Council a bit more.”

“I don’t doubt that.” He inched a hand to Viktor’s back, testing the waters. Viktor leaned into the touch.

Jayce could calm completely. Nothing was ruined between them, that was good; that was great. He didn’t know what he would do with himself if he lost Viktor. “I hope Powder had a good time with him.” The girl lingered in the back of his mind, which ruined the calm just a bit. He didn’t think Silco would hurt her intentionally, but that didn’t mean that he would be perfect. Silco was far from it.

“As long as he showed her some sort of scrap metal she’ll be happy. I just hope he didn’t have her toying with weapons.”

Both men grimaced.

Jayce pushed down the memories of the Council room, the way it had been blown to bits. He pushed down the thought that Jinx had been the one to do it. He understood, to an extent, why she had done so, but that didn’t make it completely right. He’d lost Viktor that day, and even with the man standing right next to him, there were still days when he felt like he was chasing a ghost.

It took quite a bit of time to get back to Zaun. Viktor’s leg wasn’t cooperating fully, which he knew pissed the man off to no end. At least he wasn’t batting Jayce’s assistance away. Jayce knew how much to offer and when to stop. Viktor would tell him if he truly needed help, more than just a shoulder to lean on and an arm to keep himself steady. Jayce trusted him.

Jayce was quite happy to see the world darken slightly and the air to take on a different scent as the two descended into Zaun. Logically, he knew that the poorly scented air was a bad thing – something he and Viktor were looking to fix – but for now the weight it created in his lungs was a comfort. The scent meant he wasn’t in Piltover anymore; there was plenty of distance between them and the Council.

In the back of his mind, he doubted that would be the last time they were called into a meeting, not with all the scathing words they’d said. Jayce and Viktor would have to pay for that at some point, which was probably sooner rather than later. Jayce decided to focus on the immediate though, that meant getting Powder and whipping something up for dinner.

“And then, we went to Jericho’s for lunch!” Powder was still a ball of energy between Jayce and Viktor, bouncing on her toes as they walked down the street. One of her hands was in Jayce’s and other in Viktor’s. “He showed me this old lab that nobody uses anymore. Super creepy. But Silco said I can use it whenever I want, how cool is that!”

“That’s wonderful, Powder.” Viktor was a little tense at the mention of the lab, but he kept himself composed in front of the girl. “So nothing bad happened?”

Powder shook her head, then paused. “Well-” Jayce’s breath hitched, “- he had a lot of paperwork to do, which was bor-ring. But nothing awful happened.” She looked between them. “Was the Council bad?”

Jayce shrugged. “They were interesting to say the least.”

“What did they want?” Powder was an endless stream of questions, asking about anything and everything. She wanted to know how the Council room looked, what the Councilors were like, if they were mean, if Jayce and Viktor were going back – it was endless.

Viktor squeezed her hand. “You don’t have to worry so much, králíček, we’ve got everything sorted out now.”

Powder rolled her eyes. “That’s what you always say, but something always happens.”

Jayce couldn’t argue with that, he just hoped whatever happened next wasn’t too terrible.

Chapter Text

Something terrible did in fact happen, because Jayce was Jayce and something always arose in his life that made it ten times more difficult. At least it didn’t have to do with the Council, though he was sure that if he followed the line far enough, that they would end up being involved in some way or another.

“Some of our associates would like to hold a conference with the two of you to get to know you better, so that they can trust you.” Silco was in the lab again, something that was becoming a near weekly occurrence at this point. Jayce just brushed it off; as long as he didn’t do anything awful or say something too scathing, then he would allow it. Viktor said the man couldn’t cause that much trouble. Jayce wondered if they were talking about the same man.

Powder seemed pleased with it – another thing that Jayce was struggling to wrap his head around.

Viktor set down his screwdriver and huffed. “Which associates would these be? Are they foreign or local?”

Silco looked over Powder’s desk. The girl was putting some flare into the hoverboards that she and Ekko were working on. Flare typically meant that she was covering it in pink and blue paint, drawing the little monkey figures that she was so entertained by.

Silco sighed. “It’s a mixed batch. Those from Zaun aren’t pleased that we’ve cut but on Shimmer, and they believe spending our resources on treatment centers is a waste.”

Viktor laughed, though it was short and rough. “How much do they believe in ‘Zaun’ if they do not want to help the citizens that would make up the nation?”

“Changing so drastically is a difficult practice, Viktor, perhaps you would know a thing or two about that.”

Viktor grimaced and turned his back, returning to his work.

Jayce was left a bit confused, but decided that pushing the subject in front of Silco and Powder wasn’t the best decision. Viktor said he wanted to tell Jayce everything, about his past and present – perhaps even the future, so Jayce would give him the time he needed to come clean. That didn’t mean it was easy though. He was two seconds away from shaking the answers out of Viktor himself.

He focused his attention on the problem at hand. “Do you have a count of those who’ll be attending?”

Silco fished a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Jayce. “It’s quite the guest list.” There was a smirk on his face as he said it, and Jayce wanted to smack it off him. Best not to start a fight though.

Jayce read it over. Some of the names were familiar, those that they had already done trade deals with, but some of the others were completely foreign. He tried to remember if he’d worked with them when he was a Counselor, but his mind drew a blank. So much for helpful memories. He handed the list to Viktor so he could get a good look too.

Viktor frowned as he looked it over. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” He asked Silco, trying his best to keep his expression as bored as he could. That was quite the feat for him since Jayce knew just how expressive Viktor could be. “Some of these individuals are… less than likely to cooperate.”

“Which is precisely why we need to speak with them.” Silco stepped from Powder’s desk, patting the girl’s head as he did so. She didn’t flinch, but it was clear that she was aware of every single one of his movements, waiting to see if he did anything out of turn.

Jayce didn’t know whether to praise her observational skills or feel terribly bad that the girl had developed them at all.

Silco continued. “If we’re going to finally cut shipments to the Council, then we need to ensure everyone is in agreement with that fact. If we want to stop Shimmer production completely, then we need everyone to follow through with the plan.”

It made sense, which was why Jayce hated it so much. He wondered if there was any sort of timeline where he didn’t need to play a politician. He’d rather like to find a way to get to that one.

A wave of guilt crashed over him at the thought.

No. He couldn’t leave the people he helped in this timeline, who relied on him, who wanted him to be there. Whether or not Jayce fully understood, he’d carved out a place for himself in the past and it was his job to ensure that everyone there got the future they were entitled to. At times though, he couldn’t help but wish he was a bit more selfish. Though, if he followed through completely with his selfish tendencies, then it was likely that this entire timeline would be cut short – that wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.

Jayce leaned on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could sense a headache coming on. “When will this meeting be?”

Silco took back the list from Viktor’s hand. “I’m still waiting on confirmation from some of the more allusive individuals, but likely within the week.”

Great, that leaves plenty of time. Plenty of time to clean up whatever mess came from the meeting, since Jayce wasn’t naive enough to think that it would go off without a hitch. There was always some cost to these sorts of things.

Viktor coughed into his elbow as Silco turned to leave. The sound gave the man pause for a moment, but he said his farewells instead.

Jayce placed a hand on Viktor’s back. “Are you doing alright?”

Viktor waved him off. “It’s just a cough, drahý, I do not have any other symptoms that you need to worry about.”

The memory of Viktor’s latest sickness flashed before his eyes. The medicine from Ixtal seemed to be working, but recovery wasn’t totally linear. There were days when Viktor’s lungs worked seemingly perfect and others where walking up stairs left him winded for nearly ten minutes. Jayce tried his best not to allow it to get to him, but it was exceedingly difficult. He wished there was a physician the two of them could trust to properly look Viktor over and make sure his body was actually healing.

Viktor was still hit or miss with doctor’s – which Jayce really wanted to know more about – so they were figuring this out one day at a time. That was the only pace either of them could handle. It didn’t help that there were a million other things getting thrown at them. Case in point: the meeting that Silco had scheduled without first consulting them. If Jayce knew how much control he was going to relinquish after joining forces with the man he never would have signed the papers.

Well, he probably still would have, since it was one of the only options he had, but at least he would have been more aware. Life was simply too difficult at times.

Jayce ran his fingers through the hair on the page of Viktor’s neck. It had grown out a little, not enough to really be noticeable, since the last time he’d cut it. Viktor did not enjoy long hair, which Jayce didn’t question. He could imagine a million reasons as to why that was the case, but he kept them in his head instead of speaking them aloud.

“Finished!” Powder’s shout ripped the two of them from their little bubble. She hauled up the hoverboard from her desk and rushed over to Viktor and Jayce, showing it off to the two men. “What do you think?”

Jayce looked at the board and the girl over. There were smears of paint over Powder’s face, a few pink streaks in her hair. He’d never understand how that would happen – unless she decided to give herself a dye job as well as the board.

Viktor tapped a finger on one of the paintings and drew back his hand. His fingertip was covered in bright blue paint. “Perhaps you should wait until its dry before declaring your project finished.”

Powder rolled her eyes. “Boring.”

“Hey,” Jayce interjected, “You wouldn’t want to mess up your designs, would you?” Powder appeared to think it over for a moment, eyebrows pinching together. Sometimes when she got really deep into thought, she looked a little bit like Viktor. Their pouts were definitely the same. It brought a rush of fondness to Jayce’s heart. “You make quite the point.” She nodded her head side to side. “Maybe you’re right, just this time though.” She tagged the second part on with a rushed cadence and returned the board to her desk. “I’ll bring it over to Ekko’s when it’s all dry.”

“Sounds like a plan, Powdita.”

The rest of the day in the lab was easy. Without Silco or the list there to remind him of the imminent meeting, he could focus all his attention on the projects that he and Viktor had been commissioned. There was plenty to work on. Their shipments to foreign nations had been rather rocky since the meeting with the Council, so the pair focused much of their attention on domestic trade – which there was still an ample need for. Most of it was medical, which was unsurprising. The amount of prosthetics – a new area of the pair, braces, canes, and crutches that they made was astronomical.

Jayce never could have imagined that there would be such a demand. He should have known this, just by walking around the streets of Zaun, but he’d failed to notice. When the orders started to come in, he told himself that he would focus more attention on what he was witnessing. When he did that, Jayce could barely walk down the street without feeling his heart clench in his chest. The more he noticed, the more he hurt, and the more he hurt, the angrier he got.

The Council had tried to stop them from helping so many people, people that needed it more than anything. He wasn’t going to allow them to do that. He’d stand in front of them a hundred more times if it meant protecting the people he saw each day.

Like Cassy. She was a fourteen year old girl that worked at a bakery a bit aways down the road with her three siblings; she was the youngest. Jayce saw her for the first time a while ago when he decided to get something sweet for Powder and Viktor. Cassy was missing three of her fingers, though by the way she worked no one could tell. It wasn’t until she handed the bag of goods to Jayce that he realized; the sight reminded him of his mother. That moment he sought to help her.

Cassy had been thrilled, certainly shocked, but still excited that someone had thought about helping her gain some of her fine motor skills back.

Jayce placed his bag down on one of the kitchen table seats and made his way into the kitchen to get dinner started. “A meeting within a week isn’t much notice.” He couldn’t shake the thought from his head. The latest meeting had been haunting him ever since Silco decided to tell them about it. “I wish he would have given us a bit more time.”

Viktor leaned against the counter, observing as Jayce brought down a pan from the cabinet. “He likes keeping us on our toes.” He grinned and inched down the counter to lessen the space between him and Jayce. “I think it’s to get back at us for the whole Council incident.”

Jayce rolled his eyes. “This,” he pointed a finger at the man, “is his own doing. The Council sent Marcus to us first. We didn’t instigate that.”

“For once.”

He couldn’t argue with that, so he put more of his attention into making dinner. He’d been trying to learn more Zaunite dishes, and learning them was some of the best parts of his day. Getting to cook with Viktor was fantastic as well. They moved with one another, each doing their own tasks until it was time to put everything together. They would answer any questions from Powder or listen to her ramble about her latest adventure or project.

It was domestic. Jayce tried to remember every single detail as clearly as he could: the glint of Powder’s smile, the curve of Viktor’s wrist, the sizzling of herbs. He filed them away in his mind and prayed to whoever was listening that nobody would take them from him. Jayce wanted the memories to last a lifetime, not ten more months.

The trio ate and settled in for the night, washing faces and brushing teeth.

Jayce slid into bed next to Viktor, another pleasure he hoped to never give up. Neither worried much about the touch anymore; they’d both woken up plenty of time with limbs tangled together to know that it was more work to try to stop themselves than to just let it happen. Jayce was pleased. He adored the feeling of Viktor’s heartbeat under his hand, a steady thump to remind him that the man was still there, still alive. He listened to every breath from the man as though it was a gift from the gods themselves, and truly, wasn’t it? The last version of Viktor that Jayce knew was so unlike the man that was before him now. That Viktor had been less than human, more machine. Still Viktor underneath it all, but a hollow version of the man.

Jayce pushed the thoughts aside as he squeezed his eyes shut. That didn’t matter anymore, what mattered was moving forward, always looking ahead. There were issues that needed to be resolved and worrying about a future that couldn’t possibly happen anymore would help.

He allowed sleep to take him underneath its grasp.

Shaking under his arm tore Jayce from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open, and he blinked a few times to try to get his bearings. It was still dark; barely any moonlight filtered in through the window. He could just make out Viktor’s still sleeping form, trembling atop the mattress. Viktor’s eyebrows were furrowed together, either in pain or fear. Both were possible answers.

Jayce sat up and brushed his fingers through the man’s hair. Waking him up suddenly wouldn’t help. He’d seen enough of Viktor’s nightmares now to know how to properly care for the other. “Come back to me, V, I’m right here.” He massaged the man’s temples, hoping to relieve some of the stress. “Everything is okay. You’re here, with Jayce, in our bed, in our home. Please come back to me.” Jayce continued his movements, as slowly and gently as he could so Viktor wouldn’t be startled when he awoke.

It was always a bit odd the way Viktor came out of a nightmare. He opened his eyes as though nothing had happened, and Jayce wondered why that was. “It’s not morning.” Viktor announced.

Jayce shook his head. “Not even remotely.”

Viktor looked small, which seemed impossible since he was such a large force – commanding, powerful, even if the man wouldn’t say so himself. His eyes were only half open, ready to flutter closed once more. As soon as they did though, his eyes shot back open, and his breath picked up. It appeared the last thing Viktor wanted to do was sleep.

Jayce’s hand never left the man’s hair. Instead, he moved to cup the back of Viktor’s head.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?”

“The nightmare.” He spoke plainly. Dancing in circles so late into the night, or perhaps early in the morning, wouldn’t do either of them good. He knew Viktor was trying to act obtuse, but he wasn’t going to allow it, not when it was obvious how terrified the man was. “You don’t need to say any of the details if you don’t want to.”

“I’d rather not say any of it. I barely remember it anyway.” Viktor shifted so that he was staring up at the ceiling. If he planned on ignoring Jayce, then he’d made a bad decision since his movement essentially trapped Jayce’s arm under him. They both knew Jayce had enough strength to tear his arm away if he wanted.

Jayce didn’t want to. “Puzzle pieces, V.”

The two words were enough to make Viktor groan. “I can’t say all of it.”

“Then just say what you can.” Their words were mere whispers in the dark of the night. In the morning, they could both pretend like none of this ever happened, they did good on that with how much they tangled with one another as they slept. Neither man had brought it up, though Jayce desperately wanted to. If this conversation was just meant for their late night counterparts then he’d respect Viktor’s wishes.

“You were dying.” Viktor’s voice was so quiet the air almost stole it away. “You were dying, and it was my fault.”

“I’m still here.” He took one of Viktor’s hands and pressed the other’s fingers to his neck, right against his pulse. It was steady, slowed from rest, but still strong. “You would never hurt me.”

Viktor shook his head. “Don’t say things like that. You do not know that for certain.”

Jayce wanted to argue, but he knew he couldn’t.

Viktor had hurt him in the past: physically, emotionally, mentally. Jayce could act like it never happened because he was given a second chance, but it had happened. He had plenty of memories.

He rubbed the back of Viktor’s hand. “Then promise me you won’t hurt me. It’s clear you don’t want to, so it should be an easy promise.”

Viktor shook his head. “I could do it by accident, then the promise would be broken.” “Then on purpose. Say you’ll never hurt me on purpose.”

Viktor finally looked over at him. The man’s eyes were red. He looked ready to cry. “You are an unsolvable equation, Jayce.” Viktor’s hand reached up to cup Jayce’s face, stroking his cheek as though he wasn’t sending the man into an early grave.

Jayce accepted the cold touch of his fingertips. “You’re the smartest man I know. I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually.” Want. He was so full of the emotion he felt sick. What would it be like for Viktor to know it all, to never have to question Jayce’s actions or thoughts or feelings ever again? How much was there really to lose?

He bit his tongue as hard as he could bear. No, no that was a stupid idea. That life was behind him, and he was supposed to be looking towards the future. Jayce inched closer, so close that he and Viktor’s foreheads were almost touching. He knew what the gesture meant and wouldn’t initiate it. He wanted Viktor to be the one to do so. Selfish, selfish want.

“I worked on the streets before the Academy.”

Viktor’s admission was so out of the blue, Jayce thought he imagined it. He looked into the man’s eyes for anything that said he was telling some sort of joke and found nothing. It was the truth.

Well, that certainly explained their first night at the inn then.

“Thank you.” He whispered the words. “Thank you for telling me.”

Viktor kept his eyes on his hand, easing away from eye contact. “It was money that I needed and that people were willing to give.” He chuckled, but it sounded empty. “Many of them liked my personality.”

“You are quite the character.” Jayce tried his best to comfort Viktor. It couldn’t have been easy, the past actions and the admission, so he wanted to cushion it as best as he could. He didn’t understand Viktor’s situation – since he’d never been in such an environment – but he tried to understand.

Viktor looked into his eyes for the briefest of moments. “You do not hate me for it?”

“Hate you?” Jayce’s brows screwed together. “Why would I ever hate you for something like that? It was a job; you needed the money, that’s that.”

Viktor was quiet for a minute, and then another. He kept his hand on Jayce’s cheek, but his head snaked down to press against the other’s chest. “Those in Piltover look down on professions such as those. They think they are dirty.”

“You could never be dirty to me, V, especially not for this.” Jayce wrapped his arms around Viktor, holding him as close as possible. “You are the most perfect person I’ve ever met.”

“You’re lying.”

“I would never lie about that.” When Viktor didn’t retort, Jayce counted it as a win.

The men drifted back to sleep, their bodies tangled together so closely it was impossible to figure out where one ended and the other began. Jayce slept soundly, and Viktor didn’t make a single peep the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Jayce would really appreciate it if Silco stopped springing things up on them, but since that was unlikely to happen anytime in the near future, he decided he was just going to have to put up with it. That wasn’t the best thing in the world, but it was what he would have to do.

Jayce had already dressed three times on his sixty-eighth day – once in the morning in his typical day clothes, another time when he learned he was going to be meeting with Silco’s associates, and then another time when he thought that his outfit wasn’t up to par. He needed to impress these people, more so than the Council. He’d never admit it out loud, for fear of who was listening, but these were the people that held all the power. These were the sorts of people that knew how to get exactly what they wanted and didn’t need hoards of wealth to do it. They didn’t just lie and cheat their way to the top, they worked harder than most of the people Jayce knew topside. It was a harsh thought to have, but it was true. These were people that came from nothing and still managed to climb their way out.

He admired them. He was terrified of them, but he still admired them.

Viktor held Jayce’s hand to stop him from fiddling with his tie for the millionth time. “Looks do not matter nearly as much as what you will say.” His tone was soft, but the words were cutting.

Jayce sighed. “It’s a bit hard to forget all of Piltover’s teachings about ‘First Impressions.’”

Viktor hummed and flattened the tie against the other’s chest, letting his hand linger for a moment. “They already know who you are.” He grinned, wide enough that Jayce could see his teeth – a rare sight. “You’ve dazzled them with your inventions, now it's time to reassure them with your speeches.”

“Our inventions.” He hated the way Viktor misspoke – no not misspoke, Jayce knew his partner was well aware of what he was saying – whenever he referred to their work. The conversation with Mel was truly getting under Viktor’s skin, and Jayce didn’t know how to reassure him.

“They care more about the story of a man from Piltover who decided to throw it all away. A Zaunite is not nearly as surprising.”

“I’ll make sure they know just how surprising this Zaunite can be.” There was a split moment where he thought about pressing his lips to Viktor’s forehead, but decided against it. He didn’t need to do anything else that would upset the two of them before their meeting.

Viktor rolled his eyes. “Finish getting ready. I’ll make sure Violet has everything ready for the day.” He left without another word, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

Viktor had been pissed when Vi showed herself at the apartment again after she’d flaked the last time she was supposed to watch Powder. He hadn’t screamed, but the way he spoke was just as harsh. It was enough that Vi hadn’t gone back on her word since, never being even so much as a minute late.

Jayce was left with his own thoughts once more. He finished getting ready as quickly as he could, making sure not to spend too much time in front of the mirror. His hair really had grown up, but that was fine. Everything was fine.

He left the bedroom and stepped out to see Viktor once again going over everything with Vi. Jayce couldn’t help but roll his eyes a little. He knew that the girl wouldn’t let anything horrible happen to Powder, they were sisters after all, but Viktor was always worried. He wished he could do anything at all to take at least some of the man’s worry away. Viktor didn’t need to shoulder the world’s burdens.

Jayce picked up his back from the kitchen table and gave it a quick check through to ensure everything was there. He snaked a hand onto Viktor’s forearm and gave him a slight tug towards the door. “Vi and Powder are going to be fine, V. They can take care of themselves for a few hours.” He made sure not to comment on how Viktor trusted Ekko to bring Powder around Zaun, getting up to who knows how much trouble. He’d make that mistake once and swore to never do it again.

“We’ll be back before dinner, and if we aren’t, there’s food in the cabinets.” Viktor called out as Jayce practically dragged him out of their apartment door. In all honesty though, Jayce would rather Viktor be worried about Powder than for the meeting since Jayce was about to lose his head.

The meeting was to be at The Last Drop, so Jayce knew exactly how much time they had to walk and what to expect when they walked into the building. It was a small comfort, but it was something.

Viktor’s hand in his was another comfort.

Crossing the threshold of the bar made Jayce’s stomach drop to his knees. The place had been transformed, tables lined in the center of the room, the extras pushed to the sides of the room. The lights were dim, as they always were, and the entire place had been thoroughly cleaned. Jayce didn’t know where Silco had found the time, nor who he’d gotten to do the work, but it certainly paid off.

The rest of the individuals they’d be meeting with weren’t there yet, just as planned. It would look tacky if Jayce and Viktor showed up after them. No matter what anyone said, Jayce put more into appearances than he ought to. He squared his shoulders and made his way forward.

Silco was standing near the bar, chatting with the man behind it. Jayce looked around to find Sevika, and sure enough, she was standing against one of the walls, scowling as clear as ever.

“Hello, Silco.” Jayce offered a hand for the man to shake, which Silco took with a raised brow.

“Flattery will get you nowhere with this array of individuals, Talis.” Still with the family name. Silco called over Sevika and started a conversation with the woman.

Jayce couldn’t help but grimace slightly. The least Silco could have done was go over what to expect, what topics would be covered, subsequently, which topics to avoid at all costs. That would have been the kind thing to do. He knew the man wasn’t kind per se, but there was at least some sort of humility within him. He’d cared for Powder after all.

Viktor put a hand on his arm. He kept his voice low as he spoke. “Best not to get on his nerves before the meeting starts.”

“Right.” Jayce couldn’t quell the annoyance completely, but he could let the logical side of his brain dictate his actions. Speaking out of turn with the Council wouldn’t lead to nearly as horrific of an outcome as doing so in front of the guests that were soon to arrive. These were people that killed by getting their hands dirty, who knew all about the illicit deals all across Runeterra. Jayce and Viktor were newcomers to it all. Even the past weeks of their dealings with Silco were a drop in the bucket to how some of these individuals lived. Cruelty was all they’d ever known.

Jayce felt rather out of his depth.

Viktor kept his eyes on the other man though, and Jayce let the gaze settle his stomach. Viktor, despite being new to the more hands-on aspect of their new job, was better acquainted with the ways the Lanes and their partners worked. Last night’s admission was still clear in Jayce’s mind as he took his seat, Viktor at his left. He never would have imagined that was the life his partner had lived before coming to Piltover, but he promised that it wouldn’t make him think about the other any differently. It didn’t. Viktor was still Viktor, what he’d done in the past to survive didn’t matter.

Jayce rose to his feet as soon as the door opened, even a sliver. His hand found Viktor’s shoulder for support. He felt as though he’d collapse. His breath steadied, only slightly, when he realized who it was. “Miss Fortune, a pleasure to see you in person.”

The woman looked him over, expression nearly unreadable. There was a slight smirk on her lips, though Jayce couldn’t place what it meant. He hated that more than anything. After being around people he knew extremely well – Viktor, Powder, even Silco at times – it was difficult to meet someone completely new. The writing he and Miss Fortune had passed back and forth didn’t paint a clear enough picture of her.

There was a gun on her hip that she slipped out of its holster. She twirled it around her finger a few times with practiced ease and tipped her hat to the four already around the table. “Hello boys, I’m looking forward to our little soiree.” She winked at Sevika as she sat.

Jayce would say the same, but that would be a lie, and he had a fairly good idea that Miss Fortune could tell that he was lying immediately. She survived her way through Bilgewater, thrived really, which told him everything he needed to know.

Several more individuals began to filter in some of which he needed the assistance of Silco to put names to. Viktor would bristle every once and a while, perhaps from seeing someone he used to be acquainted with. Jayce didn’t push it. At least one of them had to be functioning, and he was sure that he wasn’t going to make it through the entirety of the meeting.

Qiyana, an elementalist from Ixtal. She had a ruthless personality, one that could rule an entire empire if she was given the chance. Or she would take it for herself – Jayce could very well see that happening.

Ezreal, someone on the younger side from Shurima, though he was originally from Piltover. He carried himself with a demeanor that sang of trouble, but he took his seat easily enough.

Smeech, a Zaunite. Jayce could recognize him, but only slightly. From the details he could remember, the yordle was well acquainted with Silco the first time. Jayce didn’t know how he felt about the man bringing together his old group, but if it worked, he’d shut his mouth.

Vayne, a Demacian who only had a singular goal in life – to find the demon that killed her family. Jayce assumed she was there to get a hand on any weapons that he and Viktor might developed. He hoped she wouldn’t turn her crossbow on them when she learned they weren’t dealing with weapons. Never again.

There were others as well, most of them being from Zaun. There was one figure who didn’t introduce herself and kept the hood of her cloak pulled up over her head, that made Jayce tense beyond belief. The individuals around him were already a questionable group, but to have someone so hidden didn’t help his nerves at all.

He kept his eyes on her for far longer than was typical or proper. There was something about her, even if he couldn’t make out her face, that was family. Maybe it was the color of the cloak or the way she sat. Jayce couldn’t place it, but he had a nagging feeling in the back of his head that he knew the woman sitting at the far end of the table.

Deciding not to get Viktor wrapped up with it as well, Jayce took a few deep breaths and pushed the worry from his mind. Silco had put together the list; he wouldn’t do anything to undermine his own investments. Whoever it was that Jayce recognized – and maybe he didn’t even recognize her, maybe it was just his brain playing tricks on him. That was what he would tell himself to get through the meeting

Silco began the meeting, and Jayce pulled himself in the conversation. This was a big deal – not that everything else he’d done wasn’t, but something about this meeting felt different. Maybe that was just the nerves talking.

“I thank you all for being in attendance with such short notice.” Thank you, that sounded odd coming from Silco’s mouth, a sign that he wasn’t as powerful as he presented himself. There were still those that were above him, people that could knock him down. Jayce didn’t know whether that was a comfort or not.

“As many of you are aware, in the past months I have been working with two up and coming inventors: Viktor and Jayce Talis.” Silco gestured to them, and Jayce felt many pairs of eyes look him up and down. He began to bounce his leg, trying, futilely, to calm himself.

Viktor’s hand found its way to his knee, squeezing it with enough for that Jayce stilled.

He snaked a hand under their table and rested his hand over Viktor’s. It was something, not enough to wash away either of their anxiety completely, but it was certainly something that helped. Viktor continued to rub his knee, and Jayce let his breaths match the other’s movements. Breathe in for four, hold for four, breath out for four. A steady rhythm lulled him.

Silco never stopped speaking, either unaware of the worry of Jayce and Viktor, or uncaring. “Several of you have worked with these men before and know just how talented they are.” To hear compliments coming from Silco was more than a little off putting, but Jayce didn’t expect that the man would begin shit talking them to the figures he wanted to impress.

Miss Fortune hummed in agreement. She’d stopped twirling her gun, but she still held it within her hands – either a threat or a promise. “I’ll attest, Illaoi appreciates the gauntlet ya fashioned her.” She gave Viktor a wink and turned her attention back to Silco.

Something about the wink made Jayce’s skin crawl.

“Thank you, Miss Fortune.” Viktor didn’t seem to have any qualms about it, so Jayce let the issue fall away. It was stupid, the jealousy that swirled in his stomach. It wasn’t like Viktor couldn’t enjoy himself, couldn’t flirt with others, be with them. Jayce didn’t have a monopoly over the man.

Though, part of him wished he did.

Once again, the meeting continued like nothing had happened at all. “As many of you have been made aware, I am currently in the process of shutting down Zaun’s Shimmer production. In its place, I aim to expand Viktor and Jayce’s work, preferably throughout Runeterra.”

That seemed to be the firing gun.

Smeech had the largest reaction. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You’ve got a good thing going here, Silco, if you up the Shimmer production you’ll start ruling this place like I know you want to.”

The shift was miniscule, but Jayce still caught it. Something flashed over Silco’s eyes that he couldn’t see, but Jayce could make out the pain whatever he saw left.

Silco folded his hands on the table. “Perhaps.”

Jayce swallowed down his words. He wanted nothing more than to jump in and tell them just what Shimmer did, was doing, to Zaun’s population. Viktor looked ready to bite as well. His hand gripped Jayce’s – either in warning or to keep himself from saying something he couldn’t take back.

“But there will be nobody left in Zaun if we continue to let Shimmer ravage the streets.”

To hear it come from Silco felt impossible. Jayce couldn’t believe that this was the man he knew before, in the first timeline. The man that would stop at nothing to bring the Council down, or endangered his own people to do so. It was difficult to wrap his head around.

Warmth spread in Jayce’s chest; his actions were having real consequences, and not just bad ones this time.

Smeech sneered. “You’ve gone soft, Silco. These two-” he pointed at Jayce and Viktor “-have ruined you.”

“That’s enough.” It was Sevika that broke this time. The glare she sent towards the yordle was harsh enough to make Jayce’s skin prickle. “You said you’d hear him out, so listen.”

“I wouldn’t have agreed if I knew he’d be talking this shit.” Smeech stood, his mechanical limbs buzzing to life. “You all know I’m right.” He walked behind the other members of the meeting, leaning between some of them to make sure they saw him. “Silco here would let all of your empires crumble. Shimmer is the backbone of this whole thing.” Smeech stopped at the opposite end of the tables. His eyes were manic as he stared down Silco. “He’s gonna let you all burn.”

Heads turned to look at one another. A few seemed to brush off Smeech’s words, Miss Fortune being one of them. Jayce thought that seeing others ignore Smeech would calm him, but there weren’t enough judgeful expressions for his heart rate to slow to its normal pace. Jayce tried to come up with something snappy to say, but his mind turned blank.

“I thought we all had a common enemy here.” Viktor’s voice broke through the silence. His tone was steady, but the grip he had on Jayce’s hand was anything but. “Piltover craves to see us stumble, to argue and fight with one another. They wouldn’t get their hands dirty to stop us, and why would they need to? You’ve shown us quite well that you will turn on each other at the drop of a hat.”

There he is. Jayce bit his lip to fight back a grin.

Viktor kept his expression tightly veiled, but Jayce could see the annoyance that burned in his eyes. “We are going to stop all shipments to Piltover to show them we are not to be disregarded.” He looked down the tables at Smeech. “That only works if we are all in agreement, of course.”

A few faces looked surprised at Viktor’s words, the strongest reaction came from the mysterious woman. Her shoulders rose, and she looked horribly tense. Her face continued to be pointed towards the table with her hands folded in her lap. Jayce kept his eyes trained on her, allowing Viktor to take control of the conversation. He knew that Viktor was to be trusted; he knew what he was doing.

Jayce tried to piece together the details of the woman’s cloak, the parts of her face that he could make out. He could really only see her chin and her bottom lip, tanned skin – a slightly pointed chin. Her cloak was a deep red with a golden trim. The designs embroidered within it made him pause. They were familiar, really familiar. The lacing, the geometric pattern, reminded him of another woman. He leaned back in his seat. No, Mel would never show herself here, not in Zaun, and especially not at a meeting with Silco and the rest of the individuals he had invited to The Last Drop.

That didn’t mean she didn’t send someone though.

“-way you think that could actually work against the Pilties.” Smeech’s voice flooded his ears once more as Jayce pulled himself back into the conversation. He’d deal with the issue after the meeting, though he definitely needed to alert Viktor of who was in attendance. Someone connected to the Council hearing that they were going to lose their illicit trades? An absolute disaster waiting to happen.

Just when Jayce thought they’d got the Council sorted.

“Actually, I do.” Viktor’s tone was cutting, like a knife, and cold as ice. “Are you too afraid of change to attempt it?” Smeech glared at him, but Viktor didn’t falter. “The more we rely on one another the less we rely on Piltover. It would be nice to see them fall from grace for once.”

It was such a scathing remark Jayce couldn’t tell if it was honest or not. He didn’t agree with everything Piltover did, far from it, and they had certainly hurt him over the past month, but there were still people there that he cared about. His family for one. Cutting off illicit trade was one thing, that would just harm the Council, but to watch the nation crumble? That wasn’t what he wanted at all; he doubted that was what Janna had imagined.

He slid his hand out from under Viktor’s and squeezed the man’s knee. Viktor spared him a glance. His eyes were sharp, but they softened slightly as they reached Jayce’s. There was a silent trust me that made Jayce calm. Just slightly.

Smeech continued his circle around the tables. “Oh I’d like to see them plummet, but you’re just a newcomer.” Finally, he made his way to Viktor’s side. He leaned between the man and the woman sitting beside him. “What do you and pretty boy here know about politics?” Jayce had enough. “More than you most likely.” He turned to face Smeech, fighting back the smirk that threatened to grow on his face. “Out of the individuals here, who has actually met with the Council?” He kept his eyes from the woman in red. “Who has spoken and negotiated with them? Who knows what it is like to live in Piltover?” Jayce dug his fingers into his knee to keep himself in his seat.

There was anger rising in his veins, but the last thing he wanted was for Smeech to see just how much of a rise he’d gotten out of Jayce. “Viktor and I have inside knowledge of the Council, what they’re dealings are with all of you.” He looked around the tables. Nobody called his bluff. To be completely honest, Jayce didn’t know about all of the illicit trade deals, but he knew enough to be a threat. A threat was what he needed at the moment. “Either you shut down your partnership with Piltover or you risk losing your connections with everyone at this table today.” He raised a brow. “Or maybe we’d let it slip to the wrong people as to what is happening here. You would lose everything.”

Jayce locked eyes with the yordle in a silent challenge. Viktor’s foot nudged him, and Jayce tapped back. They were on the same page then. It was certainly a choice, but if it got Shimmer off the streets, then Jayce would make it.

He raised a hand for Smeech to take. “So what will it be?”

Smeech glanced down, his eyes still alight with the fire that raged inside of him. “You’re an insolent brat, you know that?”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Viktor and I’s creation look a hell of a lot more promising than your continued Shimmer production.” He caught Viktor rolling his eyes, but the miniscule smile on his face was enough for Jayce to know he was saying all the right words.

Smeech slapped his hand away but turned and made his way back to his seat.

Jayce counted that as a win.

Silco looked between Jayce and Smeech, letting out a sigh. “If that matter is handled, we will continue with the rest of the meeting.”

“Aye aye, Silco.” Miss Fortune responded. There was a dangerous look in her eyes as she gazed at Jayce and Viktor.

The meeting continued.

Chapter Text

Jayce was quick to corner the mystery woman as soon as the meeting ended. There were several individuals that tried to talk to him, but Viktor handled them with ease when he saw his partner eager to get away. Jayce would likely pay for leaving Viktor to the dogs later, but he needed to get to the bottom of the mystery first. He’d deal with the consequences at a later date.

He fought through the string of people that moved to leave The Last Drop. The woman moved to the exit as soon as Silco caused its conclusion. Jayce followed her with quick steps. The two left the bar, and Jayce nudged past people on the street. The woman was trying her best to get lost in the crowd, but it was obvious that she didn’t have as much experience in Zaun as he did.

After months of living in the region, Jayce had become well acquainted with how best to move through passerby, trolleys, and down streets. The woman tried to duck behind a merchant’s table, but Jayce was quicker. He grabbed onto the woman’s cloak near her arm and pulled her back into a nearby alley. He didn’t feel great about it, but he needed to know who the mystery woman was and this was the only way he could get a good look at her.

He pulled down her hood as she frantically tried to pull it down over her eyes.

Jayce nearly jumped back in surprise. “Elora?”

Elora stumbled back, but she hit the wall, keeping her trapped in the alley. “Mr. Talis.”

There was no denying where they were and where they had been, but it made far less sense for Elora to be there. “Who sent you?”

“Mr. Talis, you don’t understand I-”

“Elora, who sent you?” Jayce’s voice hardened. Given the situation, he knew he held the power, and the guilt of it swirled in his stomach. He couldn’t risk losing everything that had been agreed upon in the meeting though, which meant he needed to ensure that Elora wouldn’t rat on them to the Council.

Elora squared her shoulders and kept her chin held high. “Mel is intrigued with what is happening in Zaun.”

The usage of “Zaun” sent Jayce’s mind stumbling. To hear someone from Piltover – other than himself – call the Undercity that was peculiar. He didn’t let it tint the conversation though; it was likely Elora was using the name to get him to trust her. If she wanted that then she shouldn’t have hid herself throughout the entire meeting.

“You cannot tell Mel what happened in that meeting.” Jayce tried his best to be as stern as possible.

“She will not turn to the other Councilors, not with this.” Elora smoothed her fingers down the edge of her cloak, fingers brushing over the golden trim. “She thought your last appearance at the Council meeting was… evocative.”

Jayce held back a scoff. “Does she want to put me on a leash then?” Again. The guilt rose to his chest. He knew that Mel was a multifaceted individual – as was everyone else in the world – but there was still a sense of betrayal from the first timeline that lingered in his bones no matter how much he tried to ignore it. It made his skin tingle.

Elora frowned, only slightly so. “I would not call it a leash. If that were the case, then she would have come to Zaun herself and given you a strict speaking to.”

Like a petulant child. Jayce took a long breath, and then another. He focused on the way the air felt as it left his mouth, lungs slowly deflating. He didn’t want to say anything that would ruin his and Viktor’s chances of allyship. The last thing they needed was the Council on their backs again. He stepped back until he hit the other wall of the alley. “She took a massive risk sending you here, and you took an even bigger one actually showing up. Did Silco know?”

Elora cringed so hard it was impossible to miss. “He knew there was a Noxian coming; he did not know that I had any connections to the Council.”

“So you pulled the curtain over his eyes.” Jayce was rather impressed. Either Silco wasn’t nearly as put together as he presented himself, or Elora was far more elusive and conniving than he’d initially given her credit for.

She folded her hands in front of her. “I did.” She looked him over. “I was impressed with what I heard. Though I’m confused: how is it that someone who’s only stepped foot in the Councilroom once know much about their backroom dealings?”

That was the question for the ages. Jayce was never going to answer it truthfully for fear that something terrible would happen. He certainly wasn’t going to say it to Elora. “Some secrets are better left as such.” It was a pitiful answer. “You said Mel wanted to know what was happening in Zaun. Why?”

Elora didn’t seem ready to push it either. “She’s sympathetic to the cause.”

Jayce crossed his arms and dug his fingers into his biceps. “I find that difficult to believe.” “You don’t have to believe it, but it is the truth.” Elora was calm, her expression becoming rather blank. The hood of her cloak curled around her neck and the rest of the fabric streamed down her body.

Jayce stared at the cloak for so long he thought he’d burn holes into it with his eyes. Gears were turning in his head, slowly. He was thinking so hard he assumed he’d start smelling smoke. He looked down at the ground between them. The alley wasn’t very large, there was likely only a foot or so between their shoes. Jayce wanted Viktor. He stabbed his nails into his arm through his shirt. He wanted Viktor to be with him. “We’re stepping back into the bar.” Jayce turned and stood at the end of the alley. He threw a look over his shoulder. “Viktor and Silco should be part of this conversation.”

“Then we should see them.”

Jayce had severely underestimated Elora, which didn’t help the guilt that lingered through his entire body. He knew she was skilled in her job as Mel’s assistant, but she was proving herself to be valuable at reconnaissance as well. Plus, she was an excellent speaker.

They moved in silence as they made their way back to The Last Drop. Elora pulled her hood over her head once more and walked at a swift pace. Jayce followed her lead. He absentmindedly picked at the skin around his nails, trying to figure out what the next step was going to be. It was true that Viktor and Silco needed to be made aware of what Elora was up to, but he was also glad to shoulder the burden of planning out their next steps.

He didn’t want to go behind Viktor’s back anymore either. Those days were behind him. Jayce had learned his lesson rather well.

Elora walked into the bar first and dropped her hood. Viktor was quick to look over and recognized her in an instant. “You are Medarda’s assistant.” He turned to Silco who was shuffling through papers, standing over the table like a predator ready to pounce. “Did you know she would be here?”

“I did not know of her connection to Medarda.” Silco’s lips drew together as he all but pouted. “That does throw a wrench in our plans.” He gathered the papers together and handed them to Sevika. “We wouldn’t want our dealings to wind up in the Council’s ears.”

“They won’t.” Elora assured. She stepped closer, outstretching a hand for Silco to take. “It was not Ms. Medarda’s nor my intention to give any information to the Council regarding the meeting that took place today.”

“And we are to simply believe you on that?” Viktor looked pained and angry. Jayce remembered what the Council had said to him, what kind of information they forced him to give over. Viktor hated the Council, and with good reason. Jayce could never blame him for his distaste of them.

That didn’t mean it was warranted in every situation though. Jayce made his way to Viktor’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “She’s telling the truth, V.”

Viktor nudged his hand away. “You believe her?”

The strain in his voice nearly made Jayce collapse. “I think we should hear her out before making any quick assumptions.”

“You seemed to have already made your assumption about her truthfulness.” Viktor stepped away when Jayce tried to hold his wrist. “You are lucky nothing bad has happened yet, Ms. Elora.”

“Viktor.” Jayce couldn’t let the thinly veiled threat slide. “Mel wants to help us.”

Viktor paused. He looked over his shoulder to gaze up at Jayce. “I thought you were done with her, Jayce.”

Something about the tone and the words the man chose made a shiver run down Jayce’s spine. It felt wrong. Off. That was the only way to describe it. “We can take all the help we can get.”

“From a Counselor? You truly believe that isn't a terrible idea?” There was a bite to Viktor’s voice. “You are taking a massive risk.”

“That’s why I came to you before following through with anything.” And Silco, of course, neither of them could completely forget about the man that oversaw all that they did. Silco did provide them with a lot more freedom than expected – but a leash was a leash no matter how long the rope was. “I wanted to talk this over before we jumped into something together.” Despite his better judgement, Jayce took another step towards Viktor. They were a team, partners in everything that they did. And just when he started to open up. Jayce wondered if it was divine intervention from some other god, a sign that he was toying with things that he wasn’t supposed to. It seemed a bit late for that, but if speaking with Janna was anything to go by, gods went along with whatever they pleased damned the repercussions.

“How about you let Elora speak and then you can make your decision?” Jayce put on his best comforting smile. He wanted to put a hand on Viktor’s shoulder as well, maybe wrap the man in his arms, but that would be taking a leap they weren’t ready to cross yet. Not until they both calmed down.

Viktor didn’t say another word. He huffed a little and returned to the seat he’d taken in the meeting.

Jayce took the one across the table from him.

Silco looked between them and rolled his eyes. “Leave your lover’s spats out of the business.”

A fierce blush overtook Jayce’s face and he tried to cover it with his hand. Viktor didn’t seem to be doing any better. The tips of his ears had gone pink from where they stuck out through his hair. He didn’t bring it up, and he didn’t correct Silco either. That wasn’t what they were meant to be talking about anyway. There were more important matters at hand.

“Right.” Jayce slipped back into his diplomatic facade. “Elora, would you explain to Viktor and Silco what you had told me?”

“Gladly.” And she did just that, adding a bit more when she finished going all that she had told Jayce.

Viktor relaxed a bit as Elora went on. Jayce wasn’t sure if it was enough that he trusted her – certainly not completely – but hopefully it was enough that he would consider speaking with Mel another time.

The thought was harrowing. Jayce had told Mel, right to her face, that he wasn’t going to work with her. He knew it made him look like a fool for going back on the statement, but he needed to know what was going on in her head. What was Mel’s plan in all of this? She had everything in Piltover, what made her turn her attention to Zaun?

Jayce’s life was making less and less sense by the day. It was rather annoying.

“Mel wants to meet with us again, I presume?” Viktor folded his hands over the handle of his cane, leaning over the table.

“Yes, but Ms. Medarda wants to meet with you in Zaun this time.” Elora kept her composure and kept her lips tight. Her words were calculated beyond belief. She appeared a small cry from the individual she presented herself as during the rest of the meeting. Elora was strong, commanding, and powerful. Jayce hadn’t seen her in a situation like this before.

Viktor turned to look at him, brow raised.

Mel coming to Zaun certainly was a twist for the ages. Viktor leaned back in his seat. “Well, that is quite something.” He looked down at his hands. Viktor was quiet for a good while, his expression tightening.

Jayce wanted to put a hand on the man’s shoulder to try to comfort him, but he kept his hands to himself. He didn’t want to cause the man any more stress. Viktor was drawn tight as a bow, shoulders raised nearly to his ears and hands gripping onto each other with white knuckles. He was full of stress that Jayce wanted to take from him, but Jayce couldn’t. It made him outraged that he couldn’t do anything more.

“When can we expect her to come to Zaun?” Jayce asked.

For the first time Elora looked unsure of herself. “That… That is still to be decided.” Silco leaned into the conversation. “And what information do you plan on sharing with her regarding the meeting you attended? I’m quite certain many of our associates would rather their dealings be kept away from Piltover’s watchful eye.” There was fire on his tongue as he spoke. Silco was put off by the fact that someone from Piltover – other than Jayce – was in attendance. He hated the way Elora fooled him more than anything else though.

Elora composed herself once more. “I will tell her that Jayce and Viktor presented their idea to several investors. I will also say that Piltover will no longer receive some of the luxuries it once did.” A gentle way of putting it.

Jayce couldn’t place if she was being entirely truthful; he doubted that she was. If he was in her position he’d be lying through his teeth too. “And that will be sufficient for her?”

Elora nodded. “She already saw the spark that you two have when you were called before the Council, this was just an extra measure.”

Sure it was. Jayce just smiled though. Everyone at The Last Drop knew they were keeping things from each other, but it was best to keep friends close and enemies closer, as difficult as it was to think of Mel and the rest of the Council as enemies.

“Will that be all then?” Elora took her hands off of the table, placing them in her lap.

Jayce, Viktor, and Silco all looked at each other. Silco gave Elora the go ahead. “I will allow for a meeting with Ms. Medarda, on our territory.” He raised a hand. “If she speaks out of turn, if she gives any inclination that she will betray us then any and all deal is off. She will return to Piltover, but she will be barred from speaking about anything we discuss.”

Elora paused for a moment and then nodded. “That seems more than reasonable.”

Honestly, if Jayce were her, he would think it a little overkill, but he knew how much Silco was looking out for Zaun’s interest at the moment. He even spoke against Smeech, that had to count for something.

“Very well then.” Silco rose from his seat and shook Elora’s hand with a smile that never failed to give Jayce the creeps. “We’ll be in contact with you and Ms. Medarda shortly about putting together this meeting.”

Jayce nearly collapsed as soon as he entered the apartment. His body wasn’t tired, he’d done nothing but walk a few blocks, but his brain was put through the ringer. All he wanted to do was collapse into bed and forget about all of the meetings and conversations he’d had during the day. They were back later than expected, because of the appearance of Elora, so Vi had put together dinner for herself and Powder.

Viktor had picked something up for him and Jayce, though the latter couldn’t find it in himself to eat. His stomach was in nervous knots. He worried that when he shut his eyes to finally sleep that the same words would still replay in his head over and over again. It was impossible to escape.

When he looked at Viktor, the other man didn’t look much better. There was a deep crease between his brows, a sign that he was horribly worried as well.

They were sitting beside each other, so Jayce took a risk. He moved his leg under the table, closer and closer to Viktor’s until their knees were touching. A moment passed, and he worried that Viktor would pull away from the touch, but he was immensely pleased when the man didn’t.

Viktor sighed instead. “Mel Medarda was never supposed to be a factor in our plans.” The mention of a Council Member caught Poweder’s attention – Vi’s as well, but she did a better job at hiding it. “Why are you messing with the Medarda’s?” An innocent question, but it was enough to make Jayce go tense again.

He put his fork down and tried to come up with the best way to explain it. “Mel’s assistant was at the meeting we had today.”

“Uninvited.”

“Technically, she was invited, V.” Viktor rolled his eyes at Jayce’s correction. “She told us about what Mel wants.”

“And what’s that?” Powder asked.

“To help Zaun.” It still sounded fantastical.

Neither Powder nor Vi looked like they really believed that statement. Vi sat down at the table next to her sister. “Since when does the Council care about what happens down here?” Viktor shook his head. “Apparently, she is not working with the Council. This is her own matter to attend to.”

Once again, there was an air of disbelief in the room. Jayce couldn’t blame them, but he couldn’t let the distaste fester either. That would just make everything worse. “Look,” three pairs of eyes turned to him. “I’m more than aware that each of you have your distrust of Piltovians-”

“With reason.” Viktor added.

“V, not helping.” It was the harshest thing he’d said to the other in a while, and Viktor looked shocked to hear such a tone come from Jayce’s mouth. “But think about how good this could be. If we have access to Mel we have eyes on the Council and their plans. We can see if what we’re doing is making any kind of progress.”

“So we’re just supposed to sit back while you play mediator?” Vi crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. There was a deep scowl on her face. “We’ve lived in Zaun longer than you have, in case you forgot. The only thing the Council cares about is that they get their goods. They couldn’t give a shit if it hurts us in the process.” Vi slid back, her chair scratching against the floor. She didn’t wait for anyone to try to stop her as she stomped towards the door and took her exit.

Jayce pressed his head into his hands, fighting the headache that was sure to arise.

Powder looked stunned, but didn’t go to follow. Everyone knew that Vi needed a moment to herself, maybe more than a moment. She finished her food as quickly as she could and then stalked off into her room, taking her books and notes with her.

That didn’t make Jayce feel any better.

Viktor hummed. “Are you surprised by their reactions?”

Jayce shook his head. “Of course not, and I’m not mad at them either.” He looked up at Viktor. The man’s expression was still rather cold, but his shell was cracking. “I just want to do everything I can to help, if that means seeing what Mel’s up to, then I’ll do it.”

“We’ll do it.”

Jayce raised a brow.

Viktor rolled his eyes. “We are still partners, even if I do not agree with you on every plan you put forward. However I can see the…. benefits of getting closer to Ms. Medarda.”

Taking another risk, Jayce reached out and put his hand on Viktor’s knee, mirroring his previous actions. “Thank you, querido.”

The tips of Viktor’s ears went red again. “Yes, well, it would be good to monitor her as well to ensure that she doesn’t leak anything to the rest of the Council. Elora is already putting me on edge.” Viktor didn’t shy away from the touch, instead he slid his hand over Jayce’s, keeping the man’s hand in place.

Chapter Text

Jayce would say that as the days passed he became more and more anxious as to what was going to happen to him and the people he loved. Viktor repeatedly told him that everything would be fine, there was nothing within their control that they had to worry about. Of course, he was also a massive hypocrite as Jayce knew just how much the other man was worried about the talk with Mel that was on their heels, still an undisclosed time and date – which didn’t help Jayce’s anxiety about the matter in the slightest.

He just hoped that they would even make it to the meeting at this point.

Tension had been rising within Zaun. Jayce guessed that someone at the meeting let something slip, nothing too big of course, just something small – perhaps at a bar or in a hushed corner where they assumed nothing would be repeated. Life didn’t work like that though.

There was something brewing within the population. There weren’t protests per se, and Jayce hesitated to call the small demonstrations he saw as such, but it was apparent that there was something happening. He cringed at the fact that he had a part in it.

He wanted independence for Zaun, of course he did, he’d promised Janna that he would help her people, but he wanted to find a peaceful way to go about it. The shouts and threats of violence were a far cry from that craving for peace. Call him naive, but he still thought that there was a way for everyone to work their differences out without a war brewing. Not again. Jayce couldn’t go through that again.

He still remembered all the death and destruction. It came back to him some nights, worse even some times when he looked at Powder. He knew she would never do something like that, not again, not after how he was bringing her up with Viktor, but there was an overly cautious part of him that was worried she’d start creating weapons again and turn them on the Council, on Piltover, on him.

Jayce couldn’t let that happen.

That didn’t calm the storm that was rising though. The world didn’t cave to Jayce’s wants, especially if he didn’t do anything. He told himself speaking with Mel would be a spark for change, the good kind of change. It had to be because if it wasn’t then what was it all for?

Jayce thought things were calming down after a few “demonstrations” in the square and the plastering of posters down the streets and alleyways. He thought that whoever was behind it was losing steam. It wasn’t the best thing in the world since it was integral that the people of Zaun keep some sort of hope that they were going to gain independence, but it lessened the anxiety that rose in his veins whenever he stepped outside.

He was stupid for thinking that it would all go away on its own though.

It happened when he, Viktor, and Powder were out at dinner one day. They were celebrating Powder figuring out a new circuit, all by herself she would add. The night was dreadfully average.

That was until he heard loud booms and then shouts.

Jayce’s first instinct was to pull Powder into his arms so the girl wouldn’t get hurt or lost. He looked around, trying to figure out where the sounds had come from. It seemed to be coming from the north, which could really only mean one thing.

Jayce's heart plummeted in his chest, and he felt his breath get stolen away from him. His knees became wobbly; he couldn’t stand properly. All that work, all those meetings, all those assurances that they were going to work together, and what was it all for?

He’d been so stupid thinking that he could actually work to fix things between Piltover and Zaun. Hadn’t he seen in the past just how impossible that was? Was this Janna reminding him of his failures? Was all of this just a sick and drawn out punishment? Let Jayce Talis get a taste of what he desires and then rip it out from under him just as he’s really starting to be happy!

Jayce should have known better than to trust a goddess. The gods were like magic, always needing something in return.

“Jayce we need to go!” Viktor’s hand gripped his wrist, and Powder tugged on his shirt.

Jayce blinked a few times, struggling to come back to himself. He actually had collapsed, right down to his knees, and they were starting to ache. He’d probably bruised them.

He rose to his feet, head still a mess. Jayce couldn’t help but steal glances over his shoulder at the billow of smoke that was rising near the bridge. Who’d started it? That was the key question that kept repeating in his head. Had Elora said the wrong details at the wrong time and now the Council was taking action to ensure that Zaun wouldn’t be a problem? Had a band of Zaunites gotten together and decided that enough was enough? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

Viktor was the one to keep them going. He brushed past people as they rushed down the street, some away from the damage, but a greater amount towards it. Jayce could see that he was struggling at times, but Viktor didn’t comment on it, so Jayce didn’t either. Viktor was a man on a mission – best not to interfere too much with that.

The streets began to look familiar the closer they got to the apartment, clearer as well. There hadn’t been another book, so Jayce suspected that the initial attack was over. That didn’t mean the worst of it was though. No, that would be the hunt for whoever was responsible, whoever was going to be taken into custody and put on trial.

Jayce hoped whoever was behind it wasn’t found. He knew how awful the enforcers could be, especially to Zaunites. The punishment wouldn’t fit the crime.

He allowed himself to be dragged down the streets by Viktor, giving up a little bit of control cleared his mind. He didn’t need to think about if he was making the correct turn or if there was a better route to take. Viktor knew the way; Viktor would protect him. To think that for so long Jayce had been doing everything he could to protect the other man, to ensure the Council recognized him, that his sickness wouldn’t steal him away, to save Viktor from himself, only to be the one in need of protecting. It was rather humorous, in an odd sort of way.

They were almost to the apartment when Jayce spotted a shock of pink hair out of the corner of his eye. He pulled against Viktor causing both him and Powder to stop in their tracks.

Jayce looked back to where he saw the hair. “I think I saw Vi.” He stumbled towards the alley he’d seen the girl, or at least who he assumed to be Vi, and called out for her.

Viktor and Powder had no choice but to follow.

They searched through the alley, traveling deeper and deeper into its depths, until Jayce was proven correct.

Vi glanced up with a panicked look in her powder blue eyes. There was a cut across her cheek that first got Jayce’s attention, but as he looked closer, he saw her clutching her arm to her chest. Her shoulders rose and fell at a rapid pace. “Get away from me!”

“Vi-”

She tried to turn and run, but Vi had found the end of the alley. There was nowhere else to go. With whatever injury she had to her arm, climbing was likely out of the question too.

Powder ran past Jayce and Viktor, even as the latter tried to stop her. She threw her arms around her sister’s neck, pulling her into an embrace. Her words were so quiet that Jayce almost missed them. “It’s okay; we can help you.”

Vi shook her head and tried to push her sister away, but Powder didn’t give up. “PowPow now really isn’t the time.” Her voice was clipped. She was in obvious pain. “You can’t be with me right now.”

The pieces started to come together the more Jayce looked at the situation at hand.

Viktor put them together first though.

He marched forward, leaning heavily on his cane, and placed a hand on Vi’s shoulder. “Come back to the apartment. You’re injured and you require assistance. Let me help you.” A moment passed.

There were still shouts coming from the streets, though their distance from the commotion muffled the sound.

Vi bit her lip. “Viktor if they-”

“They won’t.” He dropped his hand. “I can promise you that.”

The girl didn’t look completely assured by Viktor’s words, but it got her moving, which was more than Jayce could say he’d done. There was a war in his head as Vi got closer, Powder still clinging to her side.

Why did life always have to get so messy?

They got back to the apartment in near silence, none of them wanting to bring up what they knew, especially not in public. There was no saying who would overhear, possibly a snitch, even worse an enforcer. Jayce thought they were through with keeping secrets but he guessed that didn’t hold up with Vi. After all, it wasn’t like he had made an explicit deal with the girl. At this point though, he was really questioning it. He tried to shake away his fear, but it was impossible. It clung to him like tar – thick, hot, and impossible to get off. It was almost as though he’d drown in it.

Viktor was doing a far better job at holding it together. He kept a calm expression on his face when they made their way into the apartment, stepping into the kitchen to make tea as if nothing had happened at all. The man even hummed to himself as the water came to a boil. Jayce didn’t get it.

He stepped closer to Viktor, absolutely invading his space, but not wanting Powder and Vi to overhear. “Did you know?” He whispered, so quietly he thought for a moment Viktor didn’t hear him.

Viktor didn’t react, not really, he just continued making the tea. The kettle whistled, and he turned off the stove. “No, no I did not, Jayce.”

His tone was certainly guarded, but not so much that Jayce felt he couldn’t trust the words from Viktor’s mouth. A confusing predicament for sure.

Viktor handed him a mug with a smile on his face, as if this was just any other night where they were winding down for the night. “Go sit. I believe we are in for another hard conversation.”

Jayce could really do with a break from those.

Vi was bouncing her leg as she sat at the table, wringing her hands together and cracking her knuckles over and over again until they stopped cracking completely. She kept her eyes on the table, even when Powder tried to ask her something.

Viktor took the seat closest to her, sighing a little when he finally got to take the weight off of his leg. “Vi.” Collected, meticulous, those were the words Jayce would use to describe Viktor. A true scientist through and through he’d gone as far as to rationalize the forms of speech to create the optimal outcome. Most of the time, definitely at the times it mattered most. Viktor placed a mug of tea in front of Vi, letting her take it only if she pleased. “What did you see at the bridge?”

See. Not do. Asking do would implicate her; she’d confess to something. Even if she was only speaking to Viktor, it didn’t matter. It was best to never admit to these sorts of things even in the company of those one trusted. Even the people closest to you could stab you in the back though.

Vi gave Viktor a quick look. “There was an explosion.” An obvious, nondescript, careful thing to say.

Viktor laid on a little more pressure. “Do you know where it was coming from?”

Vi didn’t respond, but the panic on her face gave her away. She wasn’t the best at hiding her expressions. It reminded Jayce of Viktor in a way. Perhaps he was just getting better at reading both of them. “It was near the middle of the bridge, so it’s hard to say who planted it.”

That was a smart move. Vi – if she was the one to plant it, though Jayce wasn’t a hundred percent confident in that – knew that putting the bomb closer to Piltover would make it seem as though the topsiders were the ones to initiate things. It would take some of the heat from Zaun. Piltovians didn’t like when their elite meddled, and they certainly didn’t breed the same sort of revolutionary individuals that Zaun did.

The bombs in the middle of the bridge did send quite the message though.

Zaun was independent of Piltover and didn’t need them to survive. Jayce didn’t know how true of a statement that was at the moment, but it certainly was poignant – that was for sure. It was extremely dangerous as well, and that was the part that really made him start to worry.

Viktor began chewing at his lip. “Were you there before the bombs went off?”

“Yeah.”

“For how long?”

The more questions Viktor asked, the more stressed Vi looked. That was until she snapped. “I didn’t place them, Viktor!” She jumped from her seat and to her feet. Her chest heaved. “I didn’t see who placed them, I don’t know what else you want me to tell you!”

Jayce held up a hand. “Vi-”

“Even if I did know who placed them, I wouldn’t tell you two. And, and you’re talking with Counselors of all people!” She threw open her arms, taking two steps back and almost stumbling down.

Jayce tried again. “Vi, we-”

“I thought you two were going to help Zaun, not throw it away!”

That set Viktor off. “We are not throwing anything away, let alone Zaun.”

“Oh yeah? Really seems that way to me.” Vi looked disgusted as she looked them over.

It was so extreme that Jayce felt disgusted in himself as well. He knew they weren’t giving up on Zaun, if anything, they were doing everything in their power to make sure that it continued and grew, but from an outside perspective he was hard pressed to agree that was what it looked like.

The room was quiet, each of them having said their piece. It was difficult to hear, but they were words that needed to be said, to clear the air, to make sure everyone left on the same page. Viktor looked at Jayce, rubbing his finger over his lip – it was red and starting to bruise.

“Look,” Jayce rubbed his temple. Everything was starting to hurt, inside and out. “I get why y- whoever did what they did. Zaun has been in danger as long as you or I or any of us have been alive. It sucks and I can’t say that we can just magically fix it no matter how much I wish we could.”

Vi stalled, body still tense, but eyes showing she was at least listening.

“We do want to help, and right now that means working with Piltover to an extent to monitor them and ensure they won’t take any reactionary measures – especially now.” Jayce knew the Council was likely already scheming, it made sense. At the very least, they would need to put out a statement about what happened, who they believed was behind it, and assure their citizens that they would take whatever measures necessary to capture whoever was responsible. Jayce had heard enough of those statements, been a part of formulating some of them, to know what the process was like.

Vi sucked in a breath. “What happens when they retaliate? What are we supposed to do then?”

“We try to ensure that it doesn’t get to that point.” That was what Jayce was initially trying to do after all. He didn’t want any more bloodshed, on either side. The citizens didn’t need to get caught up in the messes of those in power, they didn’t need to suffer because of political disagreements. They should have been left out of it from the start. Piltover and Zaun should have had the common goal of protecting and working on the flourishing of their citizenry.

It seemed like both sides failed in that aspect.

“You don’t get it though,” Vi huffed, “You can try to be diplomatic all you want but those Councilors won’t give a damn about it.”

“It appears at least one of them did.” Viktor’s voice gave Jayce and Vi pause. His expression was downcast. He looked down at his hand as it gripped his cane. “Ms. Medarda appears to have a similar goal as we do, and I believe working with her would do us a bit of good.” It sounded almost painful for him to admit. Viktor didn’t look up at Jayce, he kept his gaze low and tried his best to appear unbothered.

Viktor should have known better than to try to hide his emotions from Jayce though.

“Vi, please,” Jayce turned back to the girl. “Neither of us want you getting hurt; Powder doesn’t want you to get hurt.” A low blow, but one he had to take to guarantee that Vi wouldn’t try anything else, at least nothing to the same degree as the bombing.

Vi stumbled back again, running into the counter as she did so. “I… I just want to help.”

Jayce felt his heart crack. A noble ambition, one he shared since childhood. There were so many people he knew that just wanted to help, but sometimes they went about it in the wrong way, fell away from their path, and ended up doing things they could never take back. He sighed. “I know, Vi. Trust me, I know.”

It took a horrendous amount of time to get Vi to sit back down. She started sipping her tea though, which Jayce saw as a win. She wouldn’t open up about everything that happened or who else was involved, but that was to be expected.

Jayce already had a nagging suspicion anyway – the Firelights. He didn’t know much about them, only that they were a group of Zaunite that were keen on helping Zaun while also stopping Silco’s shimmer production. With the latter out of the picture, it seemed they could have turned more of their attention towards their first goal. It wouldn’t be impossible. After all, a lot had changed already.

He should have realized that a group like them would pop up again. It just made sense. It wasn’t like Jayce was the only person that was trying to fight for Zaun.

Viktor worked to patch up Vi’s injuries. Her arm wasn’t nearly as bad as Jayce thought. It must have been the anxiety of the situation that made it seem worse than it was. Just a sprain, nothing that wouldn’t heal. Powder stuck to her sister’s side the entire time, helping Viktor in wiping away dirt and comforting the older girl as much as she could.

Jayce put all of his energy into fixing up the apartment, though there wasn’t much to clean.

A knock at the door stole away his focus. After so many unwanted visits from different people, he’d grown used to not knowing who was on the other side. His heart calmed when he saw Caitlyn standing before him.

Her eyes were wide and there was a smear of soot on her face. “Is Vi here?”

“Yeah,” Jayce guided her in, “She’s in the kitchen. Viktor’s patching her up.”

Caitlyn didn’t pay much attention to him, instead she tore down the hallway until she was at Vi’s side.

Jayce couldn’t blame her. He would do the same thing if Viktor was the one injured.

Caitlyn wrapped her arms around Vi, pulling the girl tight to her chest. There weren’t any cries or sobs to be heard; Caitlyn wouldn’t let herself fall apart right now, not when Vi was still in need of help. “I was worried I lost you.”

Viktor got to his feet and held out a hand for Powder to take. The girl looked back at her sister for a moment before following the man out of the kitchen. Caitlyn and Vi needed some time to talk to each other about what happened without any ears listening in on them. They would give the girls their space.

To give them the most amount of privacy, Jayce followed Viktor into their room. Powder was content to toy around at their desks – smaller than the ones back in the lab, but still full of papers and half finished mock-ups.

Viktor sighed as he sat on the bed. “This was quite the eventful evening.”

“You could say that again.” Jayce sat down next to him. Instinctively, he picked up Viktor’s bad leg and placed it in his lap, massaging the tense muscles. “We’re actually going to have to talk about it at some point.”

Viktor frowned. “Yes.” He looked up at Jayce. “Perhaps not when the wound is so fresh. Give it time to heal.”

Time. Jayce was really growing sick of that word.

Chapter Text

Mel didn’t take long to contact them after the mess with the bridge. Jayce wasn’t foolish, he knew that her speed had less to do with her care for Zaun and more to do with how much she needed to ensure that Piltover wouldn’t be taken down. It was selfish, but that was simply how life was. He didn’t blame her for that – at least, not anymore.

She wrote a letter to them with the date she expected to be in attendance. Elora would be there as well, but there would be no other guards.

“Do you truly believe that?” Viktor asked when he saw that letter. He slid his goggles down and let them hang around his neck. “Even if Ms. Medarda does not want any guards in attendance, the Council will notice she is missing and likely attempt to send someone out to find her.”

Jayce kicked his feet up on the desk, flipping through a journal that held their newest round of requests. Lowering the exports to Piltover also worked to lower the imports since topside was putting pressure on the other nations in hopes that they’d finally crumble. All of that meant there were more and more orders to fulfill. They weren’t the most exciting, or life-changing, but they were helping the overall goal which had to count for something. “I thought you were finally starting to trust Mel?”

Viktor waved a hand. “Eh, cautiously. Topsiders are a finicky group.”

“You do remember I’m a topsider, right?” Jayce rolled his eyes and smirked at the man.

Viktor looked at him, probably for longer than was necessary. He shook his head slightly and brought his goggles back up to cover his eyes. “You are simply an exception to the rule.”

That of all things shouldn’t have made Jayce’s insides turn, but they did. It didn’t help that he always thought Viktor looked more than a little charming when he was buried in his work: hair tousled from his fingers constantly twirling it, a little pout on his lips, and eyebrows drawn together in concentration. It was a picture so beautiful Jayce wanted to draw the other man so he could have a reminder of the moment forever.

Well. For as long as forever lasted.

“Well,” he took a deep breath, “She’s going to be on unfamiliar territory soon.”

“We have the home field advantage.”

“That we do.” Jayce read through the letter another time, turning it upside down and sideways even to make sure that there was nothing he missed. He wouldn’t put it past Mel to come up with some sort of secret way to send a message.

There was nothing though, just Jayce’s anxiety working overtime once again.

His brain couldn’t focus on the work in front of him, what he was truly meant to be doing. The lab was quiet, aside from Viktor tinkering away. Powder was with Silco again. It was a strange dynamic the two had, but so far, Silco hadn’t said or done anything that gave any cause for concern – at least not anything that involved Powder.

He turned to Viktor, always turning to him, always looking to the other man for guidance. “This will go well, won’t it?”

Viktor paused and set down his tools – off came the goggles once more, though this time he placed them on his desk. “I do not believe myself capable of seeing the future, lásko.”

“Of course, but,” how to say it? How could he get Viktor to say the words Jayce needed to hear, even if it wasn’t the whole truth. “But if you had to make a guess? Would you say it's leaning more towards favorable?”

Viktor ran his hand through his hair a few times, making it a bigger mess than it already was. He looked greatly puzzled by the question – though maybe stumped was a better way to put it.

For a moment, Jayce felt rather bad for putting his partner in such a tough situation, even if it was only a brief moment of deep thought.

“I believe we are capable of changing the future to be in our favor.” Viktor grinned, soft. His eyes regained that sparkle that Jayce had seen fade from them once before. Maybe more than once. “I do not think everything is set in stone. Your life would have been quite different if you stayed in Piltover after all.”

“Yours would too.”

Their eyes met and it felt like decades of time passed between them in that moment.

Jayce saw Viktor a bit older, sicker, angrier. He mourned the man he used to know even as Viktor sat in front of him – healthier than he’d ever been and hopefully happier. He wished he wouldn’t have fucked it up so bad the first time. If only he listened. If only he had given Viktor the attention he deserved the first time before it was too late. If only he hadn’t joined the Council, if he’d spent more time in the lab.

If only.

Viktor turned his back. His shoulders drew almost to his ears. “I don’t know if I would have liked that.”

Jayce let out a laugh; it was dark, empty. “You would have hated it.”

“Perhaps not as much if you were there.”

Jayce felt tears well in his eyes, so he turned his back as well. He took in a shaky breath with hopes it would cast away the mess that was forming in his mind. “I’d wish I could protect you from all of it.” His voice cracked. He didn’t want Viktor to see his tears, not now. “I would hope that we did something good.”

Viktor let out a long sigh. “Then it is good we both left then. Piltover rarely breeds such prospects.”

Jayce wanted to tell Viktor everything: about how he felt for the man, about the years they had shared together, about all the good they accomplished before it went to shit, about their struggles and their accomplishments and every detail Jayce could remember about them.

“Yeah, it was good.”

Meetings. There was an unending roll of meetings that Jayce wished would finally come to a close. Of course, they wouldn’t. At the very least, Jayce had the rest of the year, if he even made it that far.

He cast the thought aside. He would make it through the year; he would live; he had to live.

Viktor’s steady breath eased him. They were still in bed, trying to push back their work as much as they could. Silco wanted to finalize a few things before Mel showed up. Viktor and Jayce should have been awake by this point in the morning, should have been getting dressed and finishing their breakfast, but neither could pull themselves from bed. The memory of the bombing was still fresh in both of their minds.

Jayce replayed it over and over, even though he never saw the actual event. His mind filled in the gaps with images from the Council room when it had been blown to bits. He remembered the rubble and the fire and the screams. He remembered the blood on his hands. He remembered seeing dozens of people injured, some dead. He remembered his eyes finding Viktor’s broken form, heart beat nearly gone.

Jayce clung to Viktor tighter, pressing his ear to the man’s chest. There was a steady thumb. One. Two. Three. Four. He’s still alive. Viktor was alive, healthy even. Jayce would not allow him to fall once again.

“Dobrý den.” Sleep was still heavy in Viktor’s voice as he raised a hand to wipe his eyes.

Jayce’s chest felt full. He wanted to pretend that there was nothing they had to do during the day, that he could lay in bed with Viktor for hours more and hear him whisper in Zaunite until his voice grew hoarse. He knew it was a bit selfish, but he couldn’t help but yearn.

The sun was up though, streaming in through the window. Jayce could hear Powder padding around the apartment, shutting herself in the bathroom to get ready for the day. There weren't nearly enough hours in the day to lay about. He took in a deep breath and sighed as he sat up.

Viktor’s hand rested on his arm, fingertips cold. “Another day of work.” He looked ethereal laying on the bed, hair fanned out ever so slightly atop the pillows, expression still soft, the stress of the day not etching itself into his expression. His sweater had slipped during the night. Now the ivory skin of Viktor’s shoulder was on display.

It took all of Jayce’s self-control not to lean down and press his lips there, to inch across the man’s skin bit by bit until he reached Viktor’s lips. Another selfish want that he couldn’t allow himself to indulge in. Jayce grinned though, despite it all. “Important work.”

Viktor pushed himself up to sit as well. “But work nonetheless.”

They were so close, mere inches between them. Did Viktor imagine the same things that Jayce did? Was he waiting for the other man to act upon his urges, his desires, his needs? He hoped, Jayce hoped so much it hurt.

Jayce allowed himself to indulge, only a little. He cupped Viktor’s cheek, just as Viktor had done to him in the past. Gone were the overly harsh lines that Jayce had seen in Viktor’s end days. His cheekbones were still strong, but he looked healthier. Fuller.

He imagined for a moment what Viktor would look like in a few years’ time, if they made it past three hundred and sixty-five days – even less now of course. Would he fill out more or was this just his fixed state after a childhood and young adult life of malnourishment, too many missed meals? Would he stand straighter as his confidence grew? Viktor already showed himself to be a competent man, a powerful one, and Jayce would adore to see what else he could grow into? Would he grow sick again, or was the medicine from Ixtal really working? Jayce hoped that it was. He couldn’t see Viktor wither away again.

Viktor grinned at him, though the man looked a little confused. “Care to share your thoughts?”

Jayce shrugged. “I’m just thinking of you, querido.” He paused for a moment, judging Viktor’s reaction to the nickname. It didn’t seem to inflame him, that was good. Really good. “I wonder what the future will look like.” He felt a smile rise on his lips.

It felt wonderful to finally tell Viktor the truth. Lying to him was awful, it created a giant pit in his stomach that he feared he would never be able to fill. But the truth? That was the cure he needed, the medicine he craved. Once when truth fell from his lips, he wanted the others to follow. Jayce knew he couldn’t, especially not before a meeting as important as the one they were going to step into.

One day, he told himself, one day Viktor will know. Jayce didn’t know if he fully believed himself when it came to that, but he certainly wanted to. Perhaps if the year came to pass and he lived to see day three hundred and sixty-six, he would tell Viktor what had happened. He knew it sounded like a fantastical tale that could never be reality, but it was. Jayce had lived enough months at this point to know that it wasn’t a dream or his last few moments before dying, truly dying. This was his actual life, as insane as it sounded.

“If I am all you think about when you get pulled back into your mind, then it would seem I don’t have much to worry about after all.” Viktor placed his hand atop Jayce’s, pressing the latter’s palm into his cheek.

Even freezing fingertips couldn’t scare Jayce away from the touch. “You take up at least seventy-five percent of my mind.”

“Let’s see if we can make that one hundred.”

Jayce was going to lose it. Viktor had to know what he was doing, he was too smart of a man not to know. Why exactly he was doing it, Jayce didn’t know, if it was a way to mess with him, then Jayce didn’t think that was the right thing at all. Did Viktor know about his feelings? Were they requited?

Viktor got his things ready to go, organizing everything and writing down a few notes. He said a few words to Powder, ensuring that the girl would be alright coming along with them. She wouldn’t be with Mel, but Silco wouldn’t either, at least not for a majority of it. Sevika would be playing babysitter for a while – a job Jayce knew she hated.

He didn’t comment on what Viktor said and decided to go along with the rest of the morning. He would endure it.

The three of them gathered their things and put on their bravest of faces. Powder looked the most excited, her notebook filled with inventions and her sketchbook tucked away in her bag. “I think Silco will be really impressed with what I’ve come up with this time.” Her expression was pinched together in determination. She’d been trying to impress Silco now, so far it hadn’t been much of a success. Powder could tell when Silco was truly impressed, and she came back in a mood every time she realized Silco had just been playing nice.

“I’m sure he’ll be interested in your work, Powdita.” Jayce knew better than to lie to the girl and tell her that he was sure Silco would be impressed. She knew when he was lying too, and wouldn’t stop talking back until he admitted that Jayce had been telling her exactly what she wanted to hear.

Talking with Powder was a good distraction though, so Jayce kept talking to her to keep himself sane.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Medarda.” Jayce stood and reached out to shake Mel’s hand. Mel kept a pleasant smile on her face. “I believe we’ve moved past such formalities, Jayce.”

“Alright then, Mel.” It felt odd to say to her. Jayce knew far more about her than she knew about him, years and years worth of information. He had met the woman’s mother, was involved in a war of sorts against the woman. He knew that the arcane was within Mel – though he wasn’t completely sure if that was still the case.

If she was born with the arcane, if such a thing was truly possible, then perhaps it was still around in this changed timeline. If the arcane was still around, then would all of Jayce’s work be for naught after all?

“Jayce, are you alright?” Mel squinted her eyes with concern.

He looked at the gold markings along her skin. He’d seen them glow before, and saw magic course through her. Would it come back? “Yes, yes, I’m alright, just… A lot of work as of recent.”

“So I’ve heard.”

They locked eyes. He tried not to panic. He knew that Elora had spoken to Mel, that Mel had been the one to send the woman to Zaun. This wasn’t any new information. It still sent him reeling though. None of it made any sort of sense to him. Life was a real mess that he was never going to wrap his head around.

Viktor introduced himself as well. Some of the tension of their first meeting had lessened, but it was clear that everything wasn’t perfect between the two. Jayce wondered if there was anything between them in the past, before he’d risen in the ranks of Piltover. Viktor had been around the Council for longer due to his work with Heimerdinger. Was there history between him and Mel that Jayce was simply never made aware of?

That would certainly make the hostility between them make more sense.

Mel took a seat and the two men did the same. The table, it was really a desk, was much smaller than the one previously used for the meeting with investors. It was more intimate this way, though Jayce pushed that word from his head. He needed to be on top of his game so he didn’t miss anything and didn’t misstep in his words. Much easier said than done, of course.

Viktor began to speak. “Ms. Elora reported that you were interested in assisting Zaun,” his voice curled around the name, placing heavy emphasis on it. “Why is that?” A good question to start with, and the one that had been on all of their minds. Someone of Mel’s status shouldn’t give so much of a second thought to Zaun, to the Undercity. She could get through life without once mentioning it. Nobody would attack her for that – surely not in Pilotver, and people in Zaun barely mentioned the Council since they didn’t agree with many of the government’s words.

Mel folded her hands atop the desk and put a plain expression on her face. She was far better at controlling herself than either Jayce or Viktor was. “It is because I do care about your people. You care for them, deeply, and that is an admirable trait to have.” She looked down at her hands. “Looking through the Council’s past actions towards Zaun has demonstrated that we have not done all we could have done to help.”

Jayce and Viktor turned to each other, twin expressions of shock on their faces. Someone from Piltover, a Council Member no less, admitting fault? The end of the world must be on their heels.

“Councilor Kiramman’s ventilation system, though a grand project, has not been given the sufficient upkeep to ensure its continued viability. The waters of Zaun are polluted due to the factories that Piltover profits from.” She turned to Viktor. “The citizens of Zaun are not able to get the medical assistance they need because of restrictive policies.”

Viktor flinched back in shock.

For such words to come from a Counselor seemed impossible, but here was Mel saying the exact words that Jayce was sure Viktor had waited his entire life to hear. People in Piltover didn’t address the problems of Zaun, or anywhere that wasn’t Piltover. However, everything was turning around, reality bending backwards it seemed.

Viktor looked down at the desk for a moment, likely trying to get his bearings once more. “I’m sorry for my silence, but I am rather shocked at your words.”

“That is because no one has said them to you before,” Mel said.

Viktor shook his head. “No, I have heard them, but not from the mouth of a Piltovian.” He paused. “Aside from my partner, of course.”

“Of course,” Mel agreed. “I hope you know that I am not saying these words to simply gain your approval. Recent events have demonstrated that the Council’s attention should be turned to the issues plaguing Zaun to ensure our dual survival and flourishment.”

Jayce cringed slightly. So they were going to dip into dangerous territory early on in the conversation. Great. “Thank you for your assurances.” He struggled to come up with something to say. He once was a person that could speak with Mel easily, just as he did with Viktor now and at the beginning of their partnership, but there was a wall between them that Jayce wasn’t sure would ever come down. “You mention the rest of the Council, have you spoken to them about your new plans?”

Mel gave a small chuckle. “You know I could not do that so soon after an attack on Piltover’s soil.”

“Technically it was a bridge, not soil.” Viktor was quick with his tongue. “Besides. We don’t know if the explosion was created by a Zaunite or Piltovian. Is it not better to move forth as though it was attack on both sides?” He kept himself composed, as much as he could of course.

Jayce could see the fire itching to come forth. Viktor had that look about him that Jayce knew could spell trouble. It was exhilarating though.

Mel seemed shocked by the question. “Perhaps you are right. Though you must understand with that sentiment comes the reality that either side could once again cause destruction.”

“Then I suggest you carefully and quickly draft a statement that would dissuade such actions.” Viktor’s tone grew sharper, cutting through the air like a knife. “I presume your colleagues are rather agitated with recent personal events and would much rather a war be avoided.”

The blood drained from Jayce’s face. The trade shipments. Now both of them were bringing up dirt. He stepped into the conversation, trying to put enough water out to quell the flames before they rose to disastrous levels. “Perhaps not a war,” he placed a hand on Viktor's knee, and the man squeezed his hand, “But certainly violence. Piltover has enforcers while Zaun has nothing of the sort. Any sort of fight would be terribly unfair.”

Mel’s expression soured a little, but only for a moment. She would have been affected by the blocked trade as well. “Of course. The last thing either side wants is more bloodshed.”

Jayce didn’t know if he could handle anymore. Everytime he thought of the events on the bridge his mind went back to the explosion in the Councilroom, and then to the other timeline he’d been transported to, and then the battle in Piltover. Each of these events brought a sickness to his stomach that he couldn’t avoid and rid himself of.

He composed himself, or at least did his best to pretend to do so, and closed his eyes for a short moment. “What is it you would like to do for Zaun, Mel? The things you speak of are of great importance, that much is obvious, but what tangible benefits would partnership of sorts bring?”

Mel once again seemed surprised at the way Jayce handled himself in a diplomatic conversation. She was completely unaware of course that she had been the one to teach him such tricks. He wondered how it looked to be on the receiving end of one's own teaching. “Without first speaking with the Council, there is not much I could do on my own without causing a great stir.”

“Understandable,” Viktor said, though he didn’t sound as though he believed it much.

“But,” Mel spoke up, “That does not mean I would do nothing. The first matter would be to repair and expand the ventilation system that Councilor Kiramman created. Such a feat would be unlikely to cause discontent among the Councilors and the people of Piltover.”

Jayce raised a brow. He didn’t think Piltover would like it if any of their funds were used to help Zaun, even if the two were technically a part of the same nation, but Mel knew more about the Council than he did these days. If any change was going to be made then he would need to put a bit of faith in her. “That sounds like a good start.” Not the end, never the end. It wasn’t the end until Zaun was finally given the full support and acknowledgement that it had been entitled to for years. Only then would Jayce say that their work was coming to a close.

He looked towards Viktor to see the other’s reaction. Viktor pursed his lips, brow furrowed in deep thought. “I would suggest having a Zaunite, or perhaps more than one, in close contact with you and the rest of the Council to ensure that the proper deals and needs are being met.”

Mel nodded. “That sounds more than reasonable.” She looked between them. “Though it appears I have two in front of me already.”

Jayce shook his head. “I’m not a Zaunite.”

“And I have far too much work to be involved with the Council constantly.” Viktor added, a smirk beginning to form on his face.

Mel didn’t look too pleased with that. “Then who would you suggest?”

Chapter Text

Mel was going to speak with Silco which was a disaster waiting to happen that Jayce wanted absolutely no part in. He was grateful when he learned that it would be a private talk between the two of them. That gave him more time to focus on the problems that he and Viktor needed to fix. It wasn’t just work events anymore, there were political messes, and most stressful of all the personal issues. Those were the things that stressed him out the most.

And of course personal issues had the least clear answer.

Half of the messes in the original timeline could have been avoided if Jayce had just pulled it together and sorted out all of his personal shit, but he hadn’t, and now he was struggling again. It wasn’t just him and Viktor he had to worry about either. There was Powder who they were practically guardians over, and there was Vi who was getting involved with dangerous things all the while keeping a close connection to Piltover as well. There was Jayce’s mother who he missed dearly but could barely speak a word to – not just because most things spoken were meant to be kept behind locked doors.

How could he explain it to her when he could barely comprehend it himself?

Jayce wiped exhaustion from his eyes as he made his way down the stairs to the lab. Just because he was having less to do with Mel didn’t mean he suddenly had an abundance of free time. Work never ended. He loved what he did; he knew he was finally being the positive change he’d wanted to be from the start, but that didn’t mean that everything was always wonderful all the time.

He had drinks as well – coffee for himself and sweetmilk for Viktor. A bit of a pick me up as the afternoon began to stretch into the evening. As Jayce made his way down the stairs, he heard voices, which wasn’t odd in itself, except that Powder was out for a few hours with Ekko messing with their hoverboard, and Vi hadn’t said anything about stopping by. Jayce knew they weren’t the only two that could stop by though, he’d had his fair share of surprises from Silco, Enforcers, and other individuals to know that anything was possible. Plus, Viktor hadn’t called out for him to warn him that it was someone unwanted. It was probably fine.

“V, I’m back!” He called out from the stairwell in case Viktor was so caught up with his work that he hadn’t heard Jayce come through the door.

The talking came to a swift end. Alright. That was odd. Jayce didn’t let it deter him, instead he just continued down the stairs and to the main lab space as though everything was normal. It was supposed to be normal after all. He assumed Viktor would give him some sort of heads up if it wasn’t.

“You alright, querido? Did you-” Jayce stopped so quickly it was as though he’d hit a wall. The drinks nearly fell out of his hands.

There was a girl who he did not recognize standing in the lab. For a split moment he thought the girl was Vi due to the similar pink color of their hair, but at a second glance he knew that it wasn’t her. Everything would have been fine, probably just a client, but her clothes, and the mask that was sitting on the desk next to her gave Jayce enough information to piece together who she was. Firelights.

Jayce, not wanting to scare the girl off, tried his best to appear as though nothing was wrong. “Hello, I wasn’t aware that anyone was stopping by today.” He made his way closer, stepping in front of the girl and placing the drinks on the desk. He was behind Viktor, unable to make out his expression.

“This is Eve, she was asking about a mobility device for a friend of hers who has trouble walking.”

Jayce really wanted to believe his partner, but Viktor made it increasingly difficult to do so.

Eve’s eyes were wide with fear, though Viktor’s gentle hand on her’s seemed to quell her worries slightly. “We were just finishing up our conversation when you arrived.”

“Yes, we were.” The words were rushed as Eve snatched her mask off the desk. “Thank you for your help, Viktor. Gert will be thankful you’re helping her.”

“It’s my greatest pleasure.” Jayce could hear the smile in his voice. “Take care of yourself.”

“You too.” Even was out of the lab as quick of her legs could take her.

Jayce didn’t really want to scare her away, if anything he wanted to hear more even if the truth of the matter was hidden in between words. The Firelights were a group he hadn’t expected to emerge again since Silco was shutting down Shimmer production. He tried to recall everyone he knew that was involved but could only really imagine Ekko. He was far too young though, the same age as Powder, and Jayce couldn’t envision that someone of that age would be making and planting bombs.

Then of course, he had to remember that this was Zaun, a different Zaun at that, and the people were fighting for their independence once more. When it came to matters such as that, anything became possible.

“V-”

“Don’t tell me to stop.” Viktor’s voice was pinched, and he looked down at his hands. “You may believe me stupid and a hypocrite, but I cannot stop the work that I have done to help my people.”

The admission weighed heavy on Jayce’s shoulders. At least they weren’t back to hiding things from each other then. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Viktor turned, confusion written on his face. “You cannot simply say okay so flippantly.”

“Why not, you said you’re going to do your work anyway. I can’t stop you.” He grinned but it pained him to do so. “So why try?”

Viktor’s shoulders fell.

Jayce was at a loss for words. He didn’t want Viktor getting involved because of the possible consequences – he could be arrested, sentenced to a life in Stillwater, they could never see each other again, they would never reach the potential they could have. But deep down he understood why the man was doing what he was, why he was helping the Firelights, if they were what they even were now.

There were so many changes in the timeline that Jayce couldn’t keep it straight. Perhaps he should have started a log with all of them.

Viktor was trying to help his people, just as Jayce was trying to do. The way Viktor was going about it was far more dangerous and could have devastating effects, but did that make it any less right?

Then again, Jayce didn’t want to see anyone hurt. Vi had been hurt, though minimally, and he didn’t know the complete tally of injuries from the bridge.

Viktor said he didn’t want to build weapons, but he was one step closer to do so when he worked with the Firelights.

Jayce let out a long breath. “What work have you done for them already?” ‘Did you make the bombs,’ was the real question he wanted to ask, which Viktor likely knew, but he couldn’t find it in himself to ask. After all, what was he going to do if Viktor said yes? He couldn't abandon his partner, but Jayce couldn’t allow him to make objects of destruction either. He was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“I’ve worked on hoverboards for them.”

Jayce flinched. “Like Ekko’s hoverboard?”

“Yes and no.” Viktor finally turned around to look at him. “They were inspired by Ekko’s, though he is not involved.”

“Not yet.”

Viktor squinted at him. “What do you mean ‘not yet?’ Has he told you about this?” The man gripped his cane.

Jayce shook his head. “No, of course not, just… He seems like a kid that would do whatever he could to help.” It wasn’t his cleanest save, and Viktor didn’t look all that swayed by it, but the latter didn’t question Jayce further on the issue.

“I do not wish to see children involved in this.” Viktor’s voice was full of worry; his eyes looked a bit glassy. “Vi’s involvement already made me queasy.”

They both knew that Vi had been involved, but to say it allowed made it real. “So you knew before?”

Viktor winced. “Not exactly.”

“So what did you know, Viktor?” Jayce’s voice rose, though he didn’t want it to. What he wanted was to keep his composure and assure Viktor that he was on the man’s side, that he would always be, and that they would take the next steps together just as they had promised each other.

A sense of dread creeped under Jayce’s skin. Were he and Viktor always destined to leave promises unfulfilled?

“I didn’t know much because I only just started working with them. They are an extremely secretive group but they knew of my work and felt that I would be of great assistance to them.” Viktor spoke in the same way he would to an investor, or perhaps to Silco or Mel. He didn’t use the same tone he would when it was just the two of them, like he should be using, like he always used.

It made Jayce want to rewind time as Ekko had once done and pretend as though he hadn’t seen anything. Maybe it was better to keep secrets after all. “Can you just tell me what you do know?” Viktor was avoiding the subject like the Grey. Jayce chastised himself for making such a terrible comparison.

Viktor looked down. “I know a few members, such as Vi and Eve, but I will not give out any other names for their own safety. The less others know of their involvement the better.”

“Alright.” He couldn’t exactly argue with that logic. It didn’t make him feel great, being practically labeled as a security risk, but it made sense. Viktor sounded genuine as well, something that was difficult for him to fake. “Can you tell me about any of the things you’ve made for them? You don’t have to say who it was for.” He finally took his seat. Jayce ached to reach out and put a hand on the other’s shoulder, but he knew it wasn’t the right time or place. Tensions were too high for him to cross that line.

“There were the boards.” Viktor started, his voice low and slow. “I also worked on personal matters such as those that we already attend to for clients that didn’t want anything to be recorded or for another’s eyes to be on my projects.” His cane rested on his lap, and he tugged at his fingers, rubbing over his knuckles in a methodical matter. “I didn’t work on the bombs, but I worked on other devices – some would call it spyware – so the individuals would be safe.” He took in a shaky breath. “They didn’t want anyone to get hurt. That was never the intention.”

“But people did get hurt.”

“And I regret that immensely.” More sincerity, so much that Jayce was drowning in it.

He couldn’t ignore it, the pit in his stomach, but he couldn’t ignore how intensely Viktor felt about continuing his work either. The thought of the man doing work that he would never see made him a little squeamish, he couldn’t lie. How were they supposed to be truthful with one another when there was an entire portion of his life — his current life at that — which he couldn’t share?

“You don’t regret it enough to stop though.” Jayce couldn’t find it in himself to regret the words completely. They were being truthful after all.

Viktor lifted his head high. “No, no I do not.” He had a look of determination across his face, though it was interlaced with guilt. “I believe I am still capable of doing good with them, the kind of good that cannot be achieved through diplomatic speeches.”

Jayce wanted to scoff at Viktor’s words but he chose his own instead. “You’ve given some of those speeches.”

“And what good has that ever brought me?”

Jayce’s jaw almost dropped; a look of near disgust was painted on his face. “What good has it done? V, you’re the one that got Silco to stop with Shimmer, you’re the one that got the idea of healthcare into Mel’s head. If it wasn’t for your words we wouldn’t have done even half of the good we’ve done.” There was so much energy coursing through his body that he couldn’t keep himself in his chair any longer. Jayce took to his feet. He didn’t enjoy how he stood over Viktor in such a position, but maybe the slight imbalance would clear some things in the man’s head. “Is it because this isn’t moving fast enough because trust me,” he pressed a hand to his chest, “if anyone here wants things to go faster it’s me.”

If only Jayce could bring himself to say why.

The anger between them must have bubbled up inside Viktor as well, because he took up his cane and stood. He still lacked Jayce’s height though, so it didn’t do him nearly as much as he likely wanted. “If putting pressure on Piltover gets them to move their asses for once then someone needs to do it.”

“But why does it have to be you?” Jayce’s shoulders dropped as he pleaded.

There were plenty of others who could fill Viktor’s role. Silco for one. He was already communicating with Mel and had his hand in the back of nearly everyone’s pockets. If ever there was a conniving bitch who could do Zaun’s dirty work, it was Silco.

Viktor scrunched his nose and turned away. He bit his lip and began to chew the delicate skin. If he didn’t stop, he was sure to break the skin, and Jayce would be cursed with seeing Viktor’s blood once more.

That was an image he’d never scrub from his mind.

He hunched over. “Please, V. Please tell me what’s going on.” Jayce was a moment away from dropping to his knees. It wouldn’t do him any good, at least, he didn’t think it would. Viktor seemed quite adamant that he shared all that he could. Jayce knew there was more though. There was always more. Twenty-five years worth of information that he’d only gotten the scraps of. The anger flowed out of his body as quickly as it had come. “Sometimes you hide so much away, it’s like you’re a stranger, cielito.”

Viktor flinched at the nickname, but Jayce didn’t regret it. He hoped the man knew what it meant, how much he meant.

Viktor turned his back. “Perhaps some space would do us good, Jayce. Neither of us is in a place to properly speak to one another.”

That hurt more than any weapon ever would.

Jayce listened to Viktor’s request, it wasn’t like he was going to keep pushing the issue when it was clear that it wouldn’t do any sort of good. He hadn’t expected to run away like a saddened child though, right back to his mother’s arms.

It had felt like ages since the last time he’d seen his mother, and Jayce thought that he was well overdue for a visit. At least that was what he initially told the woman. The real reason was that he felt so alone and broken that he didn’t know who else to turn to. He could speak with Caitlyn, but a girl her age didn’t need to shoulder his burdens as well – that wasn’t fair to her in the slightest. Everyone else was just too far away, emotionally at least. He knew there were people there physically that could help him, but they didn’t understand him.

Not like Viktor did.

His mother made him tea as he sat on the sofa, just about ready to pull his knees into his chest like he was twelve all over again and getting bullied by his classmates for his fantastical dreams. Jayce was glad they had only stayed dreams this time.

Ximena sat on the sofa next to him. Worry was clear on her face. She brushed her fingers through his hair, working out the small knots that started to form ever since he started letting it grow more. “Mijo, please tell me what’s wrong.” She didn’t comment on the noticeable absence of Viktor, and Jayce’s lack of words about the other man. Her hand stalled as Jayce sucked in a breath.

He was a moment away from losing it all. Jayce hadn’t been such a mess in front of his mother in years, likely over a decade. She had so many of her own problems, her own guilt and grief, that he hadn’t wanted to add to it anymore. He knew she didn’t like that – the way he hid all of his problems with a perfectly practiced smile – but he tried his best not to falter in front of her.

Right now though, none of his practice was coming to his aid. “Viktor and I…” Jayce couldn’t tell her about the Firelights, and he couldn’t even say most of what was going on between them, Silco, and Mel. Those were closely guarded secrets, only coming out at the right time to the right people.

But this was his mother. Could another secret hurt her?

He looked up at her creased face and greying hair. It could, he decided.

“We had an argument today, a big one.” A monumental one. Neither of them had ever told the other to leave, not like that at least. They had their disagreements over the weeks – years in Jayce’s case. Some were bigger than others, but this one took the crown for the most important. “I’ve only seen him angry like he was today a few times.” Knowing the anger was targeted at him made Jayce’s heart break.

Ximena didn’t ask for the details, perhaps she read between the lines and knew that Jayce couldn’t share them. She simply continued to comfort him through it all and lend an ear to listen until it became her time to speak. “You’re father and I used to have many disagreements through the years, some even divulged into arguments.” She raised her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes for a moment.

Jayce knew how difficult it was for her to speak about Mateo Talis. She lost him far earlier than she should have. Jayce didn’t remember much about his father, all he knew was that he was denied a lifetime of memories because of his death.

Ximena whispered out a prayer before opening her eyes once more. “You and Viktor love each other very much, isn’t that true?”

“I love him more than I ever thought was possible.” The words were easy to say because they were completely true. There was no one else in this world that he loved in the same way he loved Viktor. It was because of the other man that he even had a chance to fix things. Inadvertently at least.

Jayce leaned deeper into Ximena’s side. He didn’t know what Viktor would say if he was asked the same question. He’d like to think the man would agree that Viktor loved him greatly, but after their last argument? Was that enough to push him over the edge and make him doubt his feelings towards Jayce? “If he hates me, I’ll leave. It will hurt,” more than any injury could. Matters of the heart were deadly in their own right, “But I would do it if that was what he wanted.”

Ximena shook her head. “I don’t think he would ever want that, mijo. Viktor es una persona muy especial. Él es inteligente, ambos son, pero,” she let out a quiet laugh, “Even the smartest people falter at times.”

Jayce had faltered more than his mother would ever know. He couldn’t tell her about what he’d done in the past, the people he failed, the lives he’d ended – some at his own hands. She would never know just how much he had fallen short.

When he didn’t respond she hummed for a moment. “He will not want you to leave. I’ve this man, ¿cuántas veces? A handful or so, but I know he adores you.”

Jayce shook his head. A flush came over his face at his mother’s words. He knew he didn’t do a good job at hiding his feelings towards Viktor, especially when both of them assumed they were the only ones in a room – which had led to a few confusing encounters – but that didn’t mean that any of it was truly requited. Jayce was content to love Viktor, even if it was one sided, even if it was from a distance. Getting to love him again was enough of a gift.

Ximena took note of his silence. “You will come back to each other once again, mijo. Even though you’ve only known each other for a short amount of time. You are inseparable, ¿no?”

Jayce had to remind himself that to everyone else, even Viktor himself, the two of them had only known each other for a little more than two months. Jayce knew it was longer, felt that it was longer – though all that time still didn’t help him know the other man any more.

He wanted to believe he and Viktor were inseparable. He’d learned that they were always bound to interact at some point or another in their lives no matter what timeline they lived in, even if it was only a mere split second.

“Do you want to spend the night here, Jayce?” His mother’s embrace was a warm comfort.

He wanted to lay there forever, like a small child. It was so much easier than going back to the real world.

But he couldn’t ignore the world forever, ignoring his problems and those that he really did care about. “I think I’ll just stay for a bit longer. I don’t want Viktor or Powder to think I abandoned them.”

Chapter Text

Jayce was terrified to step into the apartment after meeting with his mother. Logically, he knew that he shouldn’t, that Viktor just needed a bit of time to calm himself. That’s what he hoped at least. He really hoped.

It was already dark by the time he stepped into the apartment building. His heart hammered in his chest, and his brain was filled with cotton when he tried to think about what he would say. He already decided he’d sleep on the couch again – give space and all that. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted, what he craved, but Viktor’s comfort was more important. Jayce couldn’t risk starting another argument after all.

He unlocked the door and stepped through with bated breath. The hallway was dark, but there was still a light on in the kitchen. Jayce passed Powder’s room first. Her door was cracked open, and he peeked his head inside. She was curled up on her bed where it was pressed up against her wall, the girl’s back to the wood. Her stuffed rabbit was tightly wrapped in her arms. At least this time she didn’t look to be in any sort of pain or state of fear. Jayce had seen her like that too many times to bear seeing it again.

Jayce continued down the hall, stalling a bit in the hallway. He knew he was just putting off the inevitable, but it was hard not.

Viktor caught him before Jayce could look first and act later. “Oh, Jayce,” there were papers in his hand as he stood at the counter, a calculating expression on his face. “Good, you’re back, Silco just sent some information regarding Ezreal’s latest request. I need another eye on this before we move towards making mockups.”

Jayce was rather taken aback that Viktor hadn’t given him the cold shoulder. “Um, yeah, I can do that.” He looked over Viktor’s shoulder and read Silco’s writing. None of it was a crazy request, if anything it was a bit boring – nothing out of the ordinary. Viktor didn’t really need his help with this. He likely could have gotten through the entire project on his own.

Jayce knew an opening when he saw one.

“So he’s looking for a new gauntlet, that isn’t too bad.” He already had a few ideas cooked up, most of them stemming from previous gauntlets he’d worked on.

“Yes,” Viktor’s voice was a bit flat, “do you think he will use these as weapons?”

Jayce flinched back. It seemed everything wasn’t as fine as he assumed. “Well, I’d hope not, but you know, we’re working with questionable individuals most of the time so…”

“So you are not against working with all questionable people then.” Back to the tone of ice. “Is it just when I work with them? Or is it just when they’re Zaunites?”

Jayce’s shoulders dropped and he stepped back. “No, Viktor, of course not.”

Viktor looked ready to spill blood. He didn’t raise his voice, but his words were enough to make Jayce’s ears bleed. His voice was low, nowhere near loud enough to wake Powder.

Jayce followed his lead and kept himself quiet. “I was just worried about your safety.” He let out a breath. “V, I care about you so much, and-and-” His words got lost in his throat. Once again, he couldn’t figure out what he could say to make Viktor believe him. It made him feel hopeless, completely and utterly hopeless. He had a few words he wanted to say, that he wanted to say for a long time now, but he didn’t think now was the time to say them. Three words that could change everything.

Jayce wasn’t confident enough to say them. He kept them in his mind and told himself that one day he would say them.

He let out a long breath and took a step closer. “I said I would let you do what you wanted to, what you needed to, and I haven’t gone back on that at all.”

Viktor didn’t say a word as he folded the letter up and placed it on the counter. His face was stone cold the entire time, never once faltering. He picked up a mug from the counter and sipped whatever drink he had made himself – it was likely sweetmilk given the time and the stress that he was experiencing. Viktor turned his back, and his shoulders tensed. “Thank you, Jayce.” He didn’t turn back around, and the tightness of his body didn’t lessen. “I believe it’s time we both got to bed. It’s rather late.”

“Right.” Jayce took a step back. “Well, good night then, Viktor.” He made off towards the couch taking Viktor’s words as the final ones they would exchange for the night. They could talk in the lab tomorrow.

“Jayce?” Viktor finally faced him, his eyes red rimmed. “Are you going to come to bed?”

Now that was unexpected. “Oh, yeah, of course.” His brows screwed together. “Are you sure?”

Viktor nodded. “This is your home too. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable here.” There was a smile that rose on his face – small and barely there. It was enough to make Jayce’s heart soar though.

He followed Viktor through the kitchen and back to their room. It felt a bit illicit, almost, the way they began stripping from their day clothes to more comfortable ones. They moved around each other in the bathroom with ease, brushing their teeth and washing their faces. It was simple. For a split second, Jayce could forget all about their troubles and just enjoy what life was like at Viktor’s side.

It wasn’t all great, of course it wasn’t. Touches were more fleeting, hands retracting like they were burned – though that was more Jayce than Viktor. Whenever Viktor initiated anything he was hesitant to do so.

They finally got into their bed, pulling threadbare blankets up to their chins. Jayce always ran hot, but he knew that Viktor nearly froze during the night so he tried to give the other as much warmth as he could. He always ended up kicking the covers off anyway, all of them wrapped around Viktor’s body. It was quite the sight to wake up to.

Once again, the room was dark, the night was late, and it was just the two of them. The last time they got like this Viktor had spoken about his previous employment. It was obvious that the man was nervous to do so, from the way he held himself, the slight hitch to his voice. Jayce loved that Viktor felt comfortable enough to share those sorts of things with him though, no matter what they were.

They laid in the quiet for a good amount of time. Jayce was still unable to sleep, still buzzing from the day. Between the argument, his trip to visit his mother, and getting back home, his body was screaming at him to just close his eyes and rest, but Jayce didn’t have it in him. His mind wouldn’t shut off and because of that he couldn’t be whisked away into a slumber.

From the way that Viktor hadn’t moved a single inch, nor had his breathing leveled out, he wasn’t getting any rest either.

“V?” Jayce trailed the tip of his fingers over the man’s arm which gave the other ample ability to shift away if he didn’t want the touch.

Viktor stayed still.

“You should rest up, ceilito, there’s going to be plenty of work in the morning.”

Viktor remained quiet, but his brows were drawn tight together and his eyes fluttered open.

Jayce just watched, as he often did, to tell if he could make anything out about what Viktor was thinking just from his expression alone. Sometimes – most of the time – he could. He knew that Viktor was still upset, that there was a war happening behind his eyes. Putting together the pieces from the last few days, Jayce had a good sense of what he was conflicted about. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Viktor’s gaze left his. “I worry what you’ll think of my puzzle pieces.”

Jayce raised his hand to Viktor’s hair, threading his fingers through the locks. “I’ll cherish every single one.” I’ll love them just like I love the rest of you. Jayce could confidently say that he had seen Viktor at his worst, even if that man wasn’t exactly this Viktor. He’d seen the man consumed by power, by ambition, but deep down Viktor always wanted to do good. It was simply unfortunate for everyone involved.

“Some are not… They are not good pieces.”

“That doesn’t matter to me.” He ghosted his fingers over Viktor’s chin, making the man look up. “They are a part of you, and you are the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.”

Viktor rolled his eyes. “You think too highly of me.”

“You just don’t think highly enough of yourself.” Jayce would repeat himself until his throat grew dry and raw. If Viktor needed to hear it a million times, then Jayce would say it a million and one. He would do whatever he needed to make Viktor believe he was as great as everyone else believed him to be. “How about I share something? You won’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Okay,” Viktor relaxed slightly.

Jayce bit his lip. Now he had to come up with something to say. There were dozens of things he could admit to Viktor, but he wasn’t sure which ones were appropriate, which ones would be too much of a risk, and which ones could lead to him getting kicked out of the bed. A thought dawned on him. It was certainly dangerous to admit, but it edged in the direction of telling Viktor the whole truth as to what had happened in Jayce’s past – in their past.

“I tried to make magic before coming to Zaun.”

It was as though the machinery in Zaun came to a pause, the streets went silent. The world gave Jayce pause.

Viktor looked at him with true unease, unlike any other expression than Jayce had ever seen on the man. It was unnerving, to say the least. Jayce never wanted Viktor to look at him like that ever again – like he was something to be feared, something terrible.

Viktor finally spoke up. “That is a very dangerous thing to do. What made you abandon your project?”

After saying the worst part of it, that Jayce had tried to create magic at all, getting into the details didn’t seem too awful. “I learned how dangerous it really was.” He remembered what Hextech had turned into. A tool for destruction, for pain, for wraith, for revenge. That was never what he wanted, but he hadn’t done enough to stop it – not the first time around at least. “Magic saved my mother when we were traveling to Piltover. This… this mage–” who Jayce later learned was Viktor because of course the man would try to save him “–showed up and brought us to the outskirts of the city. Ever since that day I wanted to bring magic to the world, to help people just like he helped me and my mother.”

Jayce choked down a cry. Knowing it had been Viktor who helped him didn’t help the conflicted feelings that grew inside his chest. On one hand, it was likely that he would have died along with his mother if Viktor hadn’t gotten them to safety. On the other, so many more lives could have been saved if Viktor hadn’t done a single thing. Selfishly, Jayce wanted Viktor to save him every time; the two of them would meet, and they’d have the most wondrous of times together. He couldn't help it.

“You speak very highly of a man you saw once.”

Jayce gave a small grin. “He saved me.” You saved me. More times than Jayce could count. “But,” the air grew somber once more, “during my experiments I learned that magic isn’t something we can or should harness through technology. There’s a balance to the world, and I was ruining it. I hurt so many people that I cared about.”

If it wasn’t for Jayce’s actions, then Viktor wouldn’t have become the Herald. Viktor told him to destroy the Hexcore, and Jayce didn’t. He couldn’t honor his partner’s one request, all because he was selfish and wanted more time with the other. He would never forget what he did, what he had turned Viktor into. In hindsight, Jayce should have listened to Heimerdinger from the start. He should have turned his attention elsewhere.

In this timeline, when he did start seeking out other options, they worked a hell of a lot better and didn’t come with the same terrible consequences. Jayce had the worst kind of tunnel vision before.

But he knew better now, or at least, he thought he did. That would have to be enough.

Viktor still looked a bit fearful. “What did you do with… with your work then?”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?” The information about where the crystals were couldn’t be given out freely. If anyone at all got their hands on them that could spell the destruction of Piltover and Zaun once more. Jayce couldn’t lie, there was a part of him that was constantly worried that someone would find the box, realize that it was just that, and pry it open. Whoever did that would have the power of the arcane in their hands. Jayce knew what that looked like.

“The worst of it is sitting hundreds of feet underwater where I pray no one will find it.”

Viktor relaxed a little after he said that, his expression growing less concerned. “You are an honorable man for your actions, drahý.”

The Zaunite word dusted Jayce’s cheeks with a blush – he still had no idea what it actually meant, but from the softness of Viktor’s tone when it fell from his lips, Jayce knew it had to be something good. “An honorable man wouldn’t have started my work at all.” An honorable man would have respected your request.

Jayce considered himself far from honorable from everything he’d done. Even in this timeline he wasn’t the pillar for goodness. He had lied and cheated to get where he was. He did like where he currently was, especially since he was laying beside Viktor, but that didn’t mean he completely liked how he had gotten there.

Viktor took a deep breath. “I’ve also hurt people before.” The calmness that was previously painted on the man’s face was gone, replaced with one of dismay. “More people than I can count.”

Although it was impossible, he thought of this Viktor as the Herald in that moment, connected to dozens, possibly hundreds of citizens. That was the only time Jayce had truly been terrified of Viktor. How could the man he loved so much, the man that wanted peace between the nations, do such horrible things?

Jayce didn’t have any idea who this Viktor could be talking about, if they were Zaunite or Piltovan. “But you regret it, and you’re sorry for it. Bad people wouldn’t feel remorse.”

Viktor responded by pressing his ear to Jayce’s chest. They laid like that for a while, both of them taking in the fact that the other was breathing, there, alive.

Jayce would never be ungrateful for these sorts of simple pleasures. Everyday, every hour, he had with Viktor was a gift that he would cherish until the end of his days. Whether that happened in decades or months was out of his control – the gods could be tricky folk – so he tried his best to take every moment as though it would be his last. If it all ended at that moment, the two of them together in bed, Powder sleeping peacefully in the room over, and the start of some sort of agreement between Zaun and Piltover, then Jayce could be happy with what he’d done.

Sure, there was still more he craved, more he wanted to do, but he was proud of what he’d done so far, of what he and Viktor had done.

He was also grateful that Viktor was opening up to him more.

“Perhaps you’re right about that, but that does not quell the guilt in me.”

“I know.” He knew that quite well. “We can’t let our pasts define us forever though.” Maybe if he kept saying that, then at some point Jayce would believe it too. “You’re trying to help people now, actually, you are helping people now. Your negotiating skills are phenomenal, and your engineering expertise is like no one I’ve ever seen.” He cupped Viktor’s face, angling his gaze up just a little so he could look into the man’s golden eyes that had haunted him for years.

“You are trying to be better, and even if sometimes your work scares me–” Jayce wasn’t going to lie about that. He was still nervous about what it meant for Viktor to be assisting the Firelights, “I’ll support you a hundred percent. You’re my partner no matter what. I will come back to you every single time, through every possibility.”

Viktor’s past words echoed in Jayce’s mind. In all timelines, in all possibilities. He learned that it went both ways. Even if Jayce wasn’t the one to find him in the past, Viktor had always had that job, he found the man this time. He’d left everything he’d known in Piltover, the opportunities he had there, all for Viktor because nothing was as worthwhile as being by his side.

Viktor’s eyes were red rimmed, though he didn’t let his tears fall. “You have given me far more grace than I deserve.”

“I could say the same to you. Now you know what I’ve done, that I’ve hurt people too, but are you leaving me?” Viktor’s cheeks were growing flush, just a little, though it was hard to make out in the dim lighting.

Viktor shook his head. “I don’t want to leave your side.”

“Then that makes two of us.” He couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. Even when he left, Jayce wanted to come back. Even while he was with his mother he was thinking of Viktor and if the two of them would reconcile.

He assumed that was the end of their conversation, that they would finally drift into a slumber like it was obvious they wanted to. Exhaustion was laced throughout every cell in Jayce’s body. He needed some shut eye before they had to deal with whatever mess would happen the next day – and there would be a mess. There always was.

But Viktor shifted where he laid, looking as concerned as ever. “What will you do if someone finds your work?”

The question startled Jayce back to full consciousness.

Honestly, he hadn’t given much thought to it. He knew he should have since those crystals had been the downfall of everything, but in his head he never thought that someone would actually pluck the box up from the bottom of the harbor and think that it was anything more than a random piece of scrap metal. With luck, they would think it was just something that drifted up from Zaun – as unlikely as that was – but it was more comforting to imagine that then the individual finding a way to open the box and beginning down the path of destruction that Jayce hoped he destroyed for good.

He held Viktor tighter, though making sure not to be too rough. “I hope that day never comes.” If someone like Jinx – no, he couldn’t think of her like that. There was no Jinx anymore, there was just Powder, and Powder was a sweet girl, a little troubled from the things that lashed out in her head, but she wouldn’t cause the destruction that Jinx had. And Silco agreed to work with him and Viktor, had actually stuck to their demands, so that was another possible enemy struck from the page.

It would be fine. It had to be fine.

Jayce didn’t get that much sleep. His mind was racing through the entire night. Whenever he finally was able to shut his eyes and drift off for a while, his mind was filled with images of death and destruction. His brain conjured up scenarios where someone found the crystals again and used them to bring the same ending that Jayce had already endured.

He tried his hardest to comfort himself throughout the night, not wanting Viktor to shoulder any more pain than he was already bearing, but it was impossible. His mind brought up everyone from his past as possible candidates for the next war, the next harborer of chaos.

This was supposed to be his second shot; that was what Janna had gifted him, but what if it just kept circling back to the same situation every single time? What if violence between the nations was inevitable?

How could Jayce possibly prevent something that was written in the stars?

Chapter Text

Jayce experienced the worst kind of wake up the next morning.

“Jayce, Jayce, Jayce,” a young voice whispered, growing in volume as he took longer and longer to awake from his slumber. Then the person started shaking his shoulder to really try to wake him up. “Come on, you need to wake up.”

After deciding that he wasn’t going to get any proper rest, Jayce opened his eyes and wiped the sleep from them. “Powder?”

Powder was standing at the edge of the bed, taking a step back when she saw her trick had worked. “Silco’s waiting for you and Viktor in the kitchen.”

Jayce wished this was all just a bad dream, and he would wake up for real next time and not be in whatever mess he’d found himself in. “Silco? Really?” He rubbed his temples. “Wait, what do you mean Silco’s in the kitchen?”

Powder skipped out of the room before she could answer his question. At least she didn’t seem to be worried; so, it couldn’t be that anything too horrible was happening.

He didn’t know that Silco would start making house calls, but it wasn’t the most out there thing that the man had ever done over the years – especially not if he brought the first timeline into play. Though, Jayce could only remember giving the man access to the lab, he didn’t know the apartment was also included in that.

He sighed as he turned to Viktor to try to wake him up as well. He ran his fingers through the man’s hair, untangling the umber locks. Viktor looked so peaceful that he almost didn’t want to wake him, but sadly that wasn’t an option. “Mi vida, you have to wake up, Silco’s waiting for us.”

Viktor shifted in bed, pulling the covers even higher. “Ne,” he whined. It was stupidly endearing.

Jayce chuckled. “Come on, we wouldn’t want to leave him waiting.”

“Může čekat navěky,” Viktor grumbled into his pillow.

Jayce chuckled. “I still don’t know Zaunite, querido.”

Viktor turned his head, looking up at Jayce with still sleep-reddened eyes. “And yet I understand some of your Ixtali.”

It appeared it would be one of those mornings that Jayce wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around the other and kiss him senseless. Sadly, he couldn’t do that, for a multitude of reasons, one of those being the man waiting in the kitchen he was likely getting pissed that it was taking the two forever to pull themselves out of bed.

Jayce swung his legs over the edge of the bed and huffed as he stood. “Silco’s still waiting, but maybe you can give me some Zaunite lessons later.” He finished the sentence with a wink, but questioned his action immediately after. Maybe that was taking it too far.

Vikor laid still for a moment, the exchange washing over him, before he cast the covers off of himself and stepped out of bed as well, taking his cane from its spot against the wall.

The two got ready as quickly as they could since they had already kept Silco waiting for long enough. Neither of them needed Powder coming back in and scowling at the two of them for taking too long. Jayce turned around as Viktor got dressed, not wanting to overstep. He already felt like he’d done that too many times in the past, especially with his thoughts. He didn’t need to let his mind wander any more.

“Are you ready?” Viktor asked.

Jayce buttoned the rest of his shirt. “As I’ll ever be.”

The two stepped out of the bedroom, neither completely ready for whatever Silco was about to drop on them, but when did they ever feel ready? Just as Powder said, Silco was sitting with his hands folded atop the table.

“Good morning, gentlemen.” There was a tightness to his voice.

Jayce fought back the urge to roll his eyes. Maybe if Silco would have given them some warning that he was coming over then he wouldn’t have been waiting for so long. When one thought about it, this was Silco’s own fault. “Good morning to you as well. Tea?”

Silco shook his head. “I don’t plan on staying here long.”

You didn’t have to come at all. Jayce kept that thought to himself but turned to make tea for himself and Viktor. This was their home after all. “So, what are you here to talk about?”

“You sent Mel Medarda to me.”

Jayce met Viktor’s gaze; both of them tried to hide their smiles. They had done so for a few reasons, one being that it was rather humorous to imagine Silco trying to compose himself in a conversation with Mel, another was that they really didn’t know who else they would recommend. Certainly not Smeech.

Viktor sat across from Silco. “We thought it would be good for two leaders to meet with one another. You’re the one in power down here, and Mel is our connection to the power up top. Who else would we recommend?”

Silco’s expression turned even more sour than it previously appeared. “She believes it would do us good to form a council of our own for Zaun. While I agree, I am already up to here,” he raised a hand, “with other work.”

“You’re saying you wouldn’t want to become the kingpin of Zaun? How shocking.” Jayce couldn’t help but say it. Silco had already shown in the past that he craved power, in this timeline and last. To believe that he would give that away would be stupid, utterly so.

Silco turned to Jayce. “I wear many hats, Talis, more than you could wrap your head around.”

“Perhaps not, I’ve heard I’m quite intelligent after all.”

“You are no politician. You do not know what you’re speaking about.”

Jayce gripped the mug in his hand, then loosened it. He didn’t want to crush it after all. If there was anyone in the room that understood what formal politics were like, it was Jayce. “And you are?” He stepped closer to Silco, squaring his shoulders. “You’re a past chem baron and illicit trade dealer, a miner however long ago. You haven’t stepped into the Piltover Councilroom once in your entire life, but I have. I’ve talked with multiple politicians from Piltover, the entire Council in fact. You’ve spoken with one of them that’s close to becoming a defector in the topsider’s eyes.”

Jayce stood above Silco, presenting himself to be far more powerful than he felt. “I may not be a proper politician,” not anymore, “but I’m a lot closer to one than you are.” Silco looked up to him with an unreadable expression.

Jayce wanted to assume that he was a bit on edge after what he’d said to the man, but he couldn’t guarantee it. Silco was a loose cannon during the best of times and could cause irreparable damage at the worst. He would never fully get what was going through the other’s head no matter how much he wanted to, no matter how much it would help.

Silco tapped his fingers on the table, glancing back at Powder.

There was another thing Jayce would never understand.

“Perhaps you should take over then, since you’re so all knowing.” Silco smiled though it was sick.

Jayce couldn’t hold back how his shoulders dropped. “I couldn’t take on the position either. My place is at Viktor’s side, working in the lab, writing up trade contracts.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You wouldn’t want your trade empire to fall now would you?”

Silco tsked. Checkmate. “The trade empire is the backbone of everything. Without that, the future of Zaun falls.”

Jayce didn’t like the idea that the entire future currently rested on a load of unsteady agreements, but at least it was better than nothing. “Then the two of us should turn our attention to that and choose another to hold up the Zaun council.” He turned back to look at Viktor. “The three of us actually.” He needed Viktor’s insight for this. Even though he’d lived full time in Zaun for a while now, he still didn’t have a good grasp on everyone.

Viktor spent his entire life – aside from his years at the Academy – living in Zaun, and not the cushery parts like Silco had seen. If anyone knew who to trust it would be Viktor.

The man’s gaze caught his and the two couldn’t help but grin at each other like a couple of blushing Academy students. It made butterflies erupt in Jayce’s stomach.

Viktor nodded. “We should write up a list of possible candidates and then go through them one by one, outlining the potentiality of them.” He stood from the table and went to find a sheet of paper.

Jayce looked over the scene. Powder was glancing between everyone in the room, appearing more than a little nervous. He really didn’t like discussing the political mess in front of her, but Silco made avoiding that impossible. Jayce took a step back from the table. “How does breakfast sound?”

When Vi showed up with Caitlyn, Jayce did everything he could to make sure that Silco didn’t see the latter. The last person Silco needed to see was someone from Piltover, the daughter of a councilor no less. Jayce knew that at some point the two would meet, if the man didn’t already know who Powder was hanging around with, but he wanted to push that day off for as long as possible.

Caitlyn was just a kid, and he wanted her to be that for as long as she could. He wanted the same for Powder and Vi and Ekko – even if that didn’t appear to be possible.

The moment Powder stepped out of the apartment, throwing her arms around Viktor before she did, a dark fog came over the room. Jayce should have expected that, but even so, it didn’t calm his anxiety at all. He sat at the table, getting a horrible sense of deja vu as he did so. He kept his hands on the table, just as Silco did, so it didn’t appear that he had anything to hide. What he really wanted was to wrap his hand around Viktor’s, to feel some sense of comfort, but that was beyond him now.

He had to be strong no matter how much he wanted to break apart.

“We need someone strong to lead, someone that won’t falter at the sign of pressure, and most of all someone that won’t take Piltover’s shit.” Jayce’s jaw clenched as he spit out the words. Like many times when he got into these conversations with Silco, the anxiety mixed with anger until he couldn’t tell the two emotions apart. He didn’t like himself when he got like this, but it was impossible to fight against. Silco just brought that part of Jayce out.

Silco raised his chin. “I, of course, agree with those points. But,” his eyes became half-lidded, “Who are you to recommend anyone?”

“That’s why Viktor is here,” Jayce fought back, quick on the heels of Silco’s words. “Between the two of us, I’m sure we’ll be of great assistance to your little problems.” He kept himself sharp. If Zaun had taught him one thing, it was how to posture himself. “Unless you’ve come here for no reason aside from complaining about what you’ve been struggling to do yourself.”

“Jayce.” Viktor’s voice was cutting. He shot a look to the other with his brow raised.

Jayce sat back in his seat, not realizing that he had begun to lean over the table like he was expecting to pounce.

That wouldn’t have ended well.

The stress of everything was getting to him. Between the politics, the arguing with Viktor, and the worry of what would happen to Powder, everything was becoming too much. It didn’t help that there was an entire part of his life that he couldn’t tell anyone. He could hint at it all he wanted, but he would never spill the entire thing. Jayce decided he couldn’t.

“You are right. Shall we continue with the matter at hand then?” The way Silco looked at him made his skin crawl more than he wanted to admit.

He snuck a hand off of the table and squeezed his knee to try to dispel some of the anger and anxiety that was flooding through his body. “Let’s continue.”

And so the names were written up. Jayce – sadly – didn’t have many that he could give out seeing as he hasn’t met with that many powerful people in Zaun. As expected, Viktor knew a lot more and even began to bicker back and forth with Silco about the individuals that the latter presented.

“You cannot believe that Smeech would even begin to be a good option?” Viktor shook his head and rolled his eyes. “For one, he is a chem barron-”

“He was, we were both at the previous meeting.” Silco was writing down notes.

Viktor waved a hand. “He was not someone that seemed content to see his business go.”

At least one of the men was making sense. Silco rarely ever did, and the fact that he was getting more and more stressed about the situation with Piltover wasn’t helping at all. “Viktor’s right. We can’t rely on someone that has disagreed with us on such an important topic to lead Zaun towards the right path.”

Silco gave him a look but didn’t say a word.

Jayce knew what that look meant though. How could someone like Jayce understand what the right path for Zaun was? He knew that it would be difficult to convince Silco that he did understand and that he did want what was best for Zaun. How long would it take for Silco to finally start trusting him? It had already been months, and, at least to Jayce’s knowledge, he hadn’t done anything to Silco to make him question Jayce’s loyalty.

He was getting sick of these personal grudges messing with the more important things in life like making sure that Piltover and Zaun didn’t dissolve into utter chaos.

Viktor didn’t care for either of their bullshit. “I would put forth Sevika.” He looked at Jayce and then Silco, waiting for one of them to counter his suggestion. “She’s your,” he nodded towards Silco, “second in command if I’m not mistaken. I would assume that means she agrees with you on the broader concepts and wants to fight for the same things we do.”

Jayce didn’t miss how he chose to say “fight”. He still wasn’t completely comfortable with the Firelights getting more involved than they already were, especially because Vi and Viktor were people Jayce wanted to protect, people he cared about. Fighting wasn’t something a diplomat was supposed to do. Then again, he doubted they’d find someone in Zaun that wasn’t up for a fight if things started to go south.

At Silco’s silence, though he at least seemed to be listening, Viktor began to highlight the other reasons that Sevika would be a good option.

The more Viktor went on, the harder it was to believe that he had only met with Sevika the few times she’d been present when the pair went to meet with Silco. He listed things off as if the two had known each other for years and not just that, as if they had been somewhat close.

Was this another part of Viktor’s life that he had yet to share? Jayce didn’t know much about Sevika at all, only that she was a very strong woman, had seemingly teamed up with Jinx near the end there, and wanted independence for Zaun as much as anyone else. He also knew that she had lost her arm in the explosion that had killed Vander seeing as Silco had come to them to see if they could give her a proper prosthetic. Power had even gotten involved in the project, giving some signature pink and blue paint to the mix that Viktor and Jayce had been positive Sevika would scrub off.

She didn’t though.

So perhaps caring was another fact that he could add to the list, but that still wasn’t the same as everything that Viktor knew. It had to be because they were both Zaunites who worked in the underground, that had to be the case. Nothing else made sense. Jayce rationalized the sight before him by taking his assumption as fact. It was better that than letting his mind run wild, coming up with theories and ideas that would terrorize him well into the night, that would get between his and Viktor's relationship yet again.

Silco had stopped writing when it seemed like Viktor wasn’t going to stop talking. He folded his hands under his chin, taking in each other Viktor’s words. Finally, when the latter was done with his speech all but praising Sevika, Silco nodded. “Then it’s decided. The position will go to Sevika. She may head whatever council is formed here in Zaun and be the key point of communication between us and Piltover.”

Viktor leaned back in his seat, and Jayce followed to do the same. They looked to each other as they always did, the first set of eyes they sought out in a crowded room, the person who would help them carry any burden.

“Alright then,” Jayce started, “Now we just have to tell Sevika that.”

Standing before the Zaun council gave a completely different feeling than the one Jayce experienced when stepping before the Piltovan one. The room wasn’t ornate in the slightest, in fact it was actually falling apart at the seams, but despite all of the downsides, Jayce felt more supported before this council.

Smeech was present, which Jayce didn’t enjoy the idea of, but they couldn’t write off the former chem-barons completely or else they risked losing sight of the group's dealings. That was part of the reason Margot was there as well, though she had other trade dealings as well that made her a powerful figure.

There were plenty of people that Jayce couldn’t place – those that he’d only gotten passing glances at and some that were new faces in their entirety. Viktor was at his side though, looking far better than Jayce did. He took his spot with grace, holding his tongue when Jayce could tell he wanted nothing more than to tear into the group at the moment for how little they seemed to be taking the matter seriously.

Jayce stood behind Viktor, he couldn’t sit at the moment, far too much nervous energy, and put a hand on the man’s shoulder. He leaned down. “Just think, all we have to do is get through this announcement and then we’re in the clear.”

Viktor raised a brow. “I find that incredibly difficult to believe.”

“Well, a little positivity never hurts.” Jayce tried to give his best convincing grin even as the people around him all looked like they wanted to strike. They were more attuned to each other than he was to them. They knew what real Zaunite politics were like, meanwhile Jayce was just transplanting everything he learned from Piltover to The Lanes and hoped that it worked. So far, it had been, at least somewhat, but he didn’t think that would last for long.

Sevika was the last to enter with Silco coming in before her. She had a scowl on her face, so Jayce assumed that Silco had already filled her in on what was going to happen. Better that than drop the news in front of the rest of the Zaun Council and risk Sevika having an adverse reaction.

Silco stood at the head of the table, Sevika taking the seat that now belonged to her. “Thank you all for meeting on such short notice.”

Jayce wanted to roll his eyes. Giving the rest of the Zaun Council a few days to prepare was nothing like the situations Silco had dropped him and Viktor into.

“Cut the shit, Silco, what are we here for?” Smeech leaned over the table, ready to shove a sharp piece of metal right through Silco’s chest.

Silco didn’t give him any attention. “Each of you are pillars of Zaun, the most powerful and elite. You are a council to oversee Zaun as it flourishes into the nation as I know it will.” He held his hands behind his back. “It would be a great pleasure to oversee the Council myself, but alas I cannot. Therefore, it is best to pass this honor and duty onto someone who I believe will lead Zaun through the trials ahead.” He turned and looked down at Sevika, gesturing for her to stand.

“Sevika, once my second in command, will now oversee this Council.”

In Piltover, there would be a round of applause after such an announcement, even if those applauding didn’t agree with the decision. There was nothing of the sort in Zaun. Instead, there were a series of blank expressions, even some grimaces, only one or two people had what could be seen as a grin.

Chapter Text

Whenever life got good, Jayce began to question what was going on. It had been a week since the announcement of Sevika as the leader of the Zaun Council – or really the announcement of the Council in general. It had been a rough first meeting to say the least, but after the first few arguments, they were able to get at least somewhat of a level playing field.

Jayce knew that there were plenty of glares thrown his way, since even though he could change his clothes, his hair, and the way he carried himself all he wanted, there would always be a part of him that made it obvious he was from Piltover. He could try to argue the semantics about that statement as much as he could – like how he was born in Ixtal and still felt a connection to the nation even if he hadn’t gone back – but that wasn’t productive in the slightest. So he kept his mouth shut during the meeting. Jayce found that was the best way to get through these sorts of things after all.

Leaving that meeting felt great. Jayce had heard plans for the future, plans that were actually collaborative instead of just individual focused. That was exactly the kind of thing they needed if they wanted to be a functioning nation. It was a bit unnerving at first seeing people agree, since Jayce had also seen the same people tear each other apart at the most minor of arguments. The Zaun Council meeting was nothing like that though. It was a beautiful thing to see.

That was another reason Jayce grew uneasy though: everything was looking so good. Viktor began speaking with him more, not so much about the most intimate details, but about things from his childhood and what life in Zaun was like. He heard about the man’s parents, especially his mother who had been around longer than his father who sadly died in the mines. He heard about Powder’s life with Vander, which he stepped very gently around. He only ever let her bring the man up, never saying Vander’s name himself, and it felt amazing to see Powder’s face light up whenever she remembered something great about Vander.

Jayce took in every single one of these good moments and cherished them, holding them tightly to his chest and hoping they would never be lost.

As the days continued on, he got more and more worried that something was going to drop, that everything was going to be ripped apart. It was only a matter of time – he’d seen it before.

Caitlyn tried to assure him that it was fine, that they were on an uphill path. Jayce didn’t know when she’d gotten so optimistic, likely ever since she had met Vi and began to have something to care about that wasn’t her career path. Jayce tried to follow her advice as much as he could, even if it was a little embarrassing to think that he was following the advice of a teenager, but it was extremely difficult with the war happening in his head.

So he tried to enjoy every day as much as he could.

Currently, he was out getting supplies, more parts for projects from all over Runeterra. It was relaxing, almost, to walk through the markets and gather things. He had a few ideas in his head for improvements to projects that he and Viktor were already working on, and there were other ideas for projects they’d already created and ways they could be made better. It was difficult to purge them from his head after they were out there. Jayce would always go back to them, finding the smallest of mistakes they made and critiquing them mentally.

At least it helped their future endeavors.

Jayce greeted some people as he made his way down the street. He struck up a conversation with Raine who was out getting something for her partner’s birthday. He hadn’t seen the woman in what felt like ages, and even though they barely spoke in the past, the conversation was easy going and focused on the more pleasant sides of life.

She swung the bag in her hand. “Payton’s been loving the stronger connection with Ixtal recently. So, I thought it’d be a great idea to see if I can find some sort of book from the nation for them.”

Jayce looked over one of the stalls filled with random pieces of machinery and tools, none of them were labeled, but it was easy enough to figure out what was what. “Ixtal? Do they have family there?”

Raine shook her head. “They just think the history is cool, and how they’re medicines have advanced.”

Jayce had to agree with that. If it wasn’t for the medicine coming from Ixtal, it was likely that Viktor would be on the decline again, that his pain would be worse, that his dysphoria would cause him to lock himself away from the world. All thanks to Ixtal, those things had been avoided. “Oh, that’s cool.” He didn’t want to jump in and say that he was from Ixtal, the timing didn’t feel right. Plus, he was never quite sure how people from Zaun would react when they learned about his past – even if it was fairly common knowledge at this point that he was from Piltover.

Raine turned around when her eyes caught sight of a stall filled with different books and maps. “Yes!” Her attention was immediately stolen by the books. The woman running the stand was older, and Raine spoke to her in Zaunite, which made the old woman’s expression turn to one of surprise and joy. Jayce couldn’t place what they were saying, not completely at least. There were a few words that he caught since he’d heard Viktor use them many times in the past.

Raine thanked the woman many times after exchanging a few coins, throwing in something else from her bag – a piece of paper with her scribbled handwriting on it. She clutched the book to her chest. “Finally!”

Jayce narrowly avoided getting hit as Raine spun around.

“I’ve been looking for this all over, and now I’ve finally found it.” Raine was absolutely elated and began rambling off a dozen different facts about the book that she had likely heard from her partner. “Payton wanted to go study in Ixtal actually, but with Piltover and all of that it sorta became… impossible.” Her expression dropped as they made their way down the street.

Jayce’s shoulders slumped. “I wanted to go back too.” He might as well let it out instead of allowing his emotions to weigh him down forever.

Raine looked up at him. “You’re from Ixtal?”

Jayce nodded. “I moved here with my mom when I was still pretty young.” He smiled as he remembered the stories Ximena used to tell about the forests and the mages and the million other wonderful parts about Ixtal.

“Why’d you move,” Raine flinched when she realized her words, “if you don’t mind me asking of course.”

“It’s no problem,” he shrugged. “My family thought it would be for the best. There were more opportunities in Piltover, especially with my dad’s hammer business. Ixtal has always been more reclusive.”

His mother used to tell her son that he was going to be something amazing one day and that Ixtal wouldn’t have the space for him to spread his wings. He was meant for greatness, though Jayce didn’t know how much he believed in that now. At the moment, it was like he was fighting for survival all over again. Sure, he’d done a lot, but it didn’t bring the same prestige that being the Man of Progress did.

That was for the best though. Jayce rather liked working in the background as compared to being the one in front of the crowds, forced to take on the burdens of society, trying to appease everyone as best as he could even though it was impossible to make everyone happy.

“I still miss it though,” Jayce admitted, his hands growing clammy. “I wish I could go back at least once.”

Raine was quiet for a moment. She looked out across the crowd of Zaunite, a dozen different faces from several different walks of life – all with their own backstories and dreams. “I know what you mean.” She turned back to him. “My folks are from Shurima, or at least they were.”

Jayce had read little on the desert empire. The most that he knew was that it was currently a land of ruins and fallen grace. The leaders of old were gone. Those that stuck around were primarily nomadic, believing that one day the empire would rise once more.

Raine wiped one of her eyes but hid her tears with a laugh. “I haven’t even been there, but I hate the idea that everything is just gone.”

Jayce put a hand on her shoulder, doing his best to comfort the woman.

She leaned into the touch ever so slightly. “Zaun is still my home, and I’ll fight for it until my last breath, but…”

“But it’s not the same.”

Raine shook her head. “It’s not.”

For Jayce, Zaun was a land of new beginnings just like his mother envisioned Piltover to be. It was where some of the most important people in his life were from, where he lived, worked, loved. As rough as Zaun could be at times, there was a sense of comradery between its people. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if the nation fell as Shurima once did, if the Zaunite Council was spread in the wind like desert sands.

He couldn’t let those that had come to Zaun for a new life lose their home once again.

The conversation drifted into something more typical, about work and less nerve wracking things. Jayce couldn’t fully get into his work, mostly because that would defeat the purpose of trying to talk about something that wasn’t bringing him mountains of stress.

Raine spoke about the different clients at the inn, how she missed seeing Jayce and Viktor, how she hoped that Powder was doing alright. Alright probably wasn’t the right word, but the girl was certainly doing better. She still had episodes, but now he and Viktor knew how to care for her better through them. There were always a few that caught the two of them off guard, but they moved forward together, always ready to support each other.

He was just about to finish up his shopping and bid Raine goodbye when he heard someone calling out for him. Jayce looked around, but everyone was going about their day, nothing to be heard. He tried to shake it off as a sign that stress was getting to him, but the voice called out again.

It was familiar, though not one he heard all the time.

“Jayce,” the voice called in a hissed out whisper.

It was a bit louder, so much so that Raine turned to him in confusion. “Someone’s looking for you.”

Yeah, I can see that. “I don’t know who that would be.” He began looking down the street, across the stalls, but still he came up empty. There wasn’t anyone too familiar, or anyone facing him.

Raine tugged on his sleeve, pulling him away from the market and off to the side. “It’s a kid,” she whispered.

Jayce mentally cursed. He’d been right after all – things never stayed good for long. He let Raine guide him to where she’d seen the child, down an alleyway, of course. The sight before him made his heart stop.

The voice had come from Ekko. Though his face was covered with a mask, his shock of white hair was hard to miss. There were tears in his eyes, and his brows were furrowed together in pain. He was hunched over, hand squeezing his thigh.

Jayce rushed forward. “We have to get you somewhere safe.” First priority was to get the wound checked, questioning could come later.

At least this time the one injured wasn’t actively trying to run away from him. That was a good sign.

Jayce looked around, trying to find a path they could take that wouldn’t involve passing through the crowds of people. Most Zaunites would just look past of course, but even a little bit of attention could blow the whole thing apart especially since Ekko was still wearing the strange mask that looked an awful lot like Eve’s. Oh gods what was Jayce going to do with these kids?

He held out his hand. “I’ll put the mask in my bag, people won’t see it that way.”

Ekko looked hesitant to hand the hard shelled mask over. He looked up at Jayce for a moment, his eyes still wide and close to tears. It was clear the boy was in immense pain, but he still didn’t trust Jayce completely.

That realization stung more than Jayce would have liked to admit. “I promise I won’t tell anyone else about it.”

Ekko looked over Jayce’s shoulder and back at Raine who was standing near the end of the alley, looking out to make sure that nobody bothered them.

Jayce sighed. “Well, except her, but Raine doesn’t know what this,” he pointed at the mask, “means.”

“Where will you take me?” Ekko’s voice was hoarse, like each word pained him to say – like he’d been screaming.

Jayce didn’t want to think of why the boy would be screaming. “I can take you back to the lab. But Viktor will likely still be there.”

Ekko seemed to perk up at the mention of the other man. “Alright, I’ll come to the lab.” He tried to take a step forward, but whatever was wrong with his leg stopped him from doing so. As soon as his foot touched the ground, ready to bear the weight, Ekko collapsed.

Jayce rushed forward to catch the boy before he splayed out on the ground. He tried not to think about how light Ekko was, how he was definitely in need of a few decent meals. He lifted the boy even as Ekko protested against it. “There’s a long way until we’re back at the lab,” Jayce countered. “I don’t want you to strain yourself any further getting there, alright?” He looked down at Ekko to make sure he got the message.

The younger tightened his jaw and looked to the ground with a mix of determination and pain. He was too young to be doing whatever he had done – he was only a year or so older than Powder. Back in the first timeline, Ekko was too young to have to deal with the messes Jayce had created. Now here he was, doing it all over again before he reached fifteen.

So much for fixing things.

Ekko braced himself against Jayce’s side, a bit awkward due to the height difference, but he refused to let the man carry him. “I can do it,” he claimed, even when each step looked like it would cause him to collapse all over again.

Jayce didn’t fight it. He wanted Ekko to trust him, for the boy to know that Jayce believed what he had to say. It would make the questioning process later a lot easier after all.

Because Jayce would be getting to the bottom of this.

It was slow moving, getting to the lab, but that was worth it if it meant Ekko’s injury wasn’t jostled anymore. Due to the awkward way that Ekko was positioning himself, Raine helped up his other side. It was easier to hide him from the crowd that way as well. Less eyes on them was for the best.

Finally they made it to the lab, and Jayce carefully helped the boy down the stairs. He called out for Viktor, trying his best to hide the panic that was likely to be clear in his voice. The tap of Viktor’s cane settled the nervous energy just a bit.

Viktor peered up the staircase. “Jayce are you- oh gods.” He waved his hand for the group to hurry down the stairs so that Ekko could finally get a bit of rest. Viktor cleared off a table as quickly as he could, ensuring it wasn’t one that had questionable chemicals spilled on it. “Set him down here.”

Jayce and Raine lifted Ekko onto the table, against the boy’s protest. “I can stand up myself.”

Viktor stepped in front of him, a scowl on his face. “You will do nothing that could hurt you any further.”

“Vik-”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Viktor’s tone was the coldest Jayce had heard in a while, even when the two of them were arguing there was still an air of warmth to it, as hidden as that warmth was. At the moment though, Viktor was truly angry – though Jayce didn’t believe for a moment that any of that anger was targeted towards Ekko.

Jayce felt sorry for whoever out there had been the cause of the boy’s hurt; they weren’t going to have a good time.

Viktor ordered Jayce and Raine around the lab, though Raine needed a lot more guidance than Jayce did. He pointed the woman in the right direction – gathering gauze, disinfectant, bandages, tape. Finding the supplies gave him something to do that wasn’t just freaking out. That was good.

It was less good when everything was gathered, and Jayce had nothing else to think about other than the state that Ekko was in.

Viktor kept himself steady though, more so than anyone else. He inspected the wound, asking questions, almost like a professional. There was care ebbing into his voice. It was clear to anyone that he was worried about Ekko and was trying his best to give the boy someone strong to lean on in his time of pain.

His face contorted in focus. “We’re going to have to cut this pant leg off.”

Ekko groaned – whether it was from pain or annoyance wasn’t clear. He didn’t argue with Viktor, just set his leg in a position that would allow for the fabric to be cut as easily as possible. Raine actually helped him with most of the moving though.

Viktor worked with quick precision, his hands steady and eyes focused. It was almost beautiful to see, that was if he wasn’t seeing how much pain Ekko was in. That made everything a hell of a lot worse.

The pant leg was peeled back and the wound was fully exposed. It was an ugly sight. Ekko’s leg was a mess of blood — both fresh and dried. That wasn't the worst part though. His knee was bent at an odd angle: a sure sign that it was broken.

Viktor cursed under his breath. “We’re going to have to set it. Raine.”

“Got it, Vik.” The woman stepped in front of Jayce and gave him a quick look.

Jayce knew how to set a bone. He’d done so to himself. Viktor didn’t know that though, and neither did Raine. He couldn’t get upset that they expected little of him given the situation. He allowed Raine to take control, after all, she probably knew more to do.

One bad day in a cave was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

If Viktor trusted her, he did too.

Jayce stepped to Ekko’s side and held the boy’s hand in his. “Squeeze my hand.”

Ekko looked woozy from the pain and blood loss. “What are you- Fuck!” He squeezed Jayce’s hand so hard Jayce would have thought the cracking sound was from his own bones. The sound was horrifying, loud, crunching.

Jayce thought he was going to be sick.

He pushed back the memories of the cave, back to the darkest corners of his mind. He wouldn’t think about his broken leg that never healed quite right, or the loneliness, or the salamanders, or the dirty water, or the blood under his nails, or the hallucinations. Jayce wouldn’t think of any of that.

“Jayce.” Viktor’s voice sounded through his mind.

Jayce opened his eyes, though he couldn’t remember ever closing them.

Ekko was laying on the table, no longer holding Jayce's hand. His eyes were shut tight, eyes flicking back and forth between the lids, likely a nightmare of whatever had occurred during the day.

He looked back up to Viktor who’s expression was full of concern.

Viktor stepped forward and raised a hand to Jayce’s cheek, wiping the skin.

That was how he noticed the tears falling down his cheeks in thick lines. “Where did you go?”

Jayce wanted to ask Viktor the same question, all those times when he paused and got caught up in his own head. But Jayce never questioned it, never wanting to press the topic for fear of what would happen.

Jayce leaned into the man’s touch, ignoring the look the Raine gave him for it. “Just… it brought up some bad memories.” Horrible, terrible memories that Jayce wished he could forget forever. They weren’t any help now; they just kept pulling him into the past and taking him away from the situation at hand. He couldn’t keep allowing that to happen. Especially not when Viktor questioned him about it. How was he really s“Yes, I believe we all do.” Viktor took a seat, his own body beginning to fail him. His voice was pinched and his expression was dim. It certainly wasn’t the look of someone who believed Ekko’s injury was due to an accident.

Anger flared in Jayce’s chest, but he beat it down just as quickly. Viktor didn’t have complete control over what Ekko did, just like he couldn’t micromanage every aspect of Powder’s life. Ekko was free to make his own decisions, even if he was a kid. Those in Zaun were forced to grow up fast. Jayce knew from the moment he’d seen Ekko in the alley that he was a part of the Firelights.

He should have expected it. The boy had been involved the first time, so why would supposed to explain what was going on? It wasn’t like the story he’d told Viktor about his life so far made such a trauma seem possible.

All of his lies were piling up on each other and threatened to crush Jayce. He ran a hand through his hand, tugging at the strands a little more than necessary. “I’m fine now, promise.” Viktor didn’t look like he believed that in the slightest. He shot Jayce a glance like it was a topic they were going to address later. Maybe under the cover of night and blankets, things were easier to admit then in their twilight state.

For now though, they needed to focus on Ekko.

Jayce looked the boy over. His leg was wrapped in layers of bandages, with a splint too. His leg wouldn’t be bending any time soon, it likely wouldn’t be moving at all. The look was similar to Jayce’s own splint months ago – or at least, what felt like months ago. It was hastily done, though more stable than the one he’d created. Viktor and Raine’s work was fantastic.

Raine stood by the table, brushing through Ekko’s hair. “For his sake, I hope this was all just some kind of accident.”

Wouldn’t he join again? This was his calling in every time line it seemed, just like how Jayce would always find himself wrapped up with Viktor. It was inevitable.

For a moment, he wondered how many things were inevitable and if there was a way to keep track of them all. Janna had said to protect her people, but what if fate decided they couldn’t be protected?

Raine stood and picked up her bag. “I’ve got to get back to the inn before Payton loses their head.”

“Of course.” Jayce said. “Thank you for all your help.”

She gave Ekko another look before giving Jayce a saddened smile. “We’re all Zaunites, right? No matter what we’ve done, or where we’ve come from, we have to look out for each other.” She wished Viktor a goodbye and left for the stairs, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

Chapter Text

Viktor was actually the one to start speaking when Ekko woke up. “You’re not going on anymore missions.”

“What!” Ekko jolted up, immediately regretting the decision as his face contorted in pain. “Viktor, come one, you know I can’t give up now.” He groaned and put a hand to his head. Ekko leaned back on the table, Jayce guiding him along the way so he didn’t strain himself anymore than he already had. “Please.”

Viktor shook his head, leaning heavily onto his cane. This was a lot of work for midday – Jayce was ready to call it quits, and he imagined that Viktor was as well. “I wasn’t even aware that you were participating in things like this!” The fact that Viktor raised his voice was enough cause for concern – he only did that when he was truly worked up. “And then to put yourself in such danger that this-” he gestured to Ekko’s leg “-happens? You could have gotten yourself killed.”

Ekko scowled. “You’re the one who told me it was my choice if I wanted to be involved.”

“Not like this.” Viktor’s voice softened. His eyes were lasered in on Ekko’s splint. “You’re just a kid.”

“Most of us are.” Ekko pleaded. “You let Vi and Eve get involved!”

Viktor got to his feet and took a deep breath. He paused for a moment, likely thinking about what he was going to say next.

Jayce had to agree with the man – he didn’t like the idea of kids getting involved in what should have been the business of adults. If it was completely up to him, he and Viktor would be the ones doing all of the work. The Firelights wouldn’t have to be involved at all. Things would be sorted out behind the scenes without any kind of bloodshed or harm done to the civilians. It was a pipe dream at best, but it was what Jayce imagined when he dreamt of what should be happening between Zaun and Piltover.

Not like any of that was going to happen though.

Viktor shook his head. “I don’t enjoy the thought of either of them getting involved either, but they’re older and they have more experience fighting then you do.”

Ekko crossed his arms, wincing as his different cuts and bruises were pulled.

Sure, it wasn’t fair, but nothing that was happening was fair. It felt stereotypical and painful to say, but there wasn’t a single day where life treated the world fairly.

Ekko sighed. “I just want to do something to help. And now,” he looked down at his leg, “I’m not going to do that either.”

Jayce put a hand on the boy’s shoulder, making sure not to be too heavy handed. “You can still help.”

“And how am I going to do that?” The boy rolled his eyes and tore his gaze away from Jayce.

Kids. “Well, Powder tells me that you’re quite the genius.”

The boy flushed and tried to hide it by ducking head, which barely worked. Bashful wasn’t a trait Jayce would have immediately pinned on the boy, but it made him seem more his age – which was always nice to see given how adult-like Ekko had been acting recently. “And what about it?” The boy looked up, seemingly having composed himself quickly. “That’s not going to fix everything.”

“It’s a start though.” Jayce dropped his hands to his lap, trying to appear less intimidating. “How do you think I’ve been getting by?”

Ekko raised a brow at that, which hurt just a little. He didn’t say anything else though and sighed as he leaned back on the table. It seemed like the questioning stage was going to come later. Alright then. As long as Ekko wasn’t putting himself in any more danger then it was all fine. Everything would be fine.

It had to be.

Jayce sighed as he stepped in front of his old apartment. Ekko had opened up a lot more than he had expected, and he tried his best not to let that on, but he was sure his surprise was apparent. Jayce assumed Ekko’s speech had a lot to do with how disappointed and angry Viktor looked – though he was sure none of those emotions were targeted at Ekko. Still, it was hard to see.

Ekko was still at the lab with Viktor. Jayce had persuaded the man to stay back and watch over the boy, though it didn’t take much persuasion at all. Even if Ekko’s wounds were properly taken care of and his leg was set, his status was far from healed. It would be weeks before he could walk properly, even then, an injury like that could lead to lifelong consequences.

Jayce knew all about that.

Jayce had popped over the Kirammen’s before heading to his apartment as he wasn’t completely positive he’d be able to get in on his own. He wasn’t that attuned with lock picks yet, despite how much Powder had been teaching him.

Thankfully, Caitlyn had been the one to see him, and she’d done all the heavy lifting of getting keys together so they could get into the apartment. That did mean that Caitlyn was still by his side when he entered the apartment.

Jayce kept his lips sealed as they walked in, Caitlyn asking a mountain of questions as to why he needed to see his old place. Thankfully, and quite surprisingly, it hadn’t been cleaned out yet. That meant that all of the things he left behind were still in their rightful places, just covered in a layer of dust.

Caitlyn ran a hand down the spines of his books. “My parents thought you’d come back at some point, that you’d continue whatever research it was you were doing.”

Jayce shook his head. “Those days are far behind me now.” He wouldn’t mess with magic anymore – that was for natural spellcasters and mages, for those like Mel that were inherently born with the arcane. Magic was as dangerous as it was beautiful. Jayce couldn’t take that risk, not anymore.

Caitlyn turned back to look at him. “What is it that you were working on?”

Jayce kept his head down as he continued with the rest of his search. He needed to make sure that everything, everything was gone. The idea that people were looking for his information made his blood pressure sky rocket. This was what he got for stepping into the spotlight. The Firelights wanted to learn more about his past – especially Ekko who had met him back when Jayce was still working on Hextech and picking up supplies from Benzo’s shop.

Apparently the Council wanted to learn more about him too. It wasn’t everyday that one of their own all but turned their backs on the topsiders and began working with Zaunites.

Still, he couldn’t tell anyone about what he’d done. Save for Viktor. Viktor was always the exception.

“Jayce.” Caitlyn repeated his name a few times, trying her best to get the man’s attention. “You can’t ignore me forever, you know.”

“I’m not ignoring you.” He walked down the hall to his personal office, where he used to keep his most important notes and materials. That was where he’d kept the crystals, the crystals that were currently sitting at the bottom of the harbor. He let out a breath. Jayce hadn’t left a paper trail that would lead back to those. They should be safe.

Months ago, he burned everything, he must have. He vividly remembered setting his notes in the trash and setting them ablaze. It had been difficult to see his life’s work die for a second time, but it was worth it to prevent the bloodshed that it had brought. It had to be worth it.

Caitlyn leaned on the doorframe. “You most certainly are.”

Jayce ran his fingers under his desk and then along every seam he could possibly think of. There were several hidden compartments in the desk. His memory of that day was fuzzy at best. Had he remembered to collect everything in his hurry? He must have. Jayce wouldn’t have forgotten to burn anything, not with how much was riding on his success.

“Is this about those crystals?”

At the mention of the Hex crystals, Jayce’s head spun over to look at Caitlyn.

She raised a brow. “I assume I’m right about that then.”

Jayce shook his head. “Those are… those are gone.”

Caitlyn stepped into the room. “You said they were too dangerous.”

Part of him wanted to ask her more about what he had said that day. It felt like a lifetime ago. Back then he still wasn’t sure that what he was experiencing was real life. He thought it was all just a dream, that everything around him was some sort of facade that would ultimately come crumbling down. But it hadn’t. He was still alive and now he had to deal with the possible dire consequences of his own unwell and unfocused mind. If only he had been more rational about things. His mother had already told him how smart he was, but Jayce didn’t feel smart at all.

He’d taken far too many risks and now there was a possibility that they’d all come to bite him in the ass.

Jayce’s fingers caught on an indent, a place he’d carved out a handle for one of the desk’s secret compartments.

Caitlyn leaned down next to him, inspecting the desk with her careful gaze. “I thought you were going to start telling me more about these sorts of things.” Her voice was pinched, disappointed if Jayce had to take a guess.

He paused for a moment, his hand hovering near the compartment. How likely was it that Caitlyn already knew more than what was good for her because of Vi? Would the other teen let on that plans were in place, that she was part of a resistance group? Jayce almost wished he’d run in Vi instead because maybe he would get a few more answers. But that hadn’t happened and now he was stuck trying to piece the puzzle back together himself without a clear picture as to what he was trying to make.

And just when things were looking good. It always came crashing down. At this point, he should have learned never to get his hopes up.

“I can’t say much.” Another lie. Or was it? What was a lie and what was the truth anymore, where did one start and the other end. Jayce certainly hadn’t the faintest clue.

Caitlyn leaned back. “I know by now that ‘I can’t say much’ just means something big is going on and you don’t want me getting involved.”

Jayce looked up at her, a mix of pity, fear, and sadness clear on his face.

She shook her head. “My mother’s a Counselor, Jayce, of course I know what that means.” Right. Cassandra Kiramman. The owner of the apartment that possibly held some of the most dangerous information in all of Runeterra who, thankfully, hadn't cleaned it out because she was a tad bit too sentimental. A woman who sat on the same Council that Zaun was currently working against and cutting the trade supply to. No big deal.

Jayce really had to think things through more before he started jumping into them. “I just can’t talk about it, alright, sprout?” His words came out harsher than he intended which caused him to immediately cringe back in guilt when he saw the pain etched across Caitlyn’s face. “Look, I just…” How could he explain this? How could he explain any of this?

He wasn’t the person that Caitlyn thought he was, but at the same time he was. After all, he was still Jayce Talis, just a Jayce Talis who had lived through some of the worst timelines and worked his ass off to fix every mistake he’d put the rest of Piltover and Zaun through. He couldn’t explain that part of his life, and he couldn’t even hint at whatever it was he was doing with the Zaun Council because they were working against the Piltover Council who Caitlyn’s mother was a part of.

It was all a big mess, and Jayce feared that if he started saying anything that everything would come out before he stopped himself because he’d been keeping information to himself for months now and just wanted to tell anyone about what was going on inside his head. But they couldn’t know what was in his head. Talking about Hextech, what could have been, was one thing, and even with that he made sure to keep the details vague. Everything else was off the table.

Caitlyn put a hand on his shoulder, her eyes telling him that it was okay.

Jayce wished he could believe her, that he could believe anyone who said it was going to be okay. Even when he found himself saying he, he couldn’t find it within himself to actually believe the words falling from his mouth. It was a sad existence to live, but as long as everyone else felt better, then it didn’t matter what was happening to him. Jayce knew this was a stupid thought process to have. That didn’t stop him.

Caitlyn let out a breath. “Okay, Jayce. You want to protect me, I get that, and I appreciate it too.”

Jayce hoped that would be the end, but seeing as how things were going, he doubted that would be the case.

“But,” there it was, “You don’t have to do this all alone. What about Viktor?”

If only it was as simple as telling Viktor everything. Jayce wished it was, but of course, life couldn't be that easy. “This doesn’t involve him, and I don’t want it to.” Hextech – or whatever traces of it Jayce had forgotten to get rid of – should bear down Viktor any longer.

The man already had enough on his plate, his own problems, those connections he had with the firelights. He didn’t need Jayce coming along and making his stressors worse. The two of them had their personal problems to deal with. That was fine. Everything was fine.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “And I’m sure he’d be thrilled to hear that.”

Jayce turned back to the desk, realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere with the girl. It hurt – deep in his chest – but it was inevitable. Good things didn’t last forever.

Caitlyn continued to talk, but Jayce was focused on checking every nook and cranny of his desk. He slipped his finger into the latch of one of the hidden compartments and felt it fall open. He waited for a moment to see if anything would fall out. Nothing. He raised his hand, stretching his arm to do so, and felt around for paper. Again, nothing.

Jayce retreated. He must have remembered to burn it the first time then. That was it. He was just paranoid because Ekko had said Jayce’s things were being investigated, and he couldn’t exactly remember what he had and hadn’t burned. But his papers were gone, which meant they were burned, which meant he was safe.

For now.

Jayce stood up and wiped his hands on his trousers, covering them in dust. “Nobody else has been here, right?”

“No.” So Caitlyn didn’t know about the investigation then, which likely meant that Vi wasn’t telling her everything.

Jayce wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. He had other things to worry about though that weren’t the love life of Caitlyn Kiramman.

Nobody else unaccounted for had been there. Good. That just meant Jayce’s memory was spotty and he’d burned all his notes. He was fine. Everything was fine. Nobody was going to get a hand on his work. Even if they did, it wasn’t like they knew where the crystals were – as if they would even be able to get to them. It was fine. Nobody was going to create Hextech again. No world ending, life ending, event was going to take place again. It was fine.

“Jayce.” Caitlyn’s voice was loud in his ear compared to the quiet of the office. Even the streets outside, usually bustling with people, seemed to die down at her interjection. “You need to calm down.” Her hand was on him again, a grounding force even if it was small. She was just a kid; she shouldn’t have to pick up his messes. Caitlyn shouldn’t have to piece him back together when he began to fall apart.

He took in a deep breath, trying to match the girl’s own breathing. It was more difficult than he thought it would be. Jayce had truly worked himself into a panic. Over nothing. Embarrassment washed over him. How terrible that his own thoughts could bring him to the brink all over again. He needed to tighten up – somehow, soon. This couldn’t keep happening.

Caitlyn took her hand back when it was clear that Jayce was doing better. “Maybe you should stop by before you travel back to Zaun.” The part where she said she offered because Jayce looked like shit went unsaid, but it was loud and clear.

The offer hanged for a moment; Jayce truly questioned it. He hadn’t seen Cassandra in quite a while, and the only times he had seen her were in less than fantastic circumstances. However, that didn’t mean their history was completely wiped aside. There had been a time where the woman cared for him, wanted to see him flourish to his full potential. Jayce doubted that was the case anymore, since they were on opposite sides and all that – though he didn’t want to think about it that way. After all, weren’t each of them seeking peace between the nations? That was more important than any side.

“Alright.” Jayce still wasn’t sure if it was the best decision he could have made, but it was the one he had spoken aloud. “I can stop by, but just for a little bit” He didn’t want to be spending too much away from his duties. The excursion to Piltover was only meant to be a short thing after all.

Jayce sat in the Kiramman’s sitting room, a teacup in his hand. It was awkward to say the least. He couldn’t find it in himself to look into Cassandra’s eye no matter how much he tried. So far, they had stayed far away from politics, which he was eternally grateful for, but he could sense that the woman wanted to ask him questions about the matter that she wouldn’t allow herself to do in the presence of her daughter. At least Tobias was being civil. Jayce had to focus on the good things or else he was certainly going to lose his head.

“So Jayce, how are you finding the Undercity?” Tobias asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

Jayce cringed. “Zaun is actually quite a nice place once you find your spot in it.” He remembered his conversation with Raine, how despite the woman’s slight disconnect and want to understand her own familial history, she still found herself attached to Zaun. She spoke of the nation with reverence and love, the kind that nobody in Piltover could understand. Sometimes, Jayce wondered if he would even fully understand it himself. But Zaun had taken him in, and for now, that was enough.

Tobias raised a brow, shocked at the man’s words – though it was more likely he was unaccustomed to someone from Piltover using the name Zaun so clearly. Tobias would have remembered the rebellion, would have known what it was like for Zaun to be truly Zaun.

Jayce doubted the man thought of the name in any manner of pleasant. “Viktor has helped me of course; I would be completely lost without him.” He couldn’t help but speak praises of the man. Viktor was wonderful even in his worst days. Jayce had seen him in his most questionable form and still thought the figure standing before him was someone to be loved, someone that was far from broken.

“Viktor is your partner?” Tobias took a sip of his own tea.

Jayce nodded. “He’s the brightest mind I’ve ever seen.” He didn’t want to divulge too much information about their work, especially not in front of a Councilmember, that would just be stupid. He could only speak of the unimportant things and be vague about the details. Cassandra wouldn’t have anything to pass on to the rest of the Council if Jayce kept his lips tightly sealed, but then the room would grow even tenser, so he had to be careful with what fell. “Heimerdinger wanted Viktor to be his assistant actually, more than just the assistant dean position though,” he glanced over to Cassandra, “but Viktor is worth more than any assistant position.”

Cassandra pursed your lips. “You speak very highly of a man you’ve only known for a few months.”

Jayce cringed. He hadn’t known she was aware of that. “I know the right people when I see them.” Not entirely true, but certainly so in Viktor’s case. The first time they’d met, the real first time, Jayce knew that they would always be in each other’s orbits. It was fate, destiny even. Knowing about all the other timelines, the information that the older Viktor had given to him, only survived to prove him correct.

Wherever Viktor was, Jayce would find and follow, until the end of his days.

“So,” Cassandra spoke once more, “What work is it that you and Viktor do exactly?”

Jayce couldn’t help how his eyes narrowed into a slight glare. “We mostly do odd jobs, though we’ve done a lot of work with prosthetics since the mines in Zaun are such a dangerous place.” He couldn’t help but make at least a slight reference to the lives that those in Zaun had to deal with. It wasn’t as though anyone in Piltover had to live like that, had to sacrifice so much of themselves just to get money that barely helped them survive.

Cassandra looked a bit guilty after he spoke and averted her gaze.

Jayce didn’t know whether or not that should make him feel guilty. He didn’t want to lose every connection he had topside, there were still those he cared about, who he wanted in his life, but it was getting more and more difficult with the deeper he got himself involved in the politics behind it all.

That was what had happened the first time, wasn’t it? He had gotten involved in the Council and that had blown up right in his face. Quite literally at the very end. But he couldn’t stop now, he couldn’t stop because there was so much left to do, because he had promised he’d fix things to a literal goddess because Viktor was involved too and he couldn’t untangle himself from the other.

What a mess.

Cassandra put her tea down and folded her hands on her lap. “That is quite… admirable work, Jayce.”

“Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know if there was anything else to say.

He didn’t stay long after that. Jayce simply couldn’t. As he was leaving the Kiramman’s home, Caitlyn called out after him. “Jayce, wait up!”

Feet planted on the ground, he stood and waited for Caitlyn to come closer. “Is something up, Cait?”

The girl paused, pursed her lips, then shook her head. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Mum was… harsher than usual.”

Don’t involve the kids when they don’t need to be involved. “It’s fine, things are just tense.”

She looked to the ground for a moment and sighed. “I don’t know what’s happening with you recently, and I know you’re not going to tell me all the details.”

Jayce cringed.

“But, I want you to know I’ll look out for you, especially with Mum and Dad.”

It was times like these that made Jayce remember just how young Caitlyn was. He smiled, tension falling from his shoulders. “Thanks, Cait, it means a lot.”

She smiled too. “Yeah, well,” she gently punched his shoulder, “I’ll find out what’s going on soon enough.”

Jayce tried not to let the panic rise on his face. “Guess you’ll have to get investigating then.”

Chapter Text

Jayce debated telling Viktor about everything that happened. He knew he should have, and he wanted to, but he was still nervous. But they were supposed to be telling each other things, given the other their puzzle pieces. So, Jayce would have to tell him. That was fine. Everything was fine.

It could wait until morning though. It would have to wait for the morning because he feared that if he didn’t then Jayce was going to lose his head. Sleep was difficult though since he was right beside Viktor, the man curled up against his side. Thankfully, Viktor fell asleep rather quickly, the day’s events sucking any kind of energy out of him. Jayce didn’t like how much he liked that. Allowing the other was far easier than trying to strike up a conversation about what had happened.

Clearly, Jayce had spent more time in Piltover than necessary for just investigating his old apartment. The other man must have known that there was another place he visited. Viktor didn’t seem mad about it though; another thing to be grateful for.

Jayce’s dreams were filled with worry and images of horrible circumstances – the kinds of things that he had seen once before and couldn’t bear to see again. The world in flames. People falling around him. The screams of innocent civilians who were just trying to get by. Jayce never wanted to watch such a fate befall Zaun or Piltover.

He tried to hold on tight to Viktor, feeling his cold skin beneath his hands and fingers. Slight chemical fumes, bone deep grease, and lavender soap filled his nose as he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Viktor was still here. Powder was in the other room. Ekko was laid out on the couch resting up where the two adults could oversee. Caitlyn was back at home. Vi… Jayce wasn’t sure where she was, but ever since her last run in, she came back safe every time. Everyone was safe, and by telling Viktor the truth Jayce could ensure that everyone was truly safe.

With a final deep breath, Jayce allowed sleep to pull him under

Viktor greeted Jayce as he stepped out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. “Good morning, drahý.” There was a smile on the man’s face as he served breakfast to the two children sitting at the table.

Ekko didn’t look too pleased, though Jayce couldn’t blame him for that. His leg was bandaged beyond belief and there was a crutch resting by his side that he shot glares at as well.

Jayce gave the boy a sympathetic look and stepped to Viktor’s side. “Good morning to you too, V.” The tension in his voice was impossible to hide completely, so Viktor immediately caught on that something was going on. He raised a brow, and Jayce’s smile fell. “Can we talk later?” He gestured his head towards Powder and Ekko. To start something in front of the children wouldn’t be right, especially not so early in the morning.

Viktor gave him a look of understanding, a lot better than a glare or even the mild annoyance that Jayce was expecting. Though that was just his anxiety getting to him once again. The other wouldn’t be mad at him. Right? Viktor didn’t know the full extent of Jayce’s previous work, only that he had been trying to create magic, that it was dangerous, and that he had thrown it all away.

Or at least, Jayce thought he had thrown it all away.

The more he went over that day’s events in his mind, the less sure he was that all of his notes were properly disposed of. That paired with Ekko telling Jayce his apartment was being investigated created a whole host of problems. Cassandra didn’t seem like she had any new information on him – it was likely she wouldn’t have let him leave if she knew he had tried to create magic. But if the Council didn’t have his notes, then who did?

Breakfast passed in a haze. Jayce could barely focus on what he was eating. When he went to take a sip of tea, he’d burned his tongue since he didn’t let it rest for long enough. At least that had gotten a smirk out of Ekko.

Powder was stuck to Ekko’s side like glue, telling the boy that she could gather up their supplies from the super-secret-never-to-be-found base they had and bring them back to the apartment so they could still work.

Surprisingly, Jayce was on board with that. He wanted to see more of what the girl got up to in her free time, especially to make sure that none of it had any sort of connection with the Firelights. The hoverboard idea had already been pawned off on the group – which Jayce tried exceptionally hard not to feel bitter about – so there was no denying that something like that could happen again. Even if Powder didn’t know what she was doing, what she was causing, it would give Jayce a little more insight as to what his partner got up to.

Ekko shook his head though, smirk replaced with a frown. “There’s too much risk. We can just finish our projects later.” Give it to Ekko to simultaneously sound like an annoyed adult and the child that he truly was all at once. The display was unnerving to say the least.

Viktor let out a small breath as well.

That caused all sorts of alarm bells to ring in Jayce’s head.

Later. They would talk later when the children were occupied with whatever it was going to be for the day – Jayce had a sneaking suspicion it would be drawing since Ekko wasn’t in the mood nor ability to travel just yet.

With dishes washed, taking more time that was truly necessary for such a task since Jayce was stalling once more, and the children hauling up in Powder’s room, Jayce realized that later came a lot sooner than he would have liked. Then again, when did the world ever treat him right?

“So,” Viktor started, his tone hesitant as he held a mug of steaming sweet milk. “Shall we talk?”

Jayce’s mouth became dry, like it was filled with cotton. He had been the one to say they would talk about everything. The apartment was quite aside from chatter that came from Powder’s room. “Right, yes, do you…” Talking about everything out in the open felt strange, but the bedroom didn’t have the cover of night anymore. Everything would be laid bare.

Viktor took a step towards the bedroom, leaning less on his cane. That was always a good sign; his illness wasn’t progressing then.

Without a word, Jayce followed, as he always did. He kept the door open just a smidge in case the children needed anything. That didn’t help his anxiety that someone could overhear though. Oh well, it couldn’t be perfect.

Viktor took a seat at the desk they had set up in the bedroom — likely so he didn’t overexert himself, especially not on what appeared to be a good day. “Where do you want to begin?”

The way Viktor said it made the conversation sound like a business transaction. The two of them were far past that, had been since the start. Jayce couldn’t remember a time when that was all they were, even before, there was always something bubbling beneath the surface. He shook his head with a smile that was more from nerves and confusion than happiness. “I went to my old apartment.”

He told Viktor everything that happened — for once leaving in details that were more than a little questionable. The crystals, the notes, the missing notes, being invited to the Kiramman’s and actually going through with it. Telling Viktor everything felt more relieving than anything else.

Viktor seemed pleased by it too.

He listened to everything that Jayce had to say with open ears. Never once did he protest, didn’t tell Jayce that he had done something stupid or that everything was his fault. He waited to ask questions until everything was over. Viktor was calm, collected, and best of all loving.

Jayce couldn’t ask for anything more.

“What will the next plan be?” Viktor folded his hands over his lap, tugging at his fingers ever so slightly. Though he was trying hard to hide it, Viktor was nervous too. “Should we speak with the Council?” The Zaunite one of course, not the Pilotver one. Those days were long gone.

Wood creaked as Jayce paced back and forth. He bit at his lip. Bringing it up in front of the entire Council would just bring more panic. The Councilors wouldn’t show it, but they would certainly feel it. Plus, telling them would mean that more people knew that Jayce had been trying to make magic — more people that could wish for him to start it back up.

“That probably isn’t the best idea right now.” Jayce was a bit selfish, he wanted things to be as normal as possible for as long as possible.

“Silco and Sevika then.”

It was clear they had to tell someone. If there was a person out there that had his notes, that was a risk. Jayce tried to convince himself that it wasn’t, that without the crystals his work was useless, but then again, hadn’t Jinx figured it all out by herself those years ago? Sure, she had the crystal, but what was there to say another power source couldn’t be utilized. A power source that was just as deadly as the deadly crystals, that could bring just as much destruction.

How much of a stretch was that?

Jayce sat on the bed, his hands gripping his knees.

Why did everything have to be so difficult? Why could Janna just come down and protect her people on her own? Why did she need him to sort it all out for him? None of this was fair. Jayce knew that it had never been fair, for anyone involved at any time, but that didn’t make it any easier to digest.

“Hey.” Viktor was standing in front of him, his cane hanging on his arm and his weight on his good leg.

Jayce’s arms shot out to steady the man even though he knew Viktor didn’t need it. It was an instinct from so many times in the past where he had seen Viktor fall, grow unsteady on his feet. The reminder that those memories were in the past, before Viktor was back in shape, with his new medicine nonetheless, floated in front of his eyes. Jayce loosened his grip, but only slightly. He needed Viktor close.

Viktor was the only thing that made sense anymore, even on the days where the other felt like a mystery. He was still there, in front of Jayce, real as the smog in Zaun’s air or the mass of love that filled Jayce’s chest whenever he thought about Viktor.

Hands raked through his hair, parting the strands with gentle precision. “Come back to me, lásko.” Viktor’s voice was as sweet as honey, filling Jayce’s ears with a soft melody. “Tady jsem.” His voice dipped as he spoke his native tongue.

Jayce could get drunk on the feeling that swirled within him when Viktor spoke Zaunite. “I’m back.” His voice cracked unpleasantly, but he hid the sound as he pulled Viktor forward and rested his head against the man’s chest. Jayce hated these conversations.

But it would be worth it in the end. It had to be. If Jayce didn’t believe in that, then there was nothing to believe in at all. All of this pain would be for nothing if he gave up now. Furthermore, there’d be people still turning to him for guidance, and he would leave them stranded.

“We should probably tell them.” Jayce finally agreed. Those two knew how to keep secrets after all. If there were anyone Jayce could trust with this information – aside from Viktor – it was Silco and Sevika.

If only his past self could see him now.

Viktor sat by his side and placed a hand on Jayce’s leg. “Are you certain?”

Jayce didn’t particularly like the idea that he seemed fragile, someone that needed to be watched over, but he couldn’t exactly blame Viktor for taking the precaution. He nodded. “Yeah, yeah I’m sure.”

“Alright then, we’ll tell them.” Jayce sighed. These steps were necessary for everyone’s protection, he had to remind himself of that. Everything would work out in the end. Jayce just had to keep his head right on his shoulders, and they would get out of this alive and well.

Silco looked across the room as Viktor and Jayce stood with twin expressions of nervousness. Jayce perhaps a little more so. He admitted to more people that he had nearly committed the terrible act of creating magic; he also admitted that his attempt to prevent that may not have worked.

It would be a stroke of luck – perhaps even a miracle – if Silco and Sevika trusted him after that.

The man in question rubbed his temples , trying to prevent a headache that was surely going to come sooner rather than later. “Do you have any idea who could have gotten a hold of your work? Was there anyone else that knew what you were working on?”

Jayce shook his head. “The only person was Viktor.”

Silco looked at said man but looked away quickly. Viktor wouldn’t have taken his work. He seemed just as adamant to let magic fall away as Jayce did. “Did Kiramman tell you if the enforcers found anything?”

“Nothing.” Jayce wondered if it would have been better for the enforcers to find his work. At least then he would have more of an in through the Kirammans. “E-” He was about to tell the pair that Ekko had said that there were plenty of eyes on Jayce, even more that wanted to figure out what his deal was. Selling out the child was not on his list of things to do though. He didn’t even know if Silco was aware of the Firelights, who they were, and what they did.

Jayce mentally marked that down for later thought, the Firelights could be vastly important in the future.

Sevika stepped forward, tugging her shawl tighter over her shoulder. “So you need to look into anyone that could be scouring for your research.” She spoke with a commanding tone that Jayce had grown accustomed to. They’d picked well when they asked her to oversee the Council. “Who are the top scientists in the Lanes?”

Jayce shot a quick look at Viktor.

“That isn’t either of you two.” Sevika shook her head. She walked through the room with a commanding presence.

How she did it was a mystery that Jayce would never crack.

He thought about every other scientist he had met throughout his time in Zaun. Many of them didn’t seem the type to take a risk such as traveling to Piltover. With the rising tension between the nations, if they were found breaking into a Piltovian apartment – especially one owned by the Kiramman’s at that – it would be completely over for them.

The name came to him before he could push it away. “No.” Three sets of eyes turned to look at him. “No, there can’t be anyone else.”

Viktor tensed as the realization came to wash over him as well. “Oh.” When the other man didn’t have anything else to say, that was a terrible sign. Viktor sucked in a breath and looked at the ground. He held his cane tighter, his knuckles turning white. He bit his lip, nearly breaking skin.

Jayce took a step closer and placed his hand on the other’s lower back, trying his best to be a grounding presence even when he was mentally losing it as well. Viktor wouldn’t fall apart, not here, but that didn’t mean he didn’t need help keeping it together.

Sevika shook her head and looked at Silco. “I told you, you never should have gotten involved with him.”

“I believed Singed was our only hope to progress further.” Silco placed his elbows on his desk and wrapped his hands together. “I never could have assumed that Viktor and Talis would have shown up.”

Jayce kept himself from rolling his eyes as Silco once again referred to him as “Talis”. The man was never going to let that one go.

Sevika huffed as she turned her back to the group and looked out of the window behind Silco’s desk. “He’s going to be even more dangerous now. He has nothing left to lose, after all. And,” she chuckled, “It seems like he has a personal grudge.”

Jayce swallowed hard. He never should have turned to Singed. Even though it had been for Viktor, even though it was out of desperation, he never should have allowed himself to take that step. It hadn’t worked on in the end; if anything, it had made his and Viktor’s relationship worse, driving a stake between them for a time. Singed was bad news, horrible news. To think that he could have been the one behind the theft was enough to put everyone on edge.

“We’ll have to find him.” He took a step forward. “If he begins to crack any of my designs it could mean the end of all of us.” Singed could take out his anger on a lot more than just Piltover, he would likely turn his back on Zaun as well. After Silco turned away from Shimmer, that was another nail in the coffin to Singed’s work.

Then there was the debacle that Jayce created when he tried to get medicine for Viktor where he’d seen Singed’s anger in full force. He didn’t spend enough time in the other’s lab to know exactly what Singed was working on, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

A lifetime ago he’d seen what Singed was capable of. The man was part of the reason that Viktor had become the Machine Herald. He was to blame as well.

Viktor padded over to the sofa that sat in Silco’s office, a place where, almost a lifetime ago, they had fleshed out work negotiations. Jayce never would have believed that those actions would bring him to where he was today. It felt… impossible. Like a nightmare, that was the best way to describe it. Everything was going to shit, the people he loved the most were hurting, and it felt as though there was nothing he could do to fix it at all.

“You don’t have any leads.” Sevika supplied, a half laugh present in her voice.

Jayce kept his anger to himself, that wouldn’t fix anything. Sevika was just trying to get a rise out of him.

Now if only it didn’t work so well.

“Thank you, Councilor.”

Sevika scowled and turned her back once more. Although she had accepted her position on the Council, welcomed the extra burden of leading it all, that didn’t mean that she truly enjoyed it. If anything, Jayce had a nagging suspicion she liked it just as little as Jayce himself would have. “While it looks dim, we do have the position of his past laboratory.”

“Though we have no idea if he is still using it,” Viktor added. With his shoulders drawn tight to his ears, he didn’t look to be the imposing figure that Jayce knew he could be. The man just looked scared and stressed.

Jayce took a seat next to him. He placed an arm around the man’s shoulders, not caring who saw at that moment or what they thought. Viktor needed him and that was the only thing that mattered. “It’s a start. He had to leave some sort of trace, some hint of where he was going.”

Silco lit a cigar. “Or he’ll leave one soon enough. Humans are not ghosts; there are always signs of where we’ve been.” Smoke rose in a thin stream.

The smell filled Jayce’s nose more than he would have liked. “Exactly. Soon enough, he’ll have to give even if we’re lost. First,” he made sure to look directly into Viktor’s eyes, “we check the lab. After that, we bring together what we know and decide our next course of action.”

The other’s lips were a thin line as he listened. There was plenty within his gaze which spoke more than his mouth could bear. Jayce barely knew the outline of what had happened between Viktor and Singed, both times around. He wasn’t about to push though, not here and not around so many people. He would pick up the pieces when Viktor dropped them for him. Until then, Jayce had to be strong and fix the mess he’s ultimately created.

If only he could stop having to do that. It was exhausting, especially when Jayce didn’t have any idea what to do. He had to pretend, for Viktor and for himself. Pretending until it finally worked out in the end.

How hard could it be?

Chapter Text

Jayce couldn’t bear to see that Viktor was in after their meeting with Silco and Sevika. The meeting had stretched on longer than anyone could have anticipated, a lot of arguments on the details of what they would all do next, what information couldn’t be shared with anyone no matter how secure one thought the other was, and of course, a lot of snark that didn’t help anyone feel better about the idea of Singed being an issue to deal with once again.

So much stress.

Viktor looked close to tears as they walked out of The Last Drop, a late lunch along the way and something for the children as well. There was food at the apartment, but Jayce knew that Ekko and Powder were nearly as bad as he and Viktor when it came to dragging themselves away from their work to take care of needs. Hopefully they hadn’t gotten into too much trouble, though Jayce wouldn’t put it past them.

He kept a hand in Viktor’s, praying to whoever was listening to help the man who very obviously needed it. The light that typically shone in Viktor’s eyes seemed a little duller, his expression lacking the tiny movements it was usually filled with. He looked like an empty shell.

Jayce wished he knew exactly what was going on inside his head, maybe then he would be of any help, but as it stood he was nearly totally clueless. If only Viktor had dropped a few more pieces along the way, perhaps then he could have picked them up and put them together to build something of a fuller picture.

Despite that line of thought, he still didn’t blame the other man. The worry was just consuming him, and Jayce feared what would happen when it finally bubbled over.

They made it back to their apartment unscathed and with food in hand. Jayce opened the door for Viktor who drifted through the threshold like a ghost. “Why don’t you sit down, V. I’ll go check on Ekko and Powder to make sure they haven’t blown anything up.” It was a futile attempt at a joke.

Viktor gave him the most miniscule of nods as he sat at the kitchen table. His arms were stuck to his sides as if they had been glued there. Everything was falling apart.

The business. The almost peace with Piltover. The family. Viktor. Everything was getting ripped apart at the seams, and Jayce didn’t think there was enough he could do at this point to sew it all back together. What happened to the saying “third time’s the charm?” Could he get another chance? Maybe then he wouldn’t fuck it up so astronomically.

He pulled himself together enough to check on the children. They were still in Powder’s room, but the plates that sat on the girl’s dresser, empty aside from some crumbs, they had at least eaten. “What are you two working on?”

Powder looked up from her spot on her bed, and Ekko glanced over from where he sat at Powder’s desk.

The boy made a horrible attempt at covering his work nonchalantly.

Jayce didn’t look too much into it, by the way Ekko was avoiding everyone’s eyes it was more likely that he was just embarrassed than doing anything that was worth looking into. Those two, there were quite the handful.

Powder smiled. “Just drawing.”

Jayce placed a hand on the doorframe, wondering how long he could stand there before it started to get awkward, before he had to return to reality. “Alright then, dinner’s out in the kitchen whenever the two of you are ready.”

“Thanks, Jayce!” Powder seemed oblivious to whatever was going on with her friend, but Jayce wasn’t going to interfere. He could still remember when he was a young boy with a crush. Fuck, he wasn’t much better now that he was an adult, even after living more years than he technically should have been.

With that, he left Powder and Ekko to themselves, satisfied that they hadn’t gotten into any trouble. He’d check in again later, just to make sure that Ekko’s injuries weren’t bothering him. Yeah. That was the only reason. It definitely wasn’t because he was freaking out about Viktor and didn’t know how to help the other man when he felt as though that was his one job in the world. No, that would be silly.

He padded back into the kitchen, filled a kettle with water, and placed it onto the stove. Maybe some tea would help the situation. Lavender was good, as was chamomile, they could help ease the anxiety that was hammering in Jayce’s chest and clear enough on Viktor’s face. It would be fine. They’d make tea and talk and have dinner. They’d curl up in bed together at the end of the night and in the morning everything would be better. That was what would happen. Jayce was just overthinking things again.

Taking a spot next to Viktor, he waited for the water to boil. Viktor’s hands were on the table, but Jayce didn’t take that as an open invitation to wrap his own around them. Whatever was going on in Viktor’s head, it made him practically dead to the world; he was stuck with his own thoughts and the last thing Jayce wanted was to jolt him from them randomly with unasked for touch.

“Hey,V,” his voice was low. He tried as hard as he could to ensure that his tone was calming and his syllables came out steady. It was a lot harder than it looked. “You want to try coming back to me? I promise I can help you with whatever you’re thinking about.” He would surely try; Jayce just wasn’t a hundred percent sure that it would actually work it at all. But trying was worth it. It was always worth it in the end. “Please, V, I don’t know what to do if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

The kitchen was quiet, the only sound was the muffled chatter of the kids and the water coming to boil. Viktor looked at the table, eyes wide like he’d witnessed something terrible. His mouth opened, slowly, very hesitant.

“You won’t like these pieces.”

The words were enough to make Jayce fall apart. “V, I promise, no matter what you say it won’t make me care for you any less.” He wanted to put his arms around the other, to pull the man close to his chest and block out the rest of the world. He didn’t really know what Viktor was talking about, but he knew whatever it was wouldn’t change how he thought of the man. Nothing could change his love.

Viktor looked up at him, true fear in his eyes. A fear that looked like it stemmed from something bigger than Silco and Sevika’s meeting, bigger than Singed even, bigger than whatever mess they had gotten themselves into this time.

Jayce inched closer, his hand on the table in a silent offer. “Please tell me what’s going on.” He was pleading, practically begging. His voice cracked, and his posture worsened. Jayce wanted answers, but more than that, he wanted to fix whatever was messing with Viktor’s head.

The man in question turned and took a long breath. It didn’t sound steady. “Promise me that you’ll believe me.”

“I’d believe anything you told me, querido.” Probably not the best time for pet names. It was too late though, and it wasn’t as though Jayce didn’t mean it. Viktor was dear to him, more than Jayce would have ever thought possible. “Anything at all.” He’d believed Viktor’s lies even – though those brought some sour memories to the surface.

Viktor wrapped his hand around the handle of his cane and placed it on the ground as though he was about to stand. A quick escape, if things went south. Jayce didn’t know if he should stop the man if it came to that. It was clear that whatever Viktor was about to tell him brought him massive amounts of stress, but would it be better to give him space or cling to him as tightly as he could?

So many questions and not nearly enough answers.

Viktor closed his eyes, as though he was bracing for a strike. As if that would ever come. Not now, not ever.

He turned and looked at Jayce with watery eyes. “I know you’re not from this timeline.”

The world went dark.

Viktor knew. Viktor knew. These months of worrying and wondering how, if ever, he would break the news and Viktor had known. Wait - “How do you know that?” The cane bore more of Viktor’s weight as he shifted in his seat. “Because I am too.”

Everyone fell apart.

“V- Viktor,” Jayce got to his feet before he could stop himself, “how could you, I mean, when-” He fisted his hands in his hair. Viktor wasn’t supposed to be from the past; he wasn’t supposed to know all the terrible things Jayce had done. He wasn’t supposed to be plagued with the same horrified memories. He was supposed to have a fresh start. Wiped. Everything was supposed to be better this time around.

Everything was supposed to be okay.

The boiling water was whistling, but nobody stepped to take it off the stove.

“Jayce, I- I swear, I wanted-” Viktor was on his feet, “I wanted to tell you b-but…” His voice died in his throat before he could finish his thought. His chest was rising and falling at an alarming pace, and his eyes had grown red. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks, but Viktor was stronger than Jayce was; he would hold them back no matter how much it hurt. Viktor took two steps away from the table. “But you weren’t saying anything!”

“Because I didn’t know!” Jayce didn’t want to yell. He didn’t want to yell at Viktor of all people, know how much it crushed the other man, and he didn’t want the children to overhear them arguing. The kids didn’t need to hear all of that. “You should have told me once you realized what was going on.” Even as he said it, Jayce wasn’t sure if that was completely true. There was no time where Viktor dropping such a statement would be anything less than heartbreaking and confusing beyond belief.

Jayce sat back in his chair and covered his face with his hands. His skin felt blotchy, and he felt like he was going to be sick. “You could have told me.”

“And see you react the way you are now?” Viktor’s voice cracked. He fisted his hand into his shirt, right where his heart would be. “You were happy thinking I was the old me.”

His hands dropped. “Viktor I-” Jayce snapped his mouth shut. He couldn’t lie about that. If Viktor wasn’t going to lie about being from their original timeline, then Jayce would let his lies fall away as well. He was happy thinking that Viktor didn’t have any memories from the past, for his own sake and for Jayce’s. Life would have been easier that way. Lies. So many lies. So many that Jayce had drowned under. So many that-

Jayce looked up at the other man. “What else haven’t you told me?” His tone was filled with heartbreak and lingering fear. Everything felt possible now that Viktor had admitted to his secret keeping. “When did you know I was from the past?” He gripped the edge of the table, nails digging into hard wood.

Viktor turned his back.

Jayce wanted to turn him right back.

“I knew the moment I saw you again.”

Life came crashing down for the second time in less than ten minutes. “Viktor, that… that was months ago. That was…” A hollow sensation replaced Jayce’s heart. Viktor had known the entire time and didn’t say a single word about it. He had played with Jayce that first night, saying things that the latter could have only dreamt of. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The question replayed in his mind over and over again, just like Viktor’s words.

At any moment Viktor could have told Jayce, could have stopped the other from spiraling when he worried about what Viktor would think of him if the other found out about all the things they did in the past, about the things that Jayce had failed to do. And the entire time Viktor already knew. He knew all those things that kept Jayce up at night. Another question erupted into his mind.

“Why did you leave Piltover?”

Viktor had taken another few steps backwards in the time it took Jayce’s mouth to catch up with his mind. His hand gripped his cane tightly, leaning on it heavily. At any moment it looked like he was about to take the out and get as far as was humanly possible from Jayce.

Jayce couldn’t stop himself from talking. “I looked for you when I came back. I wanted to make sure you were okay, that you were alive. But you left, Viktor, you left Piltover.” And me. That was the part that hurt the most. One of the first things that Jayce thought about was Viktor: where was he, was he safe, was he hurt, did he need help. But Viktor had returned to Zaun without trying to find Jayce at all.

For all his talk about how he and Jayce were partners though anything, his actions were beginning to show that wasn’t completely true. Did Viktor even want to work together anymore? Did he want to forget his life in Piltover for good and restart in Zaun? If not, then why had he returned without telling Jayce a single thing? “Viktor, say something!” Jayce hated how his voice rose, angry and broken. He didn’t want the kids to hear, and he didn’t want Viktor to be even more upset than he already was.

Or maybe he did. Jayce couldn’t really tell. He thought the other deserved it, at least a little bit, for putting Jayce through such an emotional few minutes. Few months really.

Viktor raised a hand and pulled at his hair. “What do you want me to say, Jayce? That I was scared. That I didn’t know if this was real. That I didn’t want to ruin everything again.” With each word that fell from his lips, his conviction grew stronger, his body taut like a bow. The water was still boiling – the whistle loud as a scream – and either man was about to erupt at any second. It was only a matter of who would break first.

“You could have said something that first night at least, given me some sort of sign that you knew who I was.” Jayce’s skin was on fire.

“And you could have done the same!” Viktor’s eyes were ablaze.

“I’m not the one who knew!”

The distance between them grew larger, like a canyon had opened up within the kitchen. There was no bridge that Jayce could use to get back to Viktor’s side, and Viktor just kept eroding the chasm. Viktor scowled, cold as ice. “Do not act as if I am the only one who has made mistakes, Jayce.”

There was no love in the way Viktor said his name.

It seemed there was a first for everything, even the worst things possible.

Jayce was silent for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts before he said something he couldn’t take back, again. The kettle was still whistling, so he decided to finally take it off the stove. He had to walk past Viktor to do so, and he didn’t brush shoulders with the other man like he would have had it been any other day. Jayce didn’t know where they stood with each other anymore. He thought that they had slowly been chipping at each other’s walls, finding out more and more about each other at the pace they wanted, in the way they wanted. But it turned out that all of Jayce’s walls didn’t matter because Viktor had already seen the other side.

The hot metal stung his hand as Jayce took the kettle off the stove, the whistle finally dying down. He looked down at the wound. It wasn’t a bad burn, not deep; he didn’t run it under cold water though. Nothing could hurt as much as Viktor’s words.

The chatter in the other room died down. Shit. The kids. There was no way they hadn’t heard him and Viktor arguing. That would have been too good of luck, and Jayce didn’t have any of that left.

Jayce risked turning around, and Viktor glared. That just made everything worse. The life that he had constructed in Zaun was falling apart piece by piece. He didn’t want to abandon it though, no matter how terrified he was for what was going to happen next.

Despite it all, he still wanted Viktor by his side. He just hoped that the man felt the same way.

“We shouldn’t talk about this when the children are here.” Viktor’s voice was cold, so cold it chilled Jayce to his very core.

“I agree.” There were tears that threatened to spill down Jayce’s cheeks. He couldn’t cry. He needed to stay strong, for his own sake and for the sake of Powder and Ekko who were likely to come out of the bedroom at any moment.

Sure enough, Powder’s door creaked open and the sound of footsteps and Ekko’s crutches filled Jayce’s ears. He sighed. They needed to figure out what they were going to do next, and fast.

Viktor glanced at the door and back at Jayce. “We need space from each other right now.” He stepped back, lips forming a thin line.

Jayce could practically see the gears turning in his head.

“I’m going to step out. Go see Raine. At least for tonight, I’ll stay at the inn.”

Jayce wanted to tell him no, to tell him that they could work it out at the apartment, but logically it was for the best that they stepped away from each other for a little bit. Emphasis on the little part.

Watching Viktor leave was harder than Jayce could have imagined. Even though he knew, logically, that Viktor would come back – at least at some point – it felt like saying goodbye forever. They still had nonnegotiable work to do together, work for Silco, work for their customers that they couldn’t exactly stop.

Gods, if the last argument they had made work awkward, this was going to be impossible.

Powder and Ekko eventually left the girl’s room, and Jayce tried to explain as gently as he could that Viktor was staying at the inn for the night, that he’d – probably – be back in the morning. Powder didn’t look convinced at all when he told her that there was nothing bad going on. Firstly, she’d heard them arguing, and secondly, she was too perceptive for her own good most times.

She didn’t say anything inflammatory, though as the three of them ate dinner that night Jayce could tell that it was still bothering her.

For a split second, he wondered if his and Viktor’s situation reminded her anything of Vander and Silco. He didn’t know exactly how old the girl had been when Vander took her in, and how close Silco had been to her – how long that relationship had lasted. Jayce shook the thought away. He and Viktor were in a very different situation. As far as he was aware, it wasn’t like those men had been sent back in time by a goddess and then refused to tell the other for months.

Fuck. The more he thought about it, the more insane it sounded.

The bed was cold without Viktor there, even though he wasn’t the warmest body Jayce had slept near. Viktor was the best though. The two fit together like the puzzle pieces they were both dropping for each other. Even when Jayce had what should have been the final piece, he still felt like he couldn’t make out the picture that was Viktor’s life. He had somewhat of an outline, and the piece he’d gotten this time was a larger, more central one. It didn’t help as much as Jayce had hoped though.

He still felt as blind as when he first started piecing things together – working without a clear idea.

Jayce clung to Viktor’s pillow and breathed in as deeply as his lungs would allow. Viktor’s scent was still there, though it had faded with the day. What he would give to have the man in his arms at that moment, see his beautiful eyes and hear his voice lull him into a calm sleep.

When he thought about Viktor next to him though, he couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal that accompanied it. In hindsight, like most things, it made sense. Viktor had always been saying things that didn’t make all that much sense, but when viewed through the lens that he was from the original timeline, they were obvious.

Jayce didn’t sleep that night. Viktor wasn’t there. Jayce wondered if he had ever fully been there.

Chapter Text

Jayce had never felt so cold.

When he woke up, he expected to find Viktor at his side, curled up in his arms like they had been for weeks. In his groggy, half asleep state, he’d forgotten about the matter of the day before. When the memories came crashing back, Jayce felt like he was going to be sick. It was horrible. Completely horrible.

The sun was only just coming up, so it must have still been early in the day. Jayce didn’t know which was worse: being taken from slumber only to suffer through the reality of the world, or to suffer in his sleep as his past came back to haunt him. Neither were great options, but there weren’t any others. In the end, reality won. At least he could hope to fix that. He had to.

Viktor was everything. He was the start and the end and everything in between. He was the first person Jayce wanted to see when he opened his eyes in the morning and the last before he went to sleep. He was as refreshing as cold water on a hot day and as comforting as a lover’s gentle touch.

Jayce’s chest ached.

Viktor hadn’t been his lover. That wasn’t what they were, and that certainly wasn’t what they were now. Whatever threads had been strung between them, however the universe wanted them, that was not it. If that was the case, then they wouldn’t keep screwing it all up over and over and over again. Maybe Janna was wrong, maybe Jayce was wrong, maybe there wasn’t a single timeline out there where they got their happy ending because it wasn’t destined for them. Maybe the only thing they could wish for was that they didn’t bring the rest of the world down around them.

Fuck. What a pleasant way to start the day.

Jayce tried to placate the children as best as he could. He decided that they all needed some air after breakfast, even if it wasn’t fresh, and took them down to the lab. On his way there, he feared that Viktor would have had the exact same idea, that he would come across the man sitting at their shared desk tinkering away.

He wasn’t there. There wasn’t a single trace that anyone had been in the lab since the last time Jayce and Viktor had been down there. Together. Was that word ever going to be part of their shared vocabulary again?

Powder stuck close to Jayce’s side, even when he told her that everything was alright and that she could work on her own projects with Ekko. The boy didn’t have much of the same restraint as he worked away.

Powder sat in Viktor’s chair and looked up at Jayce with confusion and sorrow clear across her face. “Why were you and Viktor angry at each other yesterday?”

Jayce paused, his screwdriver hanging in the air. “We just… We were keeping some secrets from each other. That’s all.”

“What kind of secrets?” The way she asked the question was innocent, almost full of wonder.

Jayce couldn’t find it in him to be annoyed, let alone angry. Powder was just worried about him and Viktor, which was a very typical reaction from someone of her age — especially given how close the three had gotten throughout the past few months.

That didn’t make it any less heartbreaking though.

“Just…” Jayce didn’t know how to answer. He definitely couldn’t tell Powder what was really going on. He wasn’t that stupid after all. “Secrets about stuff in our pasts, nothing to worry much about.”

Powder crossed her arms and frowned. “If it wasn’t something to worry about then Viktor wouldn’t have left.”

That point couldn’t exactly be argued with. “Powdita, I promise, you don’t have to worry yourself about this. Let the adults handle it.”

That seemed to be the exact wrong thing to say because Powder looked ready to burst after Jayce closed his mouth. She didn’t say anything. All she did was look at him — the same disapproving look that he had seen on Viktor’s face actually — and turned in her chair. Powder walked away before he could ask any more questions, or try to calm her down.

Yet another failure to add to the list then. Jayce wanted to know when that would be over, if it would ever be over.

It had to be, right? It couldn’t be true that he was going to suffer for the rest of this timeline — however long that lasted. Despite it all, he still hoped that it would last long. It wouldn’t matter that he and Viktor weren’t talking, weren’t close anymore, as long as he knew the other was safe, that he was alive, that was more of what mattered. Everything else Jayce could deal with no matter how much it hurt.

The hours passed as Jayce worked away in the lab. Powder had pulled Ekko out soon after their little argument, if that was what it was, and didn’t tell Jayce where they were going. Usually, he would only have a moderate amount of anxiety about that, but with everything going on, not just Viktor, he was terrified that something would happen to them. Ekko was already hurt, he didn’t need to get killed.

Jayce’s stomach twisted the longer he stayed in the lab. He knew he had to eat at some point, drink something too, but he couldn’t find it in himself to leave. Eventually, he pulled himself out because he knew that the kids would need a meal at some point too, whenever they finally came back to the apartment. Sometimes, he had to remind himself that Zaun really was their home. They knew the Lanes better than Jayce did, likely more than he ever would.

Jayce made himself something simple, something that didn’t take a lot of brainpower, even though it probably would have been better if he distracted himself completely. That wasn’t going to happen though. His brain just circulated through the different problems he was facing at rapid speeds

Then there was a knock on the door.

Jayce moved quicker than he wanted to admit. He stopped what he was doing immediately and tore open the door so quickly he thought it might come off its hinges. All he could hope was that Viktor had come back, that the two of them would talk about things and maybe even move on — if that were possible.

“We have to talk.”

Silco was standing in front of him, Sevika right behind him.

Of course it wasn’t Viktor; of course it had to be Silco of all people. He stiffened in his place, gripping the doorframe with white knuckles. “What do we have to talk about now?”

Silco didn’t ask if he could come in, just pushed forward until he got what he wanted. Not surprising, but certainly annoying. “Where’s Viktor?” The man asked as he looked through the apartment that currently looked devoid of any true sign of life.

Jayce’s heart leaped in his chest. “He’s not here at the moment.”

Silco narrowed his gaze. “And where would he be?” He stood in front of Jayce. Despite being shorter, the man exuded energy that screamed he was bad news. “I was under the impression that the two of you were attached at the hip.”

“Well, currently we aren’t.” It came out more aggressive then he would have liked, or that was appropriate given the present company.

Silvio’s gaze darkened. “I suggest either you tell us where he is so we can get him, or you find him for yourself.”

That was it. Jayce wasn’t about to be bossed around by Silco even if the man was technically his boss in the loosest sense of the word. “What is it you even need to talk to us about anyway?” He crossed his arms. “I’m sure I can pass on the message.”

Sevika took a step forward, matching Jayce in pure power. “Singed is behind our current mess.”

All the false bravado that Jayce had conjured up was zapped from his body. Fuck.

“How’d you find that one out?” He needed to take a seat or something before his legs gave out from under him. He returned his meal, only picking up his tea. The rest of the meal didn’t seem all that nice anymore.

Silco took a seat at the table like he belonged there. “That’s not as important as the fact itself.”

That was definitely true, but he also knew that Silco’s methods were the most ethical. He hoped no one got hurt too bad along the way.

“Singed is orchestrating an attack on Piltover, and he’s using your designs to do so.”

The words were enough to make Jayce feel sick to his stomach. He wanted to think he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but that wouldn’t be true. He knew that Singed was a threat, always would be, but there had already been so many changes so what was one more?

No luck with this one though.

“How do we stop him?” At this point, Jayce didn’t care how they’d figured out that piece of information, only that they had. Now, he had a far bigger issue on his hands than whatever was happening between him and Viktor. Deep down though, it didn’t feel that way. Whenever he thought about himself and the other man, the mess that they had created, it created the same awful pit in his stomach. He felt terrible for having such a reaction, but it was the truth, and he was supposed to be following that more now. Way more.

Silco looked grim, never a good sign. He didn’t meet Jayce’s eyes. The man tapped his fingers along the table, a swift one, two, three, four pattern. The sound repeated a few more times before he opened his mouth. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” The words came out loud and strained. Jayce was going to lose his mind. A headache was forming, a strong one, between his temples. The room felt too small all of a sudden, the air too thick and heavy.

Silco looked up at him through half lidded eyes. “Despite what you may think, I’m not actually as all seeing as I present myself.”

Jayce held back a scoff. “Trust me, I know that’s not the case.” He couldn’t hold himself up anymore. Jayce collapsed into one of the chairs. If he were a more desperate man, he’d be reaching for a bottle. It wouldn’t be the first time in his life, though he hadn’t fallen to that in quite a while. “You both,” he pointed between the two, “are here for a reason, so how about you get on with it.”

Sevika looked annoyed, but Jayce assumed that was her natural state at this point. “We were expecting Viktor to be here too.”

Jayve felt cold in his seat. He hadn’t wanted Viktor to leave. He hadn’t wanted everything to fuck itself up again. And now, when things got bad, they had to get worse. All the while, Viktor wasn’t by his side. “Well he’s not, so whatever you were going to say you might as well say it to me.” He needed to put on a brave face, even if the thought made him feel a bit childish.

Silco stood up from his seat, shoes tapping across the wooden floor. He learned over Jayce like a snake ready to strike its prey. “I need the both of you to make sure this doesn’t turn into an even bigger shitshow. I want you to meet at The Last Drop within the next twenty-four hours, with Viktor, or you can count our contract as void.”

Jayce gripped the edge of the seat. He wanted to scream in Silco’s face. Even more, he wanted to cry — cry until there were fat rivers streaming down his face. But he couldn’t.

Now was a time to stay strong, even if that was the last thing Jayce felt.

Silco left soon after that, Sevika trailing behind. Her shoulders relaxed slightly when the other man left and she turned back. “Look-“

Jayce looked up from the table, shocked to hear Sevika speak to him in a tone that wasn’t condescending.

“-I don’t know what the hell is going on between you and Viktor right now, but you need to put aside your personal shit and handle business first.” The way she said it made the advice seem far more personal than the typical kind someone would give to a colleague. It almost sounded like Sevika was speaking from experience.

Now that was something Jayce hadn’t expected. He wanted to ask who Sevika was talking about, was it someone from before he’d gotten involved, someone he had met? The possibilities felt endless since he knew so little about the woman’s life. He kept his mouth shut though and just nodded.

Sevika sighed, the sound coming out closer to a huff. “I don’t want Piltover on flames either, alright.” Her voice was strained. “If Singed wasn’t the one behind this I couldn’t guarantee Silco wouldn’t just let it burn, but for once he’s trying to help topside. So, don’t fuck this up.”

That sounded closer to the version of Sevika that he knew. He nodded once, a quick little movement. “I’ll try my best.”

“Don’t try, just do. There are a lot of lives riding on your couple’s spat.” Sevika didn’t give him any time to respond, and time to say that wasn’t what was happening between him and Viktor.

But he couldn’t ignore the warmth that was in his chest when he thought about it like that. Sure, the thought made him a little guilty, mostly because he wasn’t sure that was what Viktor would have wanted. Still, he couldn’t ignore that giddy feeling completely.

He couldn’t focus on that thought Like Sevika had said, there were too many lives riding on his work, his ability to take down Singed — hopefully for good this time — to let his personal matters interfere so greatly.

Jayce looked at the door for a long time after Sevika left, waiting for someone, anyone to come through the door. His meal was abandoned, and his tea had grown cold. He wanted to stand, more than anything, but his legs were heavy as lead. It took an embarrassingly long amount of time to even pull himself up to stretch a bit. Unsurprisingly, his feet carried him to his and Viktor’s room. It had belonged to the two of them for so long now, longer than he would have thought possible. It had touches of the two of them throughout, mostly along the dressers and desk. Jayce trailed his fingers over the wood, scratched and burned in a multitude of spots. There were still notes tucked away in journals that sat upon the tops, the mess mostly from Jayce since Viktor liked to keep his things organized. There were total opposites in that regard.

Maybe they were opposites in other ways too. Jayce thought, if he had been in Viktor’s position, that he would have told the other immediately. For one, he would have been overjoyed at the fact that Viktor was back – and not just any Viktor but his Viktor. He would have welcomed the man with open arms. He would have-

But he didn’t.

A cold sense of dread washed over him as Jayce realized what he had actually done. Instead of doing any of that he had pushed the man away just when it seemed like they could get back to equal footing. He had been upset, still he believed he was valid for feeling some sense of betrayal, but instead of working through that he had settled in and continued to argue with Viktor until he ultimately pushed the man away. It was the exact opposite of what he should have done.

Part of him reminded himself that it wasn’t all his fault, that Viktor still carried some of the blame, but Jayce wasn’t completely guiltless either.

He picked up one of Viktor’s journals, one that he just used for random invention ideas. Jayce had seen it several times in the past, it was one of the few things that Viktor consistently took with him from the lab back home and then back again to the lab. He kept it close by too in case a stroke of luck hit him in the middle of the day or at night – that was why it was in their bedroom after all.

Jayce smiled as he remembered one night in particular when Viktor had awoken with a near crazed grin on his face, one of those gleeful times when there had been no nightmares, no yelling, just a calm sleep. Until Viktor awoke that was and picked up his cane with such speed that one could barely imagine it was nearly two in the morning. He was so animated, as he often was when he was working. Viktor picked up his notebook and scribbled away, mumbling his idea of in a strange mix of Zaunite and Piltovian that Jayce could hardly understand in his sleep dazed state.

It was a night that Jayce thought Viktor was exceptionally beautiful. That was Viktor, not hidden behind fear or a facade that he put up whenever they needed to do diplomatic things, it was the true version of him that Jayce had seen in the past back in the labs at Piltover. He had been just as wonderful back then.

Jayce couldn't help it. He began to flip through the notebook with new eyes, trying to see if what was written was the same as it had been in the past, the semblance of a man he once knew.

Like Viktor’s ramblings, it was a mixed language batch and the writing was absolute chicken scratch. For a man that was so orderly, his penmanship didn’t show it. Jayce’s thumb hovered over the corner of the page where he saw and exquisite looking V, a smaller written of, and finally a looping Z.

Viktor of Zaun.

He signed his pages.

A practice that he had once teased Jayce for, and something that Viktor had never really picked up unless they were sending official documents to the Council – the Piltovian one back in the first timeline. Even now, Jayce rarely saw him sign anything that wasn’t being sent to Silco. Now, it was better not to create as little of a paper trail as possible. But not this notebook.

Just as Jayce had once done, and admittedly still did, Viktor had signed every single page with his two letter one word signature.

Jayce didn’t know what to think.

So he kept looking, always feeling a sense of warmth filling his chest whenever he saw another one of Viktor’s marks. It was hard not to notice once he had done so. There were pages filled with mockups, half finished designs that were likely never to be completed, and plenty of passages that were filled with Viktor’s script.

Jayce wanted to look away, he really did. Once he got to those parts he knew that he wasn’t just looking at designs anymore. He was looking at the inner workings of Viktor’s mind, the kind of things he didn’t want to share – the pieces that Jayce had been so desperate for and then terrified of when he finally got them.

They were difficult to read, mostly because Viktor would begin a sentence in Piltovian and then switch to Zaunite when it seemed like the language was no longer suiting his needs. It pained Jayce not to know what those parts meant. He saw a few words that he thought he had heard Viktor say in the past, but he doubted they were of any true significance. The bulk of the nitty gritty was hidden beneath a veil that Jayce hadn’t been bothered to learn his way through yet.

Viktor had learned Piltovian as a child, and Jayce, as an adult, hadn’t even put in the effort to learn the language of his partner. It made him feel sick all over.

He came across a few passages that were completely in Piltovian though, and he dove into those like a madman. They appeared rather random, jotted in on the edges of pages and at the bottom of design mockups.

Powder’s eyes are blue. Jinx’s were violet. They are not the same.

Ekko has yet to develop his face painting habit. Maybe he won’t get involved in time travel.

Raine is still Raine. She and Payton remember me from my childhood, not from the previous timeline.

Vander has still died.

When he saw his own name, his heart jumped.

Jayce does not know I am the same Viktor. He believes he is the only one who has fallen through the timelines. I cannot tell him. He will surely hate me for what I have done to Piltover. It is best that he thinks I had no recollection of the past. Maybe then this burden will finally be lifted from my shoulders. I cannot live knowing he believes me to be a monster capable of great harm, of ripping the life from so many innocent souls. It is better to be quiet in my grief than loud in his rage.

Jayce slumped where he stood, hands trembling as he held onto the notebook.

Viktor was in pain, and Jayce had made it a thousand times worse.

Chapter Text

Jayce felt helpless as he finally walked into the inn. He’d already checked every other place where he could have imagined Viktor to be. Although the inn should have been the first place he checked, he was too scared that Viktor would simply push him away, shut him out. Jayce didn’t want to just barge in, but he knew that he and Viktor needed to speak – especially before Silco came back even more pissed than last time.

He’d left Powder and Ekko in the apartment, even though his heart hurt to do so. He wanted to protect the two of them as much as he could, but Ekko needed rest and running around Zaun wouldn't help with that. He wished he could get in contact with Vi again. Even if she was still a teenager, at least that was better than just leaving the two children alone. Powder assured him over and over again that they would be fine, but Jayce didn’t feel that way when the girl had come into his room in the middle of the night, tears in her eyes, asking if Viktor was ever going to come back.

Jayce promised Viktor would, so he had to make sure that happened.

Raine was working behind the front desk, music floating in the room from a record player in the corner. She jumped a little when she saw him. “Oh, Jayce, hey welcome back.” Her voice was pinched, and she was more jittery than she usually was.

With a deep breath, he walked up to the desk and tried to look as normal as he could, even though he felt like he was about to fall apart. “It’s good to see you again.” Both of them knew why he was at the inn, especially since he was alone. “Um, can I ask if you’ve seen Viktor?”

Raine bit her lip, avoiding his eyes. “Honestly, he’s not staying here, Jayce.”

Well that was no help. It hurt to know that Viktor hadn’t gone where he said he was going to go, but after the argument that they had, he couldn’t really blame the man for wanting a bit of space – some sort of true privacy. But that wasn’t going to help in the long run. “Do you have any idea where he might have gone?”

Raine ran her hand through her hair, eyes jumping from one spot in the room to another. “He didn’t say where he was going. I offered him a free room here for the night, maybe two nights if he needed it, but he brushed it off.” She ducked her head. “He probably knew you were going to check here.”

“Yeah,” Jayce squeezed his eyes closed, “he’s smart enough to know that.”

The sound of cracking knuckles filled his ears. “Do you, well, do you know what was wrong? Viktor looked really upset when he came in here, but he wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”

Jayce took half a step back. He couldn’t tell Raine the truth, that would be messy and stupid and lead to more harmful consequences with everyone. It felt awful to continue lying, so he tried to go with the half truths he’d started this new timeline one. “We had an argument. We were both keeping things from each other, important things, and they, they um, they finally got out.”

Raine frowned. “Well, I still think you two can fix it.” She shook her head. “The first time I saw the two of you together, I thought, ‘I’ve never seen Viktor so happy.’ It was honestly amazing.” She looked up at him with a soft smile. “It’s going to be okay. I can feel it.”

Jayce couldn’t help but smile as well, even if it hurt him a little to do. The smile was real, despite everything. “I hope you’re right about that.” He was praying for it even, thinking about Janna and her words telling him to fix it.

There were plenty of things that he had to fix, more than he had at the start. But Janna was telling him to fix everything, to look after her people. That was his job. Viktor was one of those people, one that Jayce loved deeply, and he was going to do whatever he could to not only fix the problems, including the ones that he had created, but look after Viktor as much as he could. As much as Viktor would allow him to.

“Thank you, Raine, that means a lot.”

“You can get through this, Jayce, I promise.” She held out a hand for him to take.

Jayce took it, and they shook hands. Raine’s grip was strong, grounding, the kind that brought Jayce back to himself.

Raine tapped her fingers along her does. “There might be somewhere he could be, I don’t really know how to get there, but I’m sure someone around does.”

Jayce’s breath got caught in his throat. “Where is it?”

The streets Jayce were walking down were nothing like he’d seen so far. They were dimmer for one, and a lot of the hustle and bustle that he had seen in the other parts of the Lanes were completely gone. The few people that he had passed all turned away from him quickly. They all spoke Zaunite, at least to each other. When Jayce had asked for directions, a man had spoken to him in heavily accented Piltovian. He didn’t seem to enjoy speaking the language all too much.

Despite everything though, Jayce felt safe within the streets. He knew that there were plenty of people in Piltover that would be reeling at stepping through the darkened streets of Zaun, but Jayce was no longer one of them. He felt completely fine, almost like he belonged there. It was a strange thing to experience, watching his view of self mold into something new.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, he finally found the building he was looking for. Apartment 41, the fourth floor. This had been Viktor’s childhood home.

Jayce couldn’t believe he was standing in front of it.

He stepped into the building. There was no one at the front door, and there was no one in the small lobby either. Really, the entire building looked a little abandoned, but Jayce didn’t let that thought stop him from hiking up the stairs to find his partner. He passed door after door, looking at every number carefully. Some of them were more difficult to make out than others, some didn’t even have any number, just the faint mark of where one used to be.

Jayce kept his footsteps light and sucked in a breath every time the wood creaked under him. The last thing he wanted was to disturb one of the other tenants. Then there was apartment 41. Jayce couldn’t breathe. Part of him wanted to run away, even though that was one of the stupidest things he could do at that moment. He kept in his spot though and raised his hand to knock on the door.

The sound echoed down the hall, so loud in his ears he thought he would go deaf. Jayce returned his hand to his side and tried to keep his breath steady. He counted up to ten, listening closer to see if he could make out Viktor’s footstep or the tapping of his cane on the ground. There was nothing though. Jayce’s heart sunk to his stomach – Viktor wasn’t there. He didn’t blame Raine for being wrong, after all, it wasn’t like she was supposed to know everything that the man was getting up to, but it still stung a bit.

Taking a step back, he tried to think of anywhere else that Viktor would be. He could always make his way around the Lanes to see if he randomly stumbled upon the other man. It wasn’t the best way to go about finding Viktor, but it was really the only option he had left. “Qué carajo.” He let out a long breath as he staggered down the hall, his head and heart both hurting more than they had in the past. This was even worse than seeing Viktor leave. Now, he wasn’t sure he would ever get his partner back.

“Jayce?”

The man in question turned his head as quickly as possible, eyes widening and jaw dropping slightly. “Viktor?”

Viktor’s gaze was downcast, his lips a thin line. Even though he looked mostly the same as when he left, Jayce still thought there was something different about him. His eyes weren’t as golden, and he didn’t carry himself the same way he’d been doing in recent days – before the split apart that was.

Jayce wanted to rush forward, pull the man into his arms. He needed to feel Viktor’s skin under his hands and hear Viktor’s heart beat in his ears. Even though the man standing in front of him was real, Jayce almost didn’t believe it. When he took a few steps forward, Viktor moved back, holding his cane with one hand and the doorknob with another. Viktor was leaning heavier on his cane.

“What are you doing here?” The man’s voice was hollow, completely empty. He sounded like a mere shell of the person that Jayce once knew.

Jayce wanted to continue walking forward, but he didn’t want Viktor to slam the door in his face. “I’ve come here to apologize.”

Viktor was quiet. He looked at the floor even though Jayce wanted nothing more than to look into his eyes to try to figure out what was going on behind the scenes.

Though Viktor had been keeping things from him, he still believed that he could read the man decently well. They had been partners for nearly ten years, living in each other’s pockets like it was nothing. Even since restarting this timeline even, they had circulated around each other. The few times where they would split apart for a while never lasted that long. Viktor and Jayce always came back to each other no matter what happened.

Viktor turned his back and stepped back into the apartment. “You can come in,” he whispered out.

Jayce did just that.

The apartment was small, smaller than the one the two of them shared with Powder. It was a cramped single room. There was a rumpled bed in the corner covered in threadbare blankets. A wooden table with Viktor’s bag stood at the other side of the room with a single chair with only one arm rest – the other looked like it had been broken off. The kitchenette was tiny as well. Jayce doubted that the cabinets had any food in them.

None of that was addressing the holes in the walls or the draft that was coming through the window. Jayce didn’t comment on that though – that would just be plain rude. He stood near the door, wringing his hands together. There was no sign as to what he should do next, so he stayed silent since that seemed like the only decent option.

Viktor drifted through the apartment like a ghost, his breathing heavy and legs shaking. The air in the neighborhood was worse than that at their apartment. Viktor’s lungs were already damaged from his life in Zaun, as were many other individuals’ bodies, but this was the first time Jayce had noticed how bad the air the man grew up with must have been. To live in this kind of environment for years upon years already caused horrible damage, Jayce didn’t want Viktor breathing it in any longer.

Viktor sat at the table, folding his hands on the table. “I didn’t think you would find me.” He looked intensely at his bag, almost like he was going grab the bag and leave the very next instant. “I assume you went to Raine then?”

Jayce walked a little closer. “Yeah, she didn’t really know the address though, so I had to ask around.”

A tiny smirk grew on Viktor’s face. “That must have been quite something.”

It was quite something. With every person Jayce passed on the street, every interaction he had – even if it was only for a few seconds, and even if it was clear that the other didn’t particularly enjoy his presence, Jayce loved it. He loved it because it was like he was seeing more of what made Viktor, Viktor. This was the place he’d grown up, the place that shaped into the man that sat before Jayce. Piltover didn’t make Viktor, Zaun did, and there had been many parts of Zaun that Jayce had yet to wander into. That changed today though.

He fisted his hands in his pockets, trying his best to look as nonchalant as possible even though his heart was about to burst out of his chest – from fear and adoration. “I’ve never seen this side of Zaun before.”

Viktor quirked his head to the side, smirk falling. “I didn’t want you to see it.”

Jayce was too smart to ask why. He knew. It was clear in the way the inhabitants acted towards an outsider, in the way Viktor’s old apartment looked, but Jayce didn’t care about any of that. He wanted to see every part of what had created Viktor. The only bad part was that he didn’t know how to say that without massively fucking things up again.

He took in a deep breath, fighting back a cough that tried to rise in his chest. The air was really starting to get to him. He wished Viktor would have brought along one of their portable air purifiers, more for his own sake than for Jayce’s.

Viktor sighed, long and drawn out. “What did Silco say?”

The mention of the man was enough to nearly knock Jayce off his feet. “Silco? What about him?”

“I’m not daft, Jayce,” Viktor’s expression hardened, “I think it quite likely that Silco made an appearance recently, or sent a letter to the apartment regarding work. It would make sense as to why you went out to find me so quickly.”

The sentence felt more like an accusation than anything else. It pierced Jayce’s heart like a dagger, cold and twisting. “Viktor that’s not… I do want to see you.”

“But you admit there were other reasons too?” The man pursed his lips, looking up expectantly.

Jayce couldn’t exactly lie to Viktor, not after everything they had already kept from each other – and look at how that had turned out. No, lying was the last thing he should have done. “Silco did come to the apartment and said I needed to get you back, but he’s not the whole reason I’m here.” Silco was barely a quarter of it, and even that felt like giving the man too much credit. Jayce was in Viktor’s old apartment because he wanted to be. He needed to know that the other was okay, to hear his voice, to maybe, maybe, finally feel Viktor’s hand in his again.

“And I’m supposed to just believe that?”

That hurt Jayce a lot more than he would like to admit. He huffed. If there was anyone that should be having doubts at that moment, it was him. Viktor had been the one to keep very valuable information from him, information that regarded both of their lives, but he had kept it to himself for months without telling Jayce anything. “I would like to think you’d believe me on this, V. I’m here aren’t I? I’m not the one who left.”

Viktor stiffened, sitting back impossibly further in his chair, almost like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

Fuck. He didn’t mean to say that, not really. Well. Perhaps part of him did. There was an ugly part of aspect of him that wished Viktor could understand his pain a little bit more, know just how deep the other had stabbed his knife. “Fine. Say I’m not here for you, even though I very much am as well, say this is all a business transaction. Will you come back?” Viktor continued to stare at the ground for a long while. Jayce wished he could read the man’s thoughts, know whatever was going on for real. He wanted to get the full story, but he now knew that with Viktor he was unlikely to ever get the full picture. There would always be pieces that were missing, ones that Viktor held close to his chest, others that he’d thrown away.

Jayce just wanted to forget the pieces and get the damn box at this point so at least he’d understand what he was trying to put together.

“How is Powder taking this?” Viktor spoke so softly Jayce nearly missed it.

He bit his lip. “It’s off and on with her. She’s upset, of course. She adores you.”

“Does she know?” That we’re from another timeline went unsaid.

Jayce shook his head. “She hasn’t given any indication that she knows, and I think it’s best that we keep it that way.”

“I would agree.”

More silence. It was deafening, the kind that bore into Jayce’s ears until they started to ring. He would have taken anything at all to fill the quiet. Venders outside, the neighbors, the drone of machinery – but there was none of that. He wondered if the apartment had always been that way or if that was a recent development.

All of a sudden, Viktor rose to his feet and dragged his bag off of the table. “I will return then. For Powder and for Zaun. There is still work to be done, and I could not live with myself if I knew others were suffering because of our… our disagreements.”

That was the lightest way someone could have put what was going on between them. They hadn’t even been this bad when Viktor had left in the original timeline after the incident with the Hexcore. It was clear that Viktor had been upset then too, though he didn’t really have the words to put to it since the Hexcore had screwed with his head so much. This was a different kind of upset though, the kind that drove a stake between them unlike any of their other troubles in the past. At least those had been far more clear cut. A simple wrong and right. There was no clear perpetrator this time though. That made everything much harder to solve.

“Okay then.” Jayce didn’t want to fight it, fearful that if he did then the man would take back his decision and keep himself in his old apartment. He let out a short breath, trying his best not to appear too terrified in front of the other. Taking a step back, he tried to pull himself back into the moment. He had to focus on the next step. Maybe Viktor was right, maybe putting everything he could back into his work, but into figuring out the other messes around him. There were plenty of those at least.

“Do you want… Do you want some time before heading back?” Jayce almost didn’t want to look at Viktor for fear that he would turn his head and tell him to fuck off.

Viktor pouted for a split second. He leaned on his cane, almost massaging the handle. “Give me a moment to collect my things and we can return together. That will be the best for everyone I believe.”

Jayce couldn’t help but appear a bit shocked, but he hid it back away. “Yeah, yeah, of course. Take all the time you need.” He meant it to sound as comforting as possible, but Viktor didn’t look at him like he was comforted by it. He appeared a little annoyed even.

Jayce took that as a sign to keep the rest of his words to himself.

Viktor didn’t have much to collect, but he moved slowly enough to waste a bit of time. Jayce couldn’t blame him for that though – he sort of deserved that one. Viktor stood in front of the bed for a moment, shoulders tight. He took a breath and sank to his knees.

Jayce couldn't tell what he was saying since Viktor spoke completely in Zaunite. His tone was gentle, more gentle than Jayce had heard from him in a while. There was one word, one that Jayce knew from context clues and similarities to Ixtali. Máma. It was a slightly different pronunciation than Jayce was used to. It was a universal sound, the kind that anyone could recognize.

Jayce took another step back. There wasn’t much space for him to really do so. He tried to avoid his eyes a little, but he couldn't. It was too beautiful – heartbreakingly so. It was clear that whatever Viktor was saying was emotionally charged. Jayce couldn’t see his face, but he knew the man well enough – at least he assumed so – to know that his expression would be pinched, eyes red. Viktor was the kind of man that wore his emotions brightly. It was one of the things that Jayce loved most about him.

Viktor pressed his hand and forehead to the bed for a moment, whispering out something, not Zaunite this time, that sparked a flash of recognition. “Suhbi al naa yih.” It was the same prayer that Viktor had practiced with Powder before the Distinguished Innovator’s Competition. A prayer to Janna, one for protection. It was no doubt for his mother. This was their shared home, and Janna was a deity that she truly believed in – despite it all.

Jayce bowed his head, silently saying his own prayer. He didn’t know Zaunite or Shuriman, so he hoped that the intention was enough.

Janna, you were the one that wanted me to fix things, to look out for your people, but I can’t do it alone. I never could have imagined that the events that took place in the last few days were possible. I’m not going to give up, there’s too many people that need my help, both the help of Viktor and I, but I need to know that we’re moving in the right direction. Please. Truly please.

Jayce took a few moments to breathe and shake himself out of his prayer that sounded less like a prayer and more like a plea. He hadn’t done that in quite a while.

Viktor got back to his feet and turned, expression looking a little less angry, but still desolate.

Jayce wanted to hold him, to try to piece the man back together again. He wanted to ask if talking about it would help – talking about the apartment, about Viktor’s mother, about the prayer – but he kept that to himself. Viktor wanted things to be professional, so Jayce would keep them professional.

“I believe we are done then?” Viktor’s voice was clipped, almost like he was close to crying.

They really had to talk about things properly. But not now, not while the wound was still so fresh. Jayce nodded. “Unless there’s anything else you need?”

Viktor paused for a moment, stealing a quick glance back at the bed. Was it the same one? Had Viktor’s mother laid in it, was it a relic of the man’s childhood? How many memories were stored within it?

“There is nothing else.” Viktor sounded hollow when he spoke.

It was like the Hexcore all over again, except this time Jayce couldn’t even blame it on the arcane. This was a manner of human creation – created in part by Jayce and the other by Viktor. Usually their creations were wonderful, at least they had been this go around: last timeline there were far more hiccups and mistakes. But this? This was not the beauty that he knew them capable of making.

It was messy and painful and almost ugly. Jayce wanted to wipe it all away and start from scratch, but he couldn’t just forget everything that had happened in the past few months. It was painful, but there were good moments too. Great moments.

They walked together, side by side. Their hands never brushed like they used to in the past, and the inches between them stretched to nearly a foot.

Jayce kept his gaze low and his mouth zipped shut. Somehow, someway, they would fix this.

Chapter Text

Powder had been ecstatic to see Viktor walk back into the apartment. She was nearly about to jump into his arms until she noticed that the man wasn’t the steadiest on his feet.

Viktor looked at her with a pained smile. “It’s just been a lot of walking for me today, králíček.” he patted her head. “I will be alright.”

Powder huffed, clearly not believing him. Jayce didn’t really believe him either, but he wasn’t going to say that – not while everything was still so fresh. “You better get better soon.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Everyone here is getting hurt!”

Ekko didn’t add anything from where he stood near Powder’s door, hovering in the hallway like he was witnessing something fragile. In reality, he was, but Jayce didn’t want to say that either. Whatever was between him and Viktor now was even more rocky than what they had in the past – every past. It hurt to pull away from him, to give the man the space the two of them both desperately needed, but it was necessary.

Viktor ignored any offer of food, saying that he was tired from the journey and really just wanted to rest before they had to deal with Silco and Sevika. Jayce couldn’t blame him. So, he wished Viktor an early good night and went to prepare for the rest of the apartment’s inhabitants.

Powder perched on the counter, giving a lengthy overview of everything that her and Ekko had done during the day. The boy jumped in to add some details along the way, but it was clear that he was still off due to his injury. Well, that and the fact that he ducked his head whenever Powder said anything close to a compliment about him. Jayce felt his heart twist a little at the clear image of young love. He didn’t blame the kids at all, really, he wanted them to be happy. He shouldn’t let his personal issues and feelings towards Viktor dictate how Powder and Ekko lived. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt though.

It was apparent that Ekko wasn’t going to say a word, and Powder was a little oblivious, so at least a blossoming relationship didn’t seem too near in their futures.

Dinner came and went.

Jayce stood in front of the couch. He’d grown accustomed to sleeping in it actually – he and Viktor had enough spats for that, but it was still awful. Sleeping on the couch was a physical reminder that he and his partner were not on good terms. They needed space, as much as the small apartment would allow, and Jayce would respect that. If they kept falling into bed together, that would just end up causing more problems.

He tossed and turned all throughout the night, only ever shutting his eyes for a few minutes. Sleep was impossible. It was even colder than sleeping in he and Viktor's bed alone. At least there he could still breathe in the man’s dissipating scent, but the couch didn’t have anything like that. Viktor liked spending most of his time in front of his desk or the kitchen table. Jayce couldn’t exactly sleep there though, that would cause too much of a scene.

He told himself that he had to sleep if he was going to be productive in the morning. It was necessary. Jayce took a deep breath in, shut his eyes, and told himself it was going to work out.

Breakfast was awkward. Making tea was awkward. Everything between them was horribly awkward. He wanted to hide on the couch for the rest of the day – pretend like the rest of the world didn’t exist. Jayce sucked it up though. He told himself they were going to fix things and they couldn’t exactly do that if he kept hiding away.

Giving Viktor space in the kitchen, he tried to focus his conversation on Powder and Ekko instead. “Your lessons are coming along well.” It was nothing but a fluff conversation, and Powder could tell that.

She didn’t say anything about it. “Yeah, you and Viktor are good teachers.” There was a smirk on Powder’s face when she said it which told Jayce she knew exactly what she was doing.

Jayce let out a breath. “At least all that school is worth something now.” His mind conjured up pictures of him and Viktor in classes together, what it would have been like to grow up side by side with the man. He batted them away as soon as they popped up. Thinking about those things was no help. He highly doubted that Janna would send him back in time again, even further back to when they were both children.

“Are you meeting with Silco today?” Ekko asked. The question came out of nowhere, and Ekko looked a bit frazzled after he said it.

Jayce forced himself to look at Viktor for confirmation. The man gave a curt nod. “Um, yeah, that would probably be for the best.” They had plenty of problems to deal with – the first most being Singed. He would fight through the awkwardness with Viktor if it meant protecting the lives of everyone in Piltover.

He couldn’t exactly say that to Ekko though. He had to be calm.

Ekko poked at his food. “Can Powder and I spend the day in the lab then? It would be better than being stuck in the apartment all day.”

Jayce bit his lip. He didn’t love the idea, even if the pair had been in the lab by themselves in the past, but things had certainly changed with them, especially with Singed being brought back into the frey.

“Some lab time would be good for you two.” Viktor sipped a mug of sweetmilk. Jayce always made sure to keep the apartment stocked with the ingredients for it – even when Viktor wasn’t there it felt like a necessity. Viktor looked at him with a look that was asking for a challenge. “Don’t you think so, Jayce?”

He swallowed. “Yes, that would do them good.” Maybe it was best to just agree with what Viktor had to say, at least for a little while. Any small arguments would just pile up until they became larger arguments and the last time that had happened hadn’t worked out well for anyone.

Jayce thought it would be best for him and Viktor to walk the children to the lab to know that, at the very least, they had gotten there safely. He still wasn’t completely comfortable with leaving them there, but bringing them to meet with Silco would be even worse. That would be four people with four massive targets on their backs – Powder and Ekko didn’t need to be anywhere around that.

Viktor had been a little stern with them when they finally made it to the lab, especially with Ekko to make sure that he didn’t do anything to overexert himself. Ekko’s injury was healing nicely, but it was still quite new. Even the walk to the lab likely should have been avoided, but Jayce knew that the boy would probably just sneak off then. At least this way the two could monitor Ekko’s state during the trip over.

Viktor leaned down, gripping his cane. “I know you want to go back to your normal life as quickly as possible, but if you do not take the proper measures then your leg will not heal correctly.” He took a long breath. “Then you might never get your normal life back again. Okay?”

Ekko nodded, fumbling with his crutches. “I understand, Viktor.”

“Good.” A smile returned to the man’s face. “You and Powder behave. Don’t destroy the lab when we’re gone and look after each other.”

Jayce said something similar as they left, but half of his words were stuck in his throat.

If he thought that the walk to the lab was awkward, he was in for another thing as they made their way to The Last Drop. It was clear that Viktor was struggling as well, though neither wanted to bring it up. Jayce had to though, he couldn’t stay silent while his partner suffered.

The word made his chest ache.

“Have you been in more pain recently?” There was no tactful way to ask the question. Jayce wished that there was, so he wouldn’t have to see the way that Viktor tensed when the question was asked, but reality wasn’t so kind.

Viktor readjusted his grip on his cane. “I am fine.”

Jayce sighed. There was still distance between them, the kind that felt like a cavern. “I can still tell when you’re not fine. That hasn’t changed.” Even though so much had changed, there were plenty of things that hadn’t. He still knew how Viktor liked his tea, what he looked like when he awoke in the morning, the best way to massage the other’s knee so the pain lessened. There were plenty of things that he knew about Viktor.

Viktor was quiet, icy. “Okay, then I will be fine. Does that suit your preferences more?”

Jayce shook his head. He didn’t want to let the anger rise in his chest, but he couldn’t avoid it. The anger was terrible, something he didn’t want to unleash onto Viktor even if the man deserved it at least a little bit. The worst part of it all was that he knew that Viktor was trying to get a rise out of him. It was as though he was trying to drive a deeper rift between them even when they had both decided that they were going to be professional, at least be civil with each other.

Jayce shook his head. He wanted to push a little harder, partially out of genuine concern and also because he wanted Viktor to crack. It was almost like he needed it at this point. He didn’t believe that it was possible that Viktor genuinely was this angry at him, that he truly wanted Jayce to shy away totally. Right?

Viktor was still seething as they got closer and closer to The Last Drop. Walking into the meeting angry wouldn’t do any good. If anything, it would likely cause even more problems as then they would be throwing away their rule of keeping things professional.

Despite his better judgement, Jayce reached out and put a hand on Viktor’s shoulder just before they were about to cross the entrance of the building. As expected the man tried to shove him off, but that just made Jayce reach out again. “V, come on, we have to talk.”

Viktor shook his head. “What is there to talk about? We are going to meet with Silco to discuss recent issues-” they made sure not to mention Singed in public, “-there is nothing else to go over beforehand.”

“You know that isn’t true.” Jayce’s brow screwed together. He bit his lip a few times, rather hard. There was a tinge of blood on his tongue. “We’ve been avoiding any real conversation since you came back last night.” Anything of importance was pushed aside. Anything that would actually help them was avoided.

Viktor squared his jaw. “It may come as a surprise to you, but there are more important things in life than relationships.”

So that was how it was going to be.

Jayce tried his hardest to keep how he truly felt hidden behind a facade, but it was extremely difficult. He didn’t know what would cause Viktor to say such a thing. How had coming clean created such hostility between them? How had it affected Viktor so greatly, what changed? He took his hand away and clenched his fist. “Alright then. If that’s how you feel than okay, but we promised each other we weren’t going to let our personal shit affect how we worked professionally, so that’s exactly what we’ll do. If you’ll actually follow that, that is.” It was a dig, but it was one that Jayce couldn’t keep to himself anymore.

Viktor took a step back. He looked Jayce up and down, once, then twice. “Yes. I will uphold that.”

“Good then.” Jayce opened the door and gestured for Viktor to step in first. Even if he was upset with the other, he couldn’t completely knock his instinct to care for the man. It was ingrained in his bones, encoded in his DNA. No matter what, he would always help Viktor with whatever problems the man had. Even if Jayce was the cause of them.

Viktor didn’t say a word as he stepped through the threshold, thankfully. Jayce didn’t think he could take another argument that ended up blowing up in both of their faces. With the time it took to go up the stairs and into the office, Jayce tried to cool down. Silco would be able to sense any sort of tension between the two men and he would immediately call them out on it. Sevika just might as well.

He let Viktor step in first since it seemed as though the man was able to compose himself quicker. How he’d done it, Jayce didn’t know. He would ask for tips, but he doubted that the other would actually give him any. Jayce watched Viktor walk forward with a worsened limp and bruised heart, having to pretend as though it wasn’t tearing him apart inside. This was worse than hell, this was deeper and darker than that. This was prolonged torture that Jayce thought he would never escape from.

Viktor knocked a warning, but opened the door before there was any response. They’d met with Silco and Sevika enough times at this point to warrant it.

Silco grinned from where he sat at his desk, a reserved one, but it was clear he was more than a bit pleased with himself. “Perfect, you’re both here. I was beginning to worry that we’d end up losing both of you.” He looked at Jayce when he said that second half.

Jayce met Silco’s gaze and held it. He wasn’t afraid of the man. Not anymore.

Viktor took a seat a bit too quickly. That was another sign that something was wrong.

Jayce couldn’t comment on it though, especially not in front of anyone else. He wanted nothing more than to sit next to the other, maybe put a hand on his knee in a silent promise that he would help later, but he couldn’t. They weren’t close like that, not anymore. It hurt even more to think about that.

“I fear you can’t get rid of me that easily.” Viktor’s tone was easy, like he wasn’t just blowing up at Jayce only a few minutes prior. “There is still work to do, is there not? Unless you are here to tell us that in the past few days you have solved all of our problems.”

Sevika scoffed. “He couldn’t solve half of our problems with double the time.”

Silco gave her a dirty look. “We have made progress in looking into Singed’s whereabouts, if you recall.”

“How could I forget, you mention it every hour.” Sevika was starting shit now.

Great. Utterly fantastic. Jayce wanted to walk out of the meeting already and call it a day.

Things were already rough between him and Viktor, they didn’t need any more tension than was already rising in the room. Silco turned to look back at Jayce and Viktor. “Yes, well, it is a rather wonderful achievement.”

“It would be even more wonderful if you could simply tell us what you’ve found out.” Viktor’s voice was rough as he spoke. He sounded as though he wanted nothing more than to let his anger rip through him again, but he kept himself constrained in front of Silco. Holding onto that professional promise a bit more then.

Silco looked like he was going to roll his eyes, but he kept that to himself. “He’s been sighted on the outskirts of Kumangra, not close enough to Zaun at the moment to believe he’ll strike soon, but worrying enough that he’s stepping closer to Ixtal territory.”

Jayce sat up a bit straighter in his seat. “I thought we had agreements with Ixtal?” To hear that Singed was reaching into the Ixtali area wasn’t pretty to his ears at all. Ixtal had magic, they played with the arcane. Singed was always someone that would take questionable steps to get what he wanted.

Viktor tensed, clearly realizing the same thing that Jayce had. To bring the arcane back into the equation was something that neither of them could allow for. Magic had went and fucked everything up the first time, well, that amongst other things. If they went back down that route then it was likely that something truly horrific would happen to Piltover.

Silco took out one of his cigars and lit it with flourish. “That we do. That matters little though when I highly doubt he’s working with anyone else there.”

Jayce didn’t know what Singed had done the first time. He knew that it was bad, that he had caused immense damage, but Jayce didn’t know the specifics. It was possible that he had worked with Ixtal in the past, and if that was the case, then the possibility of things getting worse increased exponentially. He wanted to ask Viktor if he had any more knowledge of what Singed’s past plans were.

That conversation could of course go one of two ways. Either, Viktor actually answered the question, which seemed rather impossible at this point. Or, what would more likely happen, Viktor would get angry again, assuming that Jayce was finding another thing to call the other man out of yet again. It would be more anger. More aggression. Jayce didn’t know if he could handle that anymore, not with the added pressure of knowing that Singed was screwing about in Ixtal as well. This meeting was turning out to be an even bigger mess than he could have ever imagined. Jayce held back a sigh as he gripped his knee, trying to bring himself back to the conversation and issue at hand.

“So I’m assuming we’ll have to travel to Ixtal then.” Viktor didn’t phrase it as a question; he knew better than that.

Jayce did too.

The thought of traveling back to the region put a weird feeling in his stomach. Part of him had wanted to go back for ages, to see if it was the same as he could remember. Most of his memories were rubbish, faded from the years and years that had passed. He wanted to make more there, especially if they were with Viktor. He doubted that any of the new memories he created – if he did – that they would be good. Not with the stress of Singed, not with the questionable situation between him and Viktor.

Silco stood from his desk, tracing his finger against the wood. “Personally, I am trying to avoid it as much as I can.”

“He doesn’t like to travel,” Sevika added.

“No I do not,” Silco didn’t even try to deny it. There was a frown on his face, as there typically was. “I’ve been in communication with several of our connections there. They are trying to sort the issue out themselves, but alas,” he looked out the window behind his desk, “they don’t know nearly as much about Singed as you do.”

Jayce knew better than to assume that Silco was talking about him.

Viktor ducked his head. “And they should be thankful for that.” His shoulders dropped, body growing ever tenser by the minute. “When do we leave then?”

Jayce didn’t know how to break the news to Powder. That had been one of his first thoughts as soon as he realized they were actually going to travel to Ixtal. He and Viktor had told the girl that they wouldn’t leave her, that they would protect her. Taking her to Ixtal would be a massive risk. Neither of them had any idea what they were walking into. Jayce had once again grown more accustomed to sitting in a lab and working on mechanics all day. There had been a time when he knew what it was like to step out into the world, into the mess, and survive. He hadn’t ever wanted to go back to that.

Not like he had much of a choice about it now though.

Viktor didn’t say much at all as they made their way back to the apartment. The meeting had stretched on for longer than either of them would have liked. There was plenty to talk about, but just like before, neither of them were actually doing any of the talking.

Jayce knew he should have spoken up, about anything at all, but there was a stone stuck in his throat, keeping him from saying anything at all. It was too much. Singed. Ixtal. Powder. Viktor. There were so many things happening that when Jayce finally found the energy and confidence to address one of them, another came to steal his attention away. They were all important though; he couldn’t ignore any of them.

He needed to say something, anything at all. He needed to fix what he had broken even if it was just one tiny piece. What Jayce needed above everything else was to finally get a win after losing over and over and over again.

Jayce opened his mouth, closed it, and then tried again. “Viktor?”

They were a block or so away from the apartment. A wave of deja vu washed over him from just a few hours earlier, back when he wasn’t about to travel back to Ixtal for the first time in nearly two decades. Jayce squared his jaw, trying to look as put together as he could despite how much he wanted to break apart into a million pieces.

Viktor paused. His leg was still bothering him. He shifted more weight to his good leg and his cane.

Jayce wanted to take all the pain away.

“Yes, Jayce?” He spoke softer this time. It still wasn’t the tone Jayce would have wanted, the tone that Viktor had when they found themselves in bed together, hidden away from the rest of the world, but it was a start.

Jayce took a long breath, feeling the air expand his lungs. Dirty air, the kind that nobody in Zaun deserved to be breathing. How much worse would it get if everything with Piltover fell through? If Singed ended up completing his plans?

He exhaled, low and controlled. “Despite everything, I’m happy I got a second chance with you.”

They probably weren’t the right words, and they certainly weren’t said at the right time, but they were the only ones that Jayce could come up with, so he let them go. It felt amazing to finally say it, to melt the ice between him and Viktor just a little bit.

Viktor was as still as a statue, but there was a flash of something glowing behind his eyes that Jayce hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing for a good amount of time now. He swallowed hard. “Let’s hope we don’t screw this one up too then.”

Viktor’s response was better than he could have imagined, so Jayce took it, even if it wasn’t pretty. Viktor was realistic at least, that much was apparent.

They continued the walk home, this time a half a step closer.