Chapter Text
Jayce, by all accounts, was a mad scientist. As in, he was completely, utterly, mad. Viktor has figured this much when he interrupted Jayce’s suicide attempt after his trial, but the extent of it all was something he would figure out in the seven years they would work together.
Some time following their agreement to work together, Viktor got a visit from one Caitlyn Kiramman. Having an enforcer come to your door one late night after a particularly exhausting work day, and having that enforcer also be the daughter of a council member is nothing short of absolutely terrifying, though Viktor never would have guessed where their conversations would lead.
He let her into his small university funded apartment, a gift from Heimerdinger to influence the decision to stay and work with him. The main area was kept plain, occasional visitors, delivery people, and the social calls he got would not be encouraged to stay through conversation pieces. Any fun trinkets or objects of interest were kept in Viktor’s bedroom, for his eyes only. In the living and dining room, right by the door to his place, the furniture was simple; a nice tan couch and rectangular coffee table, a basic kitchen in warm browns, and a plain white dining table and chairs close to the door, where he gestured for her to sit.
Caitlyn Kiramman held herself in a stiff manner, as if she was coming to tell him that a family member died. Her lips were drawn tight, her eyes squinted at him as if making sure he was real, her shoulders tensed. She was young, couldn’t have been more than eighteen, and yet she looked older, tired. Everything about her screamed that there was something wrong, though Viktor couldn’t figure out what it was. She had used his name when addressing him, they had never met previously to his knowledge, so she found him on her own. He knew he hadn’t done anything illegal, so whatever she was about to bring up to him remained a mystery that the five seconds of decoding had left alone.
“So, you’re the man who is working with Jayce Talis, is that correct?” Caitlyn asked him, slowly settling into a seat at his small dinner table, sitting across from him.
“Yes, I am. May I ask what the importance of such a distinction might be?” He replied.
“Well . . .” He could see her original serious demeanor falling, slipping off her shoulders as she sighed, thinking on her next words, “Jayce is like a brother to me. I know him very well and I have seen him through a lot, as he has done for me.”
“Okay . . ?” Viktor said slowly. He was curious as to why his connection, and her connection to Jayce were connected. He could guess that since they were both going to be close with the man, it would make sense that she might want to get to know Viktor at some point, though why she would go through these means to do so, left him pensive.
“Jayce . . . he isn’t like other people. He isn’t exactly, um, well,” She said, directing her gaze now at Viktor instead of the table, searching for something.
“I could assume that much, given the way I found him.”
“Yes, yes, but um, well . . okay–that is not the first time Jayce has done something like that.” She rushed her words as if that would make them easier to say.
“ . . .What?”
“Jayce has severe depression. It kind of comes in waves, but it's usually manageable if he takes his medication. The problem is, he thinks that he doesn’t need it,” She says, exasperation coloring her tone.
“Hmm, what’s the longest he’s been on them?” If he never had time to get used to them then maybe that’s why he’s so against it? Viktor thought.
“He was on them for a year prior to the trial and everything seemed to genuinely get better for him! He was eating normally, he would actually take breaks from his work, he would go out and even come to my family’s galas too. He was relatively healthy and well. And then, a few months before the trial, he stopped taking the medication. And everything got bad again. Not as bad as before, but not good. That’s when you found him,” Caitlyn looked exhausted as she relayed Jayce’s story. Exhausted, yet hopeful.
Viktor figured that Jayce’s attempt was simply an extreme reaction to the trial and everything that occured. He knew that if it was him, if his work was being taken away and he was being threatened with banishment, he too would consider ending things. To have everything he worked for, stripped away, out of reach. For years, Viktor spent all of his time reaching for more, knowing more was out there but not having the tools to get to where he wanted to be. Even if there wasn’t any stigma as an undercity dweller that haunted every part of him, from his thrifted clothes to his accent, he would still be held back by his lame leg and deteriorating spine.
Doctors had told him that he would need better (and by extension, more expensive) mobility aids soon, but he couldn’t afford them. He has never had anything to his name other than his intelligence and his work, and even that only landed him an assistant’s position. He wanted more, and if those opportunities were to be stripped from him as they were about to be from Jayce, well whether or not he would is a different thing, but the thought would certainly be there, haunting him.
He knew from the short time he had been working with Jayce, that he was a very emotional person. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Every step they took towards progress and truly achieving Jayce’s (and now Viktor's) dream left the man in a fit of giggles and big smiles. Once, he jumped around, pumping his fists in the air and whooping like a child. Often, it was infectious and would force a grin to Viktor’s lips, which only made Jayce more excited.
On the other hand, every step backwards would kill everything inside of him, making him frustrated and morose, usually leading to him leaning back in his chair, blank face to the ceiling. He wouldn’t move in those times, seemingly becoming an unreachable statue.In those times, Viktor was unsure what to do, and usually had to reassure Jayce that they would figure it out.
Occasionally he tried to make Jayce laugh by telling bad science jokes, or taunting him with gossip he gleaned from his time of having to go to council events with Heimerdinger. Sometimes it worked, and a small smile would peek through the storm clouds, other times, Jayce just sighed, returning to work without another word. Usually, he told Jayce that everything would be okay, and started to work on what went wrong. Jayce would join in after a while anyways, Viktor assumed correctly that no matter what, the scientist in him would always win out in these episodes. At least, they had so far.
As Viktor considered Caitlyn’s words, it started to make sense, why Jayce got so despondent, so low whenever anything remotely bad happened. It explained his seemingly restless energy, how he often found the man pacing their lab. The idea of Jayce pacing a hole in the floor became an inside joke quickly, though now the thought of it being related to Jayce’s illness left a bitter taste in Viktor’s mouth. More questions popped into his head.
“Is he on them again?”
“As far as I know, probably not. How is he acting? Is it like, big ups and low lows?” She asked.
“Yes. Sometimes I can’t get him to calm down from either one.”
“Then he’s not on them still. Coming off the medication cold turkey really messes with his emotions, and usually his appetite too,” Caitlyn looked away again, hand to her chin, clearly thinking of something. If Viktor had to guess, probably she was planning some way to get Jayce back on the medication he seemed to need.
“Should I . . . Should I be encouraging him to take them?” He asked. Viktor didn’t appreciate the idea of his colleague being in such turmoil while they worked. It certainly would help them both out if Jayce was more level headed.
“Yes, please, that would be a good idea. I am going to visit you two tomorrow morning and suggest that he does just that, and, um, you should act as if this conversation never happened,” Caitlyn replied, looking a little guilty as she stood to leave.
Viktor jumped up as quickly as he could to follow, snatching up his cane, “Wait wait, I have to lie? Why?”
“Jayce wouldn’t like it if he knew I was here, telling you what I have told you,” She said simply. She walked to the door, leaving it open and bid Viktor farewell, “Remember, I never told you anything, tomorrow is our first time meeting.”
“Wait! Then why are you telling me this at all?” He asked, fumbling
“Because, I need someone to help me take care of him. Who better than the man who helped save him?”
***
The next morning, while the two scientists were hunched over notes and the start of some blue prints, there was a knock at the door. Both men jumped at the sudden sound, and Jayce opened it to see Caitlyn, just as planned.
“Hey Sprout! What brings you to the lab?” Jayce asked, hugging and gesturing her in.
“Just stopping by, I have a gift for you,” She replied, her eyes briefly flickered over to where Viktor sat, watching the scene.
“A gift? What . . .” Jayce trailed off as Caitlyn brought a pill bottle out from the pocket of her Enforcer uniform and set it on the desk. Viktor took the opportunity to look back at the notes, pretending he wasn’t in the room so that the family squabble could unfold without him.
“Caitlyn, would you step into the hallway please? I think we should have a word alone.” Jayce said, his voice eerily calm.
Caitlyn agreed and the two stepped out. As Viktor attempted to return to the task at hand, he could not help but silence his own breathing so as to attempt to hear the conversation. He guessed that Jayce wasn’t extremely happy to have the medication suggested to him again, though it was curious why he thought he didn’t need it. Maybe if Viktor could get Jayce talking, maybe even get him drunk, he would spill. If they were going to make Hextech a reality and put it in the hands of the people who needed it, both of them would have to be functioning at full capacity.
He heard muffled voices through the door, one seemed angry, the other was more calm. Jayce wouldn’t be happy with the arrangement it seemed. The door burst open, Viktor turned back around just in time to see Jayce storm back in, and Caitlyn popped her in briefly, pointedly looking at Viktor. “Make sure he takes those. One a day, everyday,” and the door shut.
Viktor heard a clang next to him, turning to see that Jayce had just kicked the desk, and watched him fall into his chair. There were negative emotions radiating off Jayce, who had his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. He stayed like that for a full two minutes before Viktor had the idea to say something. He opened his mouth, and nothing came out. He noticed Jayce’s shoulders shuddering, his head shook back and forth as if telling Viktor “no” ahead of him saying anything.
Viktor took a deep breath, and did something he wasn’t entirely comfortable with; he got up from his own seat, cane clicking against the floor as he made his way to Jayce’s side and put a tentative hand on the other man’s shoulder, rubbing a light circle. Jayce stilled completely, Viktor couldn’t tell if he was simply caught off guard by the action or if he was uncomfortable with it, regardless, he lost his nerve and returned to his seat, cheeks warm with embarrassment.
Jayce continued to stay in the same position for another two minutes before finally leaning back, head hanging off the back of the chair, letting himself just breathe. The silence between them was thick, and Viktor wasn’t entirely sure what to do, if there was a way to help this man. But he had to do something.
“So, should we take our meds then?” Viktor asked after a minute of near painful awkward silence. Jayce laughed at this.
“I’m fine, Caitlyn is overreacting and being an overbearing little sister,” He replied bitterly.
“You know Jayce, you shouldn’t complain about such a tiny pill. You should see the meds I have to take just for my leg and back,” Viktor said coolly. Jayce always seemed to want to get to know Viktor, constantly asking him questions when they should be focusing on work. Perhaps he could use this desire to his advantage.
“Oh really?”
“Yes. It’s not a bad thing to need medication, Jayce.”
“I-I know that. Hey, maybe we could take our meds together? I assume Caitlyn is going to keep bothering us until I get back on them, and if you don’t mind it . . .” He trailed off, looking hopefully at Viktor.
“If it makes things easier for you, sure, why not. We’ll start tomorrow, yes?”
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
There was a small smile gracing Jayce’s lips, the soft kind that made Viktor’s heart beat just a bit faster. It was a strange feeling, but Viktor refused to think about it more, and dived into the notes they were discussing before. He knew it would take ages to find a sure fire way to stabilize the crystals, but if they could do it soon, they could focus more on creating actual tools. Viktor could make technology that would help the miners in the Undercity, maybe even make industrial filters to clean the water there too. The possibilities for changing the world were endless, held up within his reach by the man before him. A man who was incredibly intelligent and kind, and more broken than he seemed. If this man could help him achieve the greatness he desired, there was nothing Viktor wouldn’t do to try to help him.