Day by day

"Finally. Whatever you had to discuss, it better be important because we have been waiting!" Runa chided them jokingly. "And now Powder and Viktor are gone. Great!" Her pout melted into a loving grin when Claggor pressed a small kiss onto her cheek.
"I really can't believe it." Mylo complained. "How am I the only one left alone? Even VIKTOR found someone! VIKTOR!"
"Why is that so unthinkable?" Jayce felt strangely offended.
"Your opinion doesn't count here. You're in love with him" Mylo dismissed him quickly.
Hearing his feelings stated so matter of factly made his heart flutter.
"This is a guy who has never looked at anyone twice! How did he find someone before I did?" Runa ruffled his hair.
"You try too hard. Just stop hitting on virtually everyone."
"What did Powder and Viktor have to discuss?" Jayce cut in before the whining could return. He didn't like listening to them talk about Viktor as if he was an undesirable partner.
Everyone at the table fell silent.
Finally, Claggor sighed. "Pow made a new corset for him. They're trying it on."
Jayce was confused. So Powder helped her brother with his medical equipment. Why was everyone looking as if it was a big taboo to speak about?
Before he could ask, the siblings in question returned.
"Wow what a party, did someone die?" Powder joked, her eyes were puffy and red. Claggor stood up and took Runa’s hand.

"Well, now that everyone is here..." he trailed off, letting his partner take over. "We've just gotten our chosen marks!" She took off the large scarf that had been on her shoulders, proudly displaying a soul mark depicting a massive, mossy krug with vines growing all over it. The plants formed a vague outline of the building they were in.
"Oh don't be shy." She tucked on Claggor's jacket, to reveal his shoulder, sporting a matching mark.
"About time!" Vi instantly wrapped them both into a bear hug."Congratulations!" Everyone else joined in on the well wishes, leaving Jayce quite lost. What was a chosen mark? He looked to Caitlyn for help, but she seemed to know exactly what this was about and participated as if she had been part of this family for ages.
After a round of celebratory drinks, Jayce found himself squished between Claggor and Ekko, who was very preoccupied with kissing Powder.
"Claggor?" he asked quietly, not wanting anyone to overhear them. "What is a chosen mark?"
Claggor turned to him, confusion on his face. "A chosen mark. The mark you get for your bonds?" His eyes lit up. "Oh, you don't do that Topside. Down here, we get them for all kinds of important relationships. They are inspired by soul marks, of course. For particularly special bonds, we find an artist to give us a mark." He started peeling back one of his sleeves. "We all got one when Viktor left for the academy."
Jayce was stunned. Claggor had the same tumbler he had seen on Powder and Viktor etched into his arm. That had been a chosen mark! Jayce couldn't help but laugh.
"Thanks. That explains a lot." Claggor gave him a puzzled look, but didn't ask, while Jayce's thoughts were running wild.
If what he had seen wasn't his soul mark, that would mean Viktor could still be his soulmate! To his own surprise, the idea didn't excite him as much as he expected. He just... didn't really care about it anymore. It was a strange feeling. Something he had dreamt of his entire life could come true but it wasn't significant anymore. As long as Viktor was with him.

They sat together on Viktor's sofa. Viktor's head was leaning heavily into his arms. They had just gotten back after the family dinner and Jayce still felt a bit overwhelmed by everyone. But now, he was glad to be able to embrace his other half, supporting him while he was clearly still recovering from the journey back home. Jayce had already formed plans in his head. If they succeeded in refining the crystals, maybe they could built Hextech powered transportation, so Viktor could visit his family more often.
"Thank you for joining today." Viktor closed his eyes. "That must have been a lot."
"We have known each other for so many years, it's actually crazy to think I've never met your family before", Jayce retorted. "No need to thank me for that."
"I wish we could stay like this forever." Viktor's words were only a whisper.
"There is no reason why we can't."
"There is. I'm dying."
Jayce wasn't surprised. He tightened his embrace. "Look anyone can see your health isn't great, but that doesn't mean you can't live on."
"The academy doctors gave me three years." Viktor had never confessed this to anyone. In a way, it was freeing. For everything to finally be out in the open. Jayce gently turned his face and kissed him.
"Then we will cherish every minute we have together." Jayce sounded so sure, Viktor had to believe him. "Day by day. And we will find a way to add more." They put their foreheads together and closed their eyes.

Jayce knocked on the bathroom door. "Viktor, is everything alright? You've been in there for quite a while." He was a little concerned. Viktor had just wanted to change for the night.
He heard footsteps and soon, his partner opened the door, stripped of his shirt, revealing the new corset Powder had made him. "Can you help me? I can't seem to open it on my own." He turned his back towards Jayce who immediately started to unfasten the clasps.
When he had finally opened it, his gaze was drawn to the spot on his lower back. Jayce couldn't help but smile, as he offered Viktor his shoulders to stabilise his partner.

Five years later

Jayce was unpacking his suitcase, when the window opened.
"Why do you hate doors?"
"Welcome back!" Mylo grinned at him. "How was Shurima?" Vi followed close behind.
"Wonderful. The old ruins had so much to offer! Our team discovered quite a few new runes."
"Yeah I'm sure Powder and Ekko would be interested in that." Mylo waved him off.
"Speaking about interesting." Vi gave him a grin that Jayce knew too well by now. He was in trouble. "A little birdie told me you haven't gotten your marks, yet. What are you waiting for?"
Jayce knew this would come up eventually.
"We never really talked about it..." he scratched the back of his head.
Mylo squinted his eyes at him. "Don't tell me you don't think it's important enough. Or are you having second thoughts?"
"Of course not." Jayce hastily retorted. "It's just, Viktor said it wasn't important to him and I don't find the prospect of getting stung by a needle over and over again very appealing."
Vi just scoffed at him. "Viktor, is lying. No self respecting Zaunite would ever think chosen marks are unimportant. They are part of our identity! He probably just doesn't want you to feel pressured." Now Jayce just felt stupid. He knew Vi and Caitlyn had gotten theirs a few years ago, and Ekko and Powder got theirs last year. He knew the entire family was basically waiting for them to announce theirs, especially when Viktor's health had declined rapidly. He had asked him about it then, and Viktor had assured him it wasn't important. And after he recovered, none of them brought it up again.
"You really think so?"
Mylo snorted. "Are you serious? I thought you knew him well!"

Viktor had cuddled up against Jayce's warm body when he woke up. Days like these made him feel like he was the happiest person alive.
Jayce was already awake, silently observing him.
"Mornin'" Viktor mumbled. He was tired and his entire body still felt sore from their travels. Not in his most optimistic fantasies had he ever thought he would be able to go on expeditions one day. Yet here he was, back from one to Shurima. Of course his options were still limited but Viktor didn't mind. It was already more than he had ever dared to hope for.
Jayce chuckled at his sleepy face and kissed him lightly. "You look done for. Was traveling a bit too much after all?"
"I just need some more recovery time. I can try and work out the runes in bed if that appeases you?" He offered half heartedly.
"Who is this sensible person and what have you done to my Viktor?" Jayce's smirk quickly faded away. Clearly there was something on his mind.
"What is it?" Viktor asked to put him out of his misery.
"I ... your siblings were here yesterday." he started, avoiding the issue. "You were already asleep so we didn't want to disturb you." he added quickly, once he noticed Viktor's questioning face. "Thing is, they reminded me of something."
"Jayce, I love you, but what is your point?" Viktor did not enjoy guessing what his siblings had put his partner up to.
"I might just as well say it directly." Jayce's face head turned crimson. "I would really like for us to get a chosen mark."
Viktor's mouth fell open.
"Are you certain? I know you don't like needles."
Jayce just smiled at him. "I know it is important to you."
In his entire lifetime, Viktor had never wanted to kiss Jayce more than now.
"Thank you." he whispered as he leaned in and sealed their lips together.