Love Song

When Jayce waltzed out of the classroom in the basement, Mel was there waiting for him, slightly off to the side so as to not get in the way of the students rushing out to go home. He made his way over to her.

“Hey! Mel! What are you doing down here?” Jayce smiled, happy to see her.

“Waiting up for you.” She returned with a small grin to match his.

“Well how did you know I’d be down here?”

“On the first day I helped guide you down here. The only class running at that time was particle physics. Y’know, I have friends in this class too. I just ask them about their class times.” Mel replies. She crosses her arms and juts out her hip, daring him to underestimate her some more.

“If I know anything about you, you probably have friends in every class” He teases.

Ever since Jayce had asked for her number, the two had been texting quite frequently. Jayce had yet to take her out on a proper date, but occasionally in between classes they would meet up in the library or the lobby to study. Jayce had quickly learned that Mel was the type of girl he would like to surround himself with. She’s indubitably smart and very caring. She is always looking for ways to help others, but is very clear about her limits, not letting anyone walk on her. Jayce applauds the way she carries herself, like someone who is very aware of her own presence and takes pride in herself and her work. She has a confidence about her that Jayce could never muster.

“I thought you’d be happy to see me, considering the good news I have.” Her tone also takes on a joking sound

“Mel, you know I’m regularly happy to see you.” He once again takes note of how beautiful she is. Every time he sees her, he has this same thought of how stunning she is. This and her well-roundedness makes her exactly the type of girl Jayce would go for if his thoughts weren’t stuck on a particular amber eyed man. 

“Oh enough of this banter. I have something to show you. I can barely contain it right now, I need you to see it!” Jayce laughs at her enthusiasm.

“Then by all means lead the way.” He sticks out an elbow that Mel wraps her own hand around, curling it up to his bicep.

“We’re not going far.” She leads him further down the hall. At the beginning of the school year, most of these doors were blocked off by caution tape, these rooms still a work in progress. Slowly, and without Jayce realizing it, more of the entry ways had become less and less blocked off. Now there were only two doors with the yellow lines crossing them out.

“I’m only letting you in if you promise me something.” She looked at him as they walked. Jayce was getting antsy now.

“What’s up?” He asked.

“I’m throwing a party next weekend. A real uni kind where everyone gets drunk and the cops get called. I want Piltovers Golden Boy to be there.” as much as Jayce was looking forward to post secondary bashes, he had only been to a handfull so far and most of them were underwhelming.

“Am I allowed to say I’ll think on it?” Mel laughs.

“Fine, but if you decied not to go, I hope you know you’ll be missing out.”

Viktor had also left the class at this point. He had heard Jayce’s greeting to Mel, and although he knew he should not care, his interest was piqued. Viktor didn’t want to care about who Jayce decided to spend his time with, but curiosity had gotten the better of him. He stepped out of the stream of students, onto the opposite side of the entrance for their classroom, out of the twos site. He wasn’t sure why, but he was slightly taken aback by who Jayce had manifested himself with. The interactions they had made Viktor want to believe Jayce wouldn’t choose the other most rich and manipulating girl in school to hang out with, but he supposed it made sense that the snob would want to have someone to relate to. Viktor rolled his eyes to himself.

He watched as the two laughed and exchanged flirtatious glances. Viktor could feel bile rising within him. It made no sense. He did not like Jayce, he did not want to be around Jayce, in no way whatsoever did he feel warmly towards Jayce, but here he was, getting upset because another girl was speaking to him. In a way, these feelings were useless because even if Viktor did like him, which he didn’t, Jayce would never pick him. The Man Of Progress could have anyone he wanted, even the gorgeous girl he was wooing right now. He would never willingly spend time with Viktor, some Undercity brokie. Of course, this didn’t matter, because it was all hypothetical, but it still twisted the knife in Viktors gut. I’m just some skinny incel with a useless leg and busted spine. Such sad thoughts for a young man. He knew he was brilliant intellectually, he could come up with the most inspiring things, he just wishes that confidence he could put in his looks and mental health. Surely he wasn’t just some nerd? He must have some other redeeming quality. Viktor longs to have these ruining thoughts evicted from his head. 

Viktor watched as Mel took Jayces outstretched elbow and they both sauntered off down the hallway. He knew he shouldn’t be so curious. Jayce was just his lab partner, he did not care what he did with his free time and he definitely did not care who he spent it with. So he wasn’t quite sure why his feet began to move as though to follow them down the hall. I’m not watching them, merely making sure he doesn’t stumble into our lab and ruin anything. Sure, that was a perfect excuse.

Instead of dragging him all the way down the corridor to the large wooden doors where his and Viktors lab was, Mel stopped him at the door directly to the right of it.

“What's in here?” Jayce asked, still looking at the door. Upon closer inspection the whole thing seemed to have flames carved into it. Mel just smirked and pushed the door open, a key to enter not required. Jayce just stood outside, unsure whether he should be taking the first steps inside. 

“Go on.” Mel gestured for him to go on ahead of her.

When Jayce placed his first foot in, he was immediately taken aback. The room was a magnificent forge. The walls were still in their wooden state, but the ceiling came down lower, beams traveling along the top of it as though the room was remaining only partially finished. Facing directly across from the door was a large classic industrial furnace made from red brick. Right in front of the glowing entrance was the largest anvil he had ever seen. To his left was an evidently hand crafted workbench with a small stool. Multiple tools such as hammers and vices and what have you hung on the wall behind it. To his right were other standalone things like a firepot and a larger blower. 

“Mel…” he spun around to where she was looking smugly in the doorway, “this is amazing! A forge! Here, in school!” He felt like a kid in a candy store. When Jayce had begun inventing, he often had troubles finding the right pieces for his creations. It had come to a point where some of the parts he needed didn’t even exist. He had decided that the easiest path to take was just to begin making them himself. He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn't needed his innovations to be perfect, and the only way to assure that was to make every piece of it himself. “But how did you know? That I like to work here, I mean.” Mel lets out a true hearty laugh as she pushes herself off the doorway and walks further into the chamber.

“I don’t know if you’ve really noticed this but you like never stop talking. I’m pretty sure you’ve said more words to me than I have spoken in my whole life.” Jayce promptly feels embarrassment shroud his face. 

“Ha ha yeah, I suppose it must’ve slipped out.” He scratches the back of his neck.

“Actually, we were in the library and I had lost my earring when you said you’d just make me a new one. Then you went on some rant about how blacksmiths don’t actually use gold or silver but instead prefer the more durable iron and steel. That's all I remember though. Sorry, but I had to tune you out. I suppose forgery doesn’t excite me the way it does you.” She teases. Jayce goes an even deeper red.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bore you.” Mentally, he was kicking himself. Why could he not, even for one second, shut up. Especially about creating and inventing. Mel did not care about his discoveries and he was an idiot for forcing her to listen to him yap about things that she does not concern herself with.

“Jayce, I must say you are quite lucky. Your face makes up for the slight blabbermouth.” She had inched closer to his chest and looked up at him. All his self loathing thoughts had been pushed to the side momentarily. The way Mel was staring at him made him extremely nervous. The corner of her lip turned up. “I know when you freeze up like this, that's normally when the useless words begin spilling out.” Lightly she drew a hand up to flutter over his chest. “So here's me reminding you to keep your mouth shut and not ruin the moment.” She tilted her head slightly, examining him before she walked over to the work table. “I’m sure if you ask Heimerdinger really nicely he’ll let you use the forge.” She turned back to face him. “I suggest you go now though. He tends to be out of his room in such a hurry.”

Jayce perked up at Mels suggestion. Him? Having this whole brand new beautiful space to himself? That sounded like a dream.

“You are so right Mel, thank you.” Jayce really wanted to bolt out of that room right now to go ask the professor if he could use the room.

“Go Jayce,” she said, reading his mind, “I know how much you must be dying to find out if you can work here.” She said with a chuckle. 

“Thank you again Mel!” He had rushed so fast out the door, the end of his sentence was thrown over his shoulder. He walked as fast as he could back into the classroom, catching Heimerdinger as he was walking out the door.

“Professor Heimerdinger! I was just coming to see you.” Jayce exclaimed. An uncontainable smile had spread across his face. 

“Hello, my boy. How is your project coming along?” He was busy fiddling with the keys to lock the door of the classroom.

“Good, Good. All is well. A few bumps, as you can imagine, but for the most part smooth sailing.”

“And Viktor? He was quite insistent on you two being partners so I’d hope everything is going alright.” Jayce didn’t know Viktor wanted to be partners with him that badly. That night in the car, he agreed to Jayce's proposal so casually, almost as if he didn’t care.

“Yes, things are going great. Viktor really is a modern genius.” The professor glances up at him, a peculiar look in his eye.

“Don’t I know it.” He finishes locking up the door and fully turns to face Jayce. “Did you have a question for me? Or were you just looking for a visit?” 

“No, no I have a question, unless you have somewhere to be.”

“Ask away, my boy.” Heimerdinger gives an expression with his hand, welcoming Jayce to ask whatever.

“Do you have access to the forge?”

“Ah, I have a smith on my hands do I?” Jayce gives a soft smile.

“We all have to have some hobby. The room is so nice and full of very modern tools, I was just wondering if there was a chance I could use it?” He was slightly embarrassed to ask. He didn’t normally ask things of others, but maybe in the future he would need to create something to fashion something for his and Viktors creation.

“Jayce… I’m willing to say yes,” Jayce felt himself clench his fists in excitement, “but only because I feel I can trust you. If you burn down this building you will be paying for it, although I’m sure you have the money. I will see if I can swing the same peculiar hours you requested for your lab time. I make no promises and am mainly doing this because I want to see what you and Viktor can do when you are truly left to your own devices. Have a good evening Jayce.” He gives a short wave and heads up the escalator. 

A few seconds go by before Mel startles him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Was it a yes?”

“Something like that.” He turns to face her. 

“This has been fun, Man Of Progress, but I’ve got a date with a ridiculous amount of homework.” He laughs. “Walk me to my car?” She asks. He sticks out his elbow and she grabs onto it. This was their preferred method of transportation. They walk over to the escalator, a comfortable silence falling over them. The lobby is busy with students leaving their day classes and coming in for their evening lesson. As the two walked out into the chillier night, Jayce watched as a familiar pair of headlights peeled out of the parking lot. Viktor had still been skipping out on a lot of their shared time. He knew he wasn’t much of a people person, but they were partners and Jayce hoped that they could’ve possibly been friends. Maybe more, if he was willing to indulge that part of himself. 

“Mines the white one over there.” Mel points out a cute little Range Rover near the entrance. They begin making their way over there, huddling closer together. The nights had gotten longer and colder. They would see their breath freezing in the air in front of them, turning to mist. Piltover never got snow, but the seasons did change, and now they could feel winter taking hold.

As the two got closer, the headlights flashed signaling her opening of the car. Like the gentleman he was, he held her door open as she got in. Before closing it he said,

“Thank you again for today.” She smiled up at him

“What do you mean ‘today’?” She quizzed.

“Well, I wouldn’t have ever known about the forge if you didn’t tell me. I’m just grateful.” She smiled back at him.

“Anytime Golden Boy. See you around.”

“Bye, Mel.” He closed the door to her car.

Jayce was far too worked up. Last week, after his interaction with Mel, he had gone home to work on some essay for his other class when an email popped up. Somehow Heimerdinger pulled a few strings and was able to give him full access to the forge during all of his lab times by that night. Jayce was excited to go in there and begin, but he and Viktor had a few things to figure out before Jayce went in there and began bending metal. But, in usual Viktor fashion, he hadn’t shown up to any lab time at all that week. Worse than that, he hadn’t even come to class. He hadn’t seen Viktor in a week and it was driving him up the wall.

On one hand he was upset that he wasn’t able to get any work done. It was hard to formalize anything if your partner wasn’t there to confirm it. The other half of him was just worried. Was Viktor alright? He knew Viktor had some illness, maybe it had worsened? Or maybe it was something Jayce had done to scare him off? He knew Viktor didn’t like him, but he was actively trying to change that narrative. It would be a whole lot easier to demonstrate his kindness if Viktor was actually around. He genuinely liked Viktor. He was smart and caring, a bit of an asshole but that might be part of what Jayce found so attractive about him. He thought he had done nothing but demonstrate this when Viktor was around. So why was he still refusing to show up?

This week-long build up of tension is what led Jayce into the forge this evening. He tried to sit there and think, but everytime he thought he had a grasp on something, his eyes kept wandering over to the empty stool beside him. Everytime he got up to write something on the board in front of him, he would glance at his phone. He was either hoping for a text or contemplating texting Viktor himself. It wasn’t fair how Viktor lived rent free in his head. Viktor seemed so indifferent to the whole weird tension between them, or maybe Jayce had only imagined the tension? What if Viktor didn’t feel anything at all and his small crush was unrequited. But sometimes he catches Viktor looking at him with something in his eye or letting his mask fall around him, leading him on.

He couldn’t sit stewing in his thoughts any longer. He needed to do something, anything to get his mind off Viktor. He slammed his hands down on the little desk he was sitting at and made his way to the forge. Normally working with his hands was a good method of relieving his stress. He didn’t necessarily have anything to make, so he was just messing around with the tools and whatnot in there. The forge had all the nice bells and whistles Jayces hands were just itching to try. He wishes his first time in this engaging room was to construct something for his and Viktors creation, but his fucking lab partner hadn’t shown up to work on their project in a week. At this rate, they were never getting it done.

Working in the forge did manage to silence some of the thoughts in his head. He had somewhat lost himself in the loud bangs of metal on metal. It was only until the large inferno in the stove had made him sweat through his shirt and he had finally finished his handiwork. He cleaned up his workspace, putting all the tools where they belonged. Once he was content with the sight of the chamber, he finally left. The bag he always brought to the lab was still in the other room and he went to go fetch it.

Viktor looked up from where he was pouring over his notes to the sound of big wooden doors opening. It seemed Jayce was incapable of coming into the lab in proper work attire. This time he was entirely shirtless, everything on display. Viktor desperately wanted to look away, shake his head and say some snarky comment about Jayces tardiness to their time spent together, but he couldn’t. He instead settled on the next best thing: raking his eyes over every inch of Jayces bare chest, making his skin heat under Viktors burning gaze. If he can't chastise him verbally, he will make him squirm under his disapproving look.

The second Jayce had opened that door, the second he noticed Viktor was in the room and he was without shirt, he knew he was screwed. Jayce, on the other hand, had never even noticed taking it off in the forge, he just remembers the heat. Now, he really wishes he would’ve remembered to put it back on. But at the same time he's also grateful he didn’t. The way Viktors neck was craned to look at him and the stare that he was given was enough to make him aspire for more. Then, with the same delicious slowness that it came with, Viktor ripped his gaze away, almost violently.

“You’re late.” Whatever Jayce was feeling before was immediately wiped away, replaced with anger. Viktor turns back around in his chair, his back making an arch as he hunches over his notes. Jayce goes and throws his bag down onto the counter space up front. The force which he threw it with made a loud bang. Viktor instantly spins back, feeling alarmed.

Jayces back is turned to him as he rummages through his bag for a new shirt.

“Jayce?” The air in the room feels hostile. Viktor grabs his cane and makes his way over to where Jayce is standing. “Jayce?” He repeats the question in the man's name. He's beside him now but Jayce does not turn to look at him, just continues sifting through his bag with a furrowed brow. Eventually Viktor goes to grab the bag close, but when Viktor gets in his personal space, Jayce backs away. Only then does Jayce make eye contact with him. His puppy dog eyes are full of hurt and question, for some reason, it feels like a stab in Viktors heart.

“That’s not fair, Viktor.” He looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something. When he doesn’t, Jayce pulls away and begins to pace. “You’re not allowed to knock me for being late when you haven’t shown up in a week. Not even for half an hour like you were before.” He pauses thinking. His next words were painful, but true. “If you weren’t going to actually be my partner, why ask Heimderdinger?” 

Through his words he can feel his breath quicken. In a few moments he was going to lose control entirely.

“Jayce-” Whatever Viktor was going to say was completely cut off. 

“I’ve never invented anything worth note, Viktor. I am not an inventor, so why the hell would you agree to be my partner! Was it to make me look dumb? You think that you can leave for a week and come back and be upset with me when I don’t have anything to show for it?” His heart was pounding loudly in his ears. “Well I can’t even finalize anything because what if you come back, realize all my stupid ideas are dumb, and make me scrap the whole thing? And Viktor, has it ever crossed your mind that I give a fuck?” His thoughts were beginning to muddle and mix in his head. Getting a coherent sentence out was rough. “Well I do. I do give a fuck. All week I’ve been worried about you because I know you’re sick and I know you said not to lose sleep on your well being but I do anyways. I can’t help but be concerned. I mean, what if you need me and I’m not there?”

Jayce had gone hysteric at that point. He had stopped pacing the front of the room, but his back was still turned to Viktor. He was just blankly facing a wall. Viktor could see the uneven rise and fall in his shoulders and his small gasps as he tried to inhale enough air. Viktor cautiously crept over to where he stood. He was at his side and could see Jayces unfocused eyes.

“Jayce-” He was once again cut off.

“Viktor if you don’t wanna be partners, I get it. Just cut me loose now, I’m probably holding you back. This is unfair to you.” It was almost like Jayce wasn’t saying this to Viktor, the way his untrained eyes were so far away. 

“Jayce-” Viktor tried again to the same defeat. This was getting too repetitive.

“I can’t invent things. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here. I can’t do this. I’m not meant to be an inventor, I’m just some rich kid. I’m so lame.” It was all true, he believed every word. Admitting this outloud was somewhat comforting.

Okay enough of this Viktor finally decided. In a move of desperation, he slid his entire body between Jayce and the wall, effectively pinning himself. His two hands came up to cup Jayce’s face, grabbing him and forcing him to look down at him. His cane clattered to the floor, snapping Jayce back to reality. He immediately goes into protective mode, hands flying to Viktors hips to assist him. Viktor does his darndest to pretend he doesn’t feel it.

“Jayce, I’ve been trying to get a word in for the past five minutes. Can I please speak?” The second Viktor had touched him, that was all he could focus on. His entire being was trained on the way Viktors long thumbs came up to his temples as the rest of his fingers held the nape of his neck. Instantly his breathing slowed. Viktors cold fingers against his hot, frustrated cheeks forced him to ground himself. His eyes connected with Viktors as he took a deep breath in. Viktors eyes held worry and understanding, Jayce returned with a look of… fear. He was scared of what Viktor was going to say next. Was he going to confirm what Jayce had said aloud? Did he not want to be partners anymore because of it? Slowly and somewhat reluctantly, Jayce nodded his head, answering the earlier question. “I think you are brilliant.” He shakes Jayces head in his hands when he says this, as if cementing it in place. “I’ve seen your ideas, I know the way you think, and I believe you are capable of truly spectacular things. Sure,” he shrugs his shoulders, “at first I thought you were just some pretentious kid, but after seeing you come up with such meticulous innovations, you’ve changed my mind.” A small smile creeps its way onto Jayces face.

“Thanks.” He whispers.

“I believe” this next part is far more personal, Viktors voice becomes quieter, “I need you just as much as you think you need me.” His eyes pull away from Jayces and the tips of his ears turn red, embarrassed to admit it out loud. “Before you I had been in such a slump. You sort of… helped me out of it, somehow. When I’m around you I feel like… like I can actually think.” Viktor has found himself admitting a lot of stuff to Jayce as of recently, stuff he hasn’t said to anyone else yet, including himself.

“Don’t butter me up.” Jayce meant it as a joke to lighten the mood, but Viktor’s eyes snapped back to him and he gripped his face tighter. He gave his head one firm shake.

“No. You are smart.” He emphasized the word. “I need you to believe it.” 

“Okay.” Was the only thing Jayce answered with. The next few things Viktor had to say were too personal than Viktor would have liked, but Jayce needed to hear them, so he bit the inside of his cheek and powered through.

“I haven’t been showing up, I’ll admit. I’m sorry, I can assure you I’m perfectly fine. When I was younger,” Viktor inhaled sharply. He really hated sharing, “I had an illness called Rickets. It fucked up one of my legs entierly and curved my back. I have to wear a back brace, you can’t see it but it’s there. Sometimes I have bad days where my weak bones and muscles can’t hold up my body, especially if I haven’t eaten or slept enough, but I’m fine. I know you want to worry, which makes you… kind, but you don’t need to.” Jayces eyes widened. He’s pretty sure that's the first time Viktor has ever complimented him. “Here.” He says as he pulls a pen out of his pocket and grabs Jayces big hand. Jayce is sad to feel his hands leave the side of his face, but marvels at the fact that Viktor is willingly holding his hand. On his open palm, Viktor writes down a few numbers. “Now you can contact me if you need me or are worried.” He drops the hand and puts the pen back into his pocket, looking up at Jayce. The unafflicted face that he has put on to act so blasé about the situation switches to one of entrancement.

Without Jayces oncoming panic attack and Viktors explanations, the two were left with nothing to talk about, forced to realize the position they were in. Jayce could feel how easily he could pin Viktor to the wall with just his hips. He could see Viktor try to subtly chew on his lip as his breaths came out more uneven under the pressure of Jayces hands on his hips. Jayces face was turning redder by the second, mouth slightly ajar. Viktor loved the effect he had on Jayce, how he could make Piltover's Man of Progress blush with just a look if he wanted. 

Viktor turned his head away from Jayce in shame. This was someone he did not like, not someone he should be pushed up against a wall with. But he couldn’t deny the way the man's proximity made him feel… something, deep in the bowels of his stomach. Jayce could see Viktors fiend uninterest, but he could also see the tips of his bright red ears and how his hips canted out into his hands. Jayce was very conflicted. He couldn’t stop the way his whole being seemed to be soundlessly calling for Viktor to do anything, to put him out of his misery of longing, but he himself didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to tell his lab partner, a man, that he had starred in every one of his dreams since the night he drove him home. With Viktor, he was helpless, unsure how to communicate his true feelings when it came to a man, but wanting so desperately for his intimate touch.

When Viktor had thought he gathered himself enough to push Jayce off of him and pretend nothing happened, he looked back at the boy holding him against the wall. Yes, holding me, thought Viktor, because if there was any way I could move I would’ve done so already. When his head fully turned to face in front of him, he noticed Jayce wasn’t looking him in the eye any more, but his line of sight was trained somewhere else. He was staring intently at Viktors lips. The look made Viktor forget to breathe for a full fifteen seconds. He had to remind himself to swallow. When Jayce finally did make eye contact with Viktor, it was slow and almost shy, like he had been caught. Then Viktor saw it, the aching. It was emanating off of Jayces whole body.

Viktors worst fears had been confirmed, Jayce Talis was not heterosexual and according to the look in his eyes, Viktor had a chance. Which doesn’t matter, because I don’t like him Viktor had to remind himself. But he was lying, and he knew it. In the deep recesses of his mind, he knew he had begun noticing Jayce a little bit more since he revealed the more caring part of himself on the very first day of school. Viktor, although he didn’t want to admit it to himself, knew Jayce wasn’t actually a piece of shit, it was just easier to think of him that way, less complicated. 

Viktor sighed, the only noise either of them had made for the inappropriate and definitely not friendly amount of time the two had been smushed up against the wall. It wasn’t a sigh of annoyance, like Jayce was getting so used to when it came to Viktor, but one of acceptance. If Jayce was going to continue to look at him with those big beautiful eyes and grab any tighter onto Viktors waist, then Viktor was taking matters into his own hands. 

He inches his whole face up closer to where Jayces puppy dog eyes and pursed lips are waiting. He can feel Jayces heart skip a beat as he slowly and very delicately runs his hands up his chest. The action is even more satisfying because it’s skin on skin. Viktor had been replaying this image in his mind from the second Jayce walked into the lab today, all six abs on display just for him. His fingers come further up, feeling the curves of Jayces collarbone. Just to fully play into the roll of tease, he lets his eyes drop to Jayces lips, letting him feel the full weight of his gaze. The look in his eyes held question, like he was contemplating whether or not to act on the charade he had been putting up. Every so gently, he continued on his path towards Jayces pout. 

Now the two boys were close enough together that one singular gust of wind could push their heads to connect. Jayce wanted desperately to pull the other man into him, finally giving the relief his whole body seemed so desperately to be craving right now. Viktor was acutely aware of how his control was affecting Jayce. His eyes flashed with amusement and the edges of his mouth quirked up just barely. It was quite silly how badly this strong, rich and assumedly independant man needed to be dominated. 

At the last moment when the two would’ve touched, Viktor did something truly evil. Taking both hands off the side of Jayces face, he pointed down at his cane.

“Could you grab that for me?” Jayce immediately felt a whoosh of air expel out of him. He was crushed. The denial of tasting Viktors lips was a blow to the chest. But Jayce also saw something sick in Viktors eye, aside from the indisputable mutual lust in his stare. Jayce saw pleasure. He sensed Viktor was enjoying toying with Jayces emotions, he was getting a laugh out of blue balling him. Jayce, at this realization, felt intense shame. It was only until Viktor had broken whatever spell he had Jayce under that he registered he liked Viktor enough to be powerless against him. Viktor could tease him all he wanted, could wind him up at his leisure. Jayce would take it, as long as it was Viktor carrying it out. Jayce would take anything Viktor gave him. 

Without taking his eyes away from Viktors, Jayce bent down to retrieve the cane. This just made Viktors smirk even more prominent, displayed so clearly on his face and layering on Jayces humiliation. Because that’s truly what it was: humiliating. It was humiliating how easily Viktor could make him lose all rational thought, humiliating how such a well respected man could be reduced to a puddle. Viktor was just taking delight in having Piltover's Golden Boy on his knees, doing his every bidding. Even if that meant just grabbing something off the floor. The way his pupils were all blown out, his cheeks a deep shade of red and how he pushed out his full lips, already wet from licking them.

When Jayce was back up, towering over Viktor once again, he placed the cane in his palm. The action caused their fingertips to brush, reminding Jayce of the shared captivation. He knows it’s foolish considering how Viktor had been running his hands up him just a minute ago, but he still feels the way his whole body warms to the slight graze in hands. Viktor, ruthlessly, pretends to not notice. It’s part of his new favourite game to play: How far can he go until Jayce ticks? It’s not effortless, trying to ignore such a large presence, especially when his eyes get all big when he’s talking about something he’s truly passionate about. 

With one final, pointed and heated look at Jayce, Viktor walked over to where he was sitting before Jayce had entered the room. Jayce felt nothing but cold emptiness where Viktor had once been. After feeling Viktors skin, he knew how cold he was. The sparks he felt weren’t from the degrees of his skin, but more so just touching Viktor at all. Part of him wanted to ask if he was normally that frigid temperature, but after the physical display of closeness, he wasn’t prepared for a mental one, and asking about regular skin temperature seemed too confidential. Instead he was left standing there, feelinging the emotional weight of Viktors presence now gone. 

After swallowing hard and taking multiple deep breaths, Jayce stood back up straight, trying to reform the broken pieces of himself Viktor had left behind when he detonated him with his brushes and fervid gaze. He found it very hard to believe these last few minutes hadn’t affected Viktor the way they had him. The last glance Viktor had tossed Jayce was one full of promise. This wasn’t over, he just wanted to marinate in whatever sizzling tension they had going on right now. He wanted Jayce to suffer just a little bit more, and maybe continue to guess if he wanted to go all the way at all. The one thing Jayce knew for sure was that as much as Viktor acted like nothing affected him at all, his eyes gave away the lust bubbling within him.

Jayce finally gathered himself and turned to face Viktor. He was in the exact position as before, it was like nothing had happened at all. After finding and putting on his shirt, Jayce made steady steps over to his partner, as if delicately approaching a horse that might buck. For a moment he just looked down at Viktor, who pretended to not feel the heavy presence of the large man over him. Jayce watches as he scribbles down notes and then goes to pick back up the tools he was using to tinker with. He wasn’t sure what to make of this man below him. He was baffled how Viktor was able to go from messing with Jayces head to messing with the trinket in front of him now. Jayce feels like he would need years to recover from the way Viktor looked at him.

Viktor, on the other hand, was just very good at hiding things, better than Jayce. Sure, the way Jayce was so willing to kneel before him made him want to leave this plane of existence entirely, but it was far more fun watching Jayce become all red and flustered than becoming red and flustered himself. The weight of Jayce’s gaze was more crushing than ever now, as he stood over Viktor. He could feel his eyes on him, racking over him. He knows the two of them were pinned up against the wall two seconds ago, but he’s never been fond of being looked at.

Viktor knows how he looks, and it isn’t pretty. His skin was pale, sickly. His under eyes were such a deep black for the lack of sleep. His cheeks sunken from his constant forgetting to feed himself. The tattoos and piercings weren’t to make him look better, they were made to make him look scarier, hoping to spook off anyone who dares make a double take. That never deterred Jayce though. He could feel the exact way Jayce was looking at him now, with not disgust, but something else. Something far more dangerous. It made him extremely uncomfortable to be looked at this way, looked at with something other than repulse. He needed to distract himself immediately.

“Do you do that often?” Viktor asked, not looking up.

“What do you mean?”

“On the first day, it happened as well. You freak out. Like a panic attack. Is that what they are?” Viktor is still trifling with his toys, like Jayces personal matters were great conversation starters.

“I suppose so, yes.” Viktor said nothing, guessing Jayce would continue on his own. “When I get anxious my mind starts going at like, a million miles a minute. When I’m having 129 reasons why I’m awful and unworthy per minute, it tends to spiral.” Jayce isn’t looking at Viktor anymore. Instead his eyes keep darting around the room, looking for somewhere to land. His hand comes to scratch the back of his neck. 

“Is that why you always talk so much?” Viktor implores this without sarcasm, like he was genuinely curious. Jayce lets out a nervous laugh. He doesn’t like being picked apart and already knows about his tendency to over share. 

“Sorry, I don’t mean to bother or annoy.” Is all he answers. 

“Why would you be sorry? I find what you say rather interesting.” For some reason, Viktor admitting this stuff is far more intimate than the proximity they shared a few minutes ago. The silence is far longer than necessary before Jayce says ever so quietly,

“I don’t think anyone’s ever said that before.” Viktor sighs and smiles to himself. He doesn’t believe for one second that no one thinks Jayce cute as a puppy when he begins rambling about things he’s passionate about. Viktor has always been fascinated with whatever Jayce had to say, even when he wanted to pose as if he didn’t. 

Viktor spins in his chair to face Jayce.

“You do know that you’re one of the most popular, rich and sought after men in Piltover, right? I’m sure you’d have people's attention all the time.” Jayce recalls his conversation the other day with Mel. The words blabbermouth and useless stick out. He knows Mel wasn’t being intentionally mean, but it hurt his feelings anyway. This was a girl who was genuinely into him, yet still found him somewhat annoying. 

“You’d be surprised.” Jayce presses his lips into a line. Viktor gives him a hard stare, then returns to his work.

“I’m not sure how anyone-” He stops himself. Good god, the two were just seconds from doing inexplicable things but speaking somehow became extremely difficult. Jayce tilts his head to the side, an unspoken question dancing in his eyes. Viktor rubs his eyes. Wow he really is just a little pet. “I’m just having a hard time believing anyone would not be interested in anything you said.” He chokes out eventually, gaze refusing to meet Jayces. Jayce could feel himself falling more and more in love with Viktor every passing second they spent in the lab together. Wait, love? No, no, no, the two had just met, it was too early for Jayce to love. But still.

Jayce realizes that he’s being uncharacteristically quiet. 

“Hah, thanks Vik.” He scratches the back of his neck. For some reason his cheeks won’t stay their natural colour. “But one time when I was 10 I found my dads old PacMan. I tore that thing apart and spent a whole weekend putting it back together. My dad was so pissed when he found out, I guess it was some fond memory of his. Did you know that PacMan is actually based on a slice of pizza? The creator, Toru Iwatani, saw a piece of pizza with a slice missing and turned it into one of the greatest video games of all time. Even the name replicates the sound of eating in Japa-”

“It also has a song based off of it. Made the Billboard Top 10. See, this is what I mean. How can anyone not care when your eyes get all sparkly and you get all jumpy and excited.” Viktor did not mean for that to slip out. Sparkly eyes? What was he even saying?

“Oh. Uhm… thank you?” Viktor thinks my eyes are sparkly. If that was a compliment, it was the best one he’d ever gotten.

Viktor turned his frozen face back to his work, although the numbers on the page were the last thing on his mind. He heard as Jayce pulled up another chair, plopping down beside him. During the entire time the two have been in the room, Viktor hasn’t felt Jayces eyes lift off him for one second. The table was fairly small, forcing both men to sit very close together. Viktor could feel his heart picking up. He was losing control of the situation and himself. Luckily he had one more trick up his sleeve. If Jayce was going to continuously make his body go into overdrive, then he was taking the man carrying it out down with him.

“You’re welcome… Jay.” At the last word his eyes flicked over to his partner, a playful leer befalling his lips. If Jayce thought he was going to get away with the name calling, he was wrong.

“Oh god,” Jayce squeezed his eyes closed, “please don’t call me that. I sound like a boring ass white man.” This makes Viktor laugh. The sound is like music in Jayces ears. He would pay all the money in the world to hear it on repeat over and over again. The sound Viktor made leaves him unable to move, just staring blankly at the smiling man. Jayce realizes how beautiful that smile really is. How rewarding it is to see Viktor in such a relaxed state. Jayce wanted to encapsulate this moment forever and bring it out to look at on his darkest days.

“Then no more Vik.” Viktor said, shaking his head playfully. “How about no more pet names at all?”

“Fine then. No more Baby.” Jayce leaned back and crossed his arms. Viktor didn’t care anymore, he stared at the way Jayces hands unknowingly pushed up his biceps and the way his legs fell open. Jayce, suddenly understanding the effect the simple action had on Viktor, began blushing, but didn’t make any move to adjust to a more appropriate stance. He tears his gaze away as if it hurt him to do so. He returns back to the task on paper in front of him.

“It was one time, and it was funny.” 

“Not sure if funny is the word I’d use…” That pretty smile graces Viktors lips once again.

“It gave me a laugh.” Suddenly Viktors expression suddenly becomes serious. “Jayce, can I ask you something?” In answer Jayce just nodded his head. Viktor sighs. He shouldn’t be as curious about this man beside him as he is. He pulls a smoke out from his pocket. “Want one?” He offers it to Jayce.

“You know those things are really bad for you.” Viktor rolls his eyes. He had just spent the last 30 minutes in an emotional whirlwind, he needed a smoke. Plus, he grew up in Zaun where the air was way more contaminated. “Plus, you shouldn’t be smoking in the lab.” He pulls the lighter out of his other pocket anyways, lighting the end of it. They weren’t even doing any real engineering right now anyways, just a whole lot of math. He takes a long drag.

“Why were you drawing me?” This question made Jayce perk up. It was a month ago, he thought Viktor wouldn’t have remembered.

“Well…” The question was personal, but Jayce felt more comfortable than ever with Viktor. “If I’m being honest, I’ve never seen eyes quite like yours before.” Viktor is still looking at the work in front of him while Jayce finds a nice spot on the wall to stare at. He didn’t mention the way Viktors face engraved itself into his head, like his brain was now branded with the pretty face. That was just too creepy. Viktor wasn’t sure how this sat with him. His eyes were unique? Was that a good or a bad thing? If it was good, was that just Jayce playing with him? It was nearing one in the morning and all the deep rooted questions had taken their toll. For once in a long time, he felt himself getting tired. He was ready to leave the lab, go back to his small room, back to his bed. He takes another long inhale of his cig.

“Where did you learn how to forge?” Viktor isn’t sure why he’s so full of questions.

“How do you know about that?”

“Where else would you have come from covered in soot and shirtless?” Fair point thought Jayce. “I’m self taught. I have this thing where if I have the smallest interest in something it will consume my brain. I had this idea when I was inventing and couldn’t find a piece I needed: ‘what if I just made it? And that’s what I do now.” Jayce shrugs. “Why were you asking?”

A response to Jayces query would have to wait. Viktor had decided that he was going to finish up this last equation and pack it up. Either because he was tired or didn’t have an answer for Jayce. He wasn’t sure. Trying to mentally erase the big man beside him, he focused on the question ahead of him. 8 x 7. Simple math. He could do this. Jayce picked up on the shift in the air. Viktors mood was no longer playful or shy, just very serious. Jayce peered down to look at the paper Viktors eyes were burning holes into. He seemed to be solving some sort of question.

“What’s the pro-”

“Shhh…” Viktors finger moving up to his lips in a silencing motion. “Shut up. I’m tired and once I finish this question I’m going home.”

“Is it math? Y’know, I’m really good at math. Always got top of my class. I think it might be because all my teachers really like me. Maybe because of my dad but I still think I earned my 100’s.”

“Jayce, I know I just said I don’t mind you talking, but I just really need to go to sleep.”

“Well then let me see it. I’m sure I’ll have it done in no time.” There was no way Viktor was allowing Jayce to see him struggle with simple math.

“No, no. No need. Just let me think for one second and I’ll have it.”

“Don’t be silly Viktor.” Jayce rips the page from beneath Viktor before he has a chance to react. 

Viktor, immediately horrified, reaches out for the paper, but it’s too late. Jayce has already seen.

“8 x 7?” Jayce brings his horrified face to Viktor. “You are a world renowned scientist and you don’t know your times tables?” Viktor pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Jesus Jayce, it’s one in the morning. I’m tired. If you give me a bit more time I will come up with it.”

“Viktor! This is basic-”

“65.” He interrupts with the answer. The wrong answer he realizes. Jayce bursts out laughing. Viktor grabs his cane and swiftly snatches the paper out of the ridiculous man's hands. He shoves it into the bag and lifts it onto his back, all the while Jayce is still in his chair howling. Viktor feels embarrassment washing over him, but fights the urge to smile at his own idiocracy.

“You’re making fun of a disabled person, by the way!” Viktor has to shout over Jayce. By the time he calms down Viktor has a hand on the door handle. Jayce wipes away fake tears.

“Oh god Vik. You are incredibly funny.” Viktor rolls his eyes playfully. He knows he said he didn’t like the nickname, but it's growing on him.

“Whatever, Golden Boy.” Jayce only catches the end of his smile as he pulls the door closed.

It was only until Viktor was already in his car, barreling towards his bed, that Jayce remembered the sacred 10 numbers Viktor had given him, scrawled in his perfect handwriting right there on his palm.