Chapter Three
Viktor knew he had a soulmate, the purple mark on his shoulder was proof of this. Viktor also knew he was destined to meet his soulmate eventually. Afterall, everyone was promised their other half. What Viktor didn’t know was that his soulmate would be part of the Royal guard for the opposing Kingdom.
His eyes widen once they land on the tall, handsome, dark skinned man standing beside the King, and Princess of Piltover. His breath caught in his throat, time seemed to freeze in place and the burning on his shoulder simply confirmed what he assumed.
Viktor had just found his soulmate.
The ever-composed Prince takes a second to recover from his shock, realising that he had stopped walking. Having frozen only a few feet away from where that man stood, his own expression harboring surprise. Viktor continues to look into the mysterious guard’s eyes, neither of the two making the first move to look away. Only when Count Silco nudges his son, does Viktor turn his attention back to Queen Cassandra and what she had been saying.
She looks at him curiously for a moment before speaking once more, “Meet my husband Tobias, and our daughter Caitlyn.” The woman smiles as she gestures towards her family, from which her husband steps closer and shakes the Count’s hand.
“It is a pleasure, your majesty.” Silco speaks with his perfect, practiced diplomacy. Something he was concerned his son had suddenly forgotten.
Jayce was frozen in time. His soulmate, the one destined for him stood only a few feet away and yet, neither of them was able to speak. Their responsibilities came first, afterall, what business did a royal guard have talking to a neighbouring prince?
“Thank you for having us.” The young vampire, Viktor, speaks. His accent made Jayce feel as if he may just melt.
He doesn’t know how much time passes, his focus stays on the shorter man. By now the group of six have migrated inside the hall. The sovereigns sip on their glasses of wine and continue with their dull conversations. It is of some amusement to the latino wolf, that his soulmate looks just as bored as he feels.
Outside the golden windows of the banquet hall The moon's soft glow enveloped the grounds in a silvery blanket, dancing across the trees and grass. It was a tranquil, almost ethereal sight to behold. He fiddled with the side of his shirt. Jayce always had great difficulty standing and doing nothing, this made his already boring job, even more painstakingly so.
“Jayce.” The voice of the Queen breaks him out of his thoughts. “Go take your break.”
Despite wanting to stick around and stare at Viktor, Jayce nods and bows his head at the group before turning and heading towards the garden, sending a small smile towards the vampire heir on his way out.
It takes everything in Viktor not to ditch his father and chase after this ‘Jayce.’ That smile only further amplifies his need to converse with him. Not yet, he concludes. Waiting another five minutes would surely be less suspicious. He waits, inconspicuously glancing at his watch every few seconds until finally-
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get a drink.” He nods at the King and Queen, not bothering to look into his father’s questioning eyes. Not bothering to wait for anymore of a reply, he turns and exits the same way he saw Jayce did.
The atmosphere of Piltover is much livelier than that of Zaun, of course that is a given considering the years Piltover spent cheating Zaun out of supplies and labour. On his way down, Viktor thinks about his childhood growing up in Zaun, he worries what Jayce thinks of his home, what he thinks of Viktor. The cold air caresses his face as he steps down the tiny staircase leading to a secluded balcony of sorts where he can make out the large outline of his soulmate’s back.
“Am I interrupting?” He calls out softly, his cane thudding on the ground.
The man outright flinches, his hand on his heart as he turns around, breath caught.
“You know, for a royal guard, you aren’t very aware of your surroundings.” Viktor speaks with a hint of amusement in his tone. Jayce recovers from his shock and speaks with an equal amount of humor, “I’m head of the royal guard actually.”
The vampire raises an eyebrow, “Is that not worse?” The soldier has the sense to look a bit embarrassed at this, raising his toned arm to rub the back of his neck and shrugging. The hilt of his sword glistens in the moonlight as he brings forwards his other hand for Viktor to shake.
“I’m Jayce, Jayce Talis.” “Viktor, I don’t have a last name. My father says it’s something or the other about individuality.” He murmurs, slowly taking the offered hand in his.
The pair stare into each other’s eyes silently, a warm feeling runs through them, almost as if their souls were recognising each other. They stand there, holding each other's hand in silence for an almost awkwardly long time. Viktor pulls his hand out of Jayce’s grip with a small cough.
It’s silent once more until Talis’s gaze lands on Viktor’s cane, his eyes widened slightly at the visible mechanics. “Did you make that?!” His tone is amazed, excited even until he realises asking his soulmate about his cane is probably not the best conversation starter.
“Oh, I mean- It’s just.. I didn’t mean-” His awkward stammering is cut off by Viktor’s amused voice. “It is fine, yes I did make it. How come you noticed?”
The man’s eyes light up, “The bottom, I’ve never seen anything like it. Is there some sort of compartment in it?” Viktor is surprised at the observation, he nods. “Yes, it is. I shouldn’t be surprised, you’re a soldier. It is your job to be observant.”
“Oh.. well I mean I wouldn’t say that. I really can be pretty unaware.” He shrugs. “As you may have noticed earlier.” His slight blush causes Viktor to laugh. “Ehh, maybe.” The two grin at each other.
The vampire heir fiddles with the sleeve of his shirt for a moment, “Can I.. see it?” He murmurs, nodding his head at Jayce’s arm where his soulmark would be.
The man looks confused for a second, before realising. He fumbles with his words, “I- yes of course.” Instantly moving his hand to unbutton the sleeve of his left arm, carefully pulling it up to reveal a purple-ish, blue-ish orb, identical to the one on Viktor’s arm. Jayce looks from his mark, over to where Viktor had also rolled up his sleeve, to reveal his own.
“Have you ever wondered what it means?” He says softly, as if speaking any louder would be wrong. The shorter man nods, “Several times, It’s confusing, no?” A nod is given in response.
A large toll is heard, indicating the arrival of midnight. The men glance over at the clock, its tall stature shining in the moonlight.
“My break is probably over by now.”
“My father is probably looking for me.” The two of them blurt out at the same time, laughing after a small pause and glance.
Jayce offers his arm, his sleeve having rolled down by now. “Please, let me accompany you back to the hall.” Viktor smiles and nods, taking his soulmate’s arm as the two begin their journey up to the banquet hall.
Upon entering the crowded building, the two men realise their paths diverge here. Viktor’s father had moved on, now conversing with the dean of Piltover Academy, and the Kirammans stood at the opposite side of the room, seemingly talking to Duke Salo.
As Viktor slowly pulls his arm away, Jayce speaks, “When can I see you again, Viktor?” The way he says his name causes a chill to run down Viktor’s spine. In a nice way. “I… I am not quite sure. Is it possible for you to come to Zaun?” He murmurs, his thoughts running through his head, debating how he would meet Jayce without appearing suspicious to his father. He wasn’t quite ready to introduce the two men to each other.
“Tell you what, I spend a decent amount of time at The Last Drop in Zaun, it is ehh a pretty popular bar. My other father owns it. Whenever you can, show up outside there. If you don’t find me, you can send a message to Vander. He won’t ask questions.” Viktor says hurriedly, pulling away from Jayce after having caught the eye of his father from across the room.
The werewolf looks confused at this sudden hurry, but nods nonetheless. “Of course. Thank you.”
Viktor smiles softly, “It was lovely meeting you, Jayce.” Once more, he forces himself to rip his gaze off of his soulmate and turns to join his father.