summary : A Tarot reading, that was all it took to shake your entire life.
You've always been an excellent student in the Academy of Piltover, getting the best results and always being first in every class. This all changes as soon as you meet him, as his stubbornness clashes against yours, as your blood boils when his results overpower yours. It seems that no matter how hard you try to push him away, he sticks to you to pierce you out as pieces of your past come back to the surface.
Viktor, as in 'victory', was winning and you were losing.
Rivals? Yes, rivals. So be it. That is what you will be.
status : on going
content you will find while reading : academic rivals to lovers, Tarot, No use of y/n, Slow Burn, Canon-Typical Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Masquerades, Demacia school trip, Tension, Eventual Smut, Angst, Fluff, Yearning, like sooo much yearning be i made viktor the frank kafka to reader's milena, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Banter, insane amount actually so much that itās Comedy, Sarcasm, Zaunite Reader that has an actual backstory linked to the main plot of the fic, PTSD, smart people in the building but the writer's not too smart
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
[part 1]
pairing: modern au!viktor x artist!reader
Tags: porn with plot, viktor is a tease (ć), lots of buildup, smut, no use of y/n, afab!reader
wc: 3.8kĀ
notes: Itās here :ā) i went over this like 25 times and got a friend to read it to make sure it was good enough so don't let it flop yall asjhashg
art from pinterest, dividers from chachachannah, cafekitsune & nicodefresas
The next couple of months were⦠interesting. While you thought you knew Viktorāat least as well as someone could after a few monthsāyou were quickly discovering that beneath his easy charm and quick wit lay a patient, calculated man, with a streak of something far less innocent. Slick, greedy even. And that side of him was making it increasingly difficult to keep things under wraps.
Youād laid it down early on that this thing between youāwhatever it wasāwould stay between the two of you. Not that you thought Jayce would care, necessarily. If anything, your reasons for secrecy stemmed entirely from your own reservations. You were both workaholics, after all. Your galleries were finally gaining more traction, and Viktor had his research and the lab. Not to mention youād promised yourself long ago that your career would come first. No distractions, no derailmentsāespecially not for a man.
And yet, your resolve was starting to crack.
Again, you were learning Viktor to be a slick man, one with nimble fingers, skilled not just in tinkering with tech but in unraveling you entirely. Fingers that found their way under the table at dinner, brushing lightly over your thigh and leaving you fumbling for words mid-response to one of Jayceās questions. Fingers that pinched your ass when no one was looking, the sudden assault making you glare at himāonly to catch the smug tilt of his mouth.
But it wasnāt all teasing. Those same fingers smoothed your hair back from your face in the aftermath, his cool, calloused thumb tracing over your kiss-swollen lips with a tenderness that left your heart beating recklessly. His touch was addictive, and you were a hopeless addict.
Of course, like any addict, withdrawals were inevitable.
The boys had been called awayāa business deal overseas that was only supposed to last a weekend instead turning into a nine day ordeal. Youād kept yourself busy with work, trying to throw yourself into painting and coordinating for another upcoming gallery showing. But your thoughts had a nasty habit of drifting, especially every time Jayce would video call with a trip update. You smiled, nodding along as he happily recounted the details of their successful presentations and the eventual closing of the deal.
It wasnāt Jayceās enthusiasm that distracted youāit was the figure in the background. Viktor, half out of frame, often hunched over a small workspace or absently flipping through pages of a notebook. His focus, sharp as ever, made your pulse quicken despite yourself.
Once, during one of these calls, Viktor looked up. His eyes flicked toward the camera, meeting yours for just a fraction of a second. It was nothing, reallyājust a glance. But it felt like a spark, sending heat crawling up your neck and pooling low in your stomach.
You tried to ignore it.
ā...And then Viktor had the most insane suggestion about combining thermochemicalāoh, speak of the devil!ā Jayceās voice pulled you from your thoughts.
Viktor leaned into frame, his lips curling into a faint smirk. āIām sure it wasnāt that insane,ā he said smoothly, his voice making your chest tighten.
āUh-huh, sure,ā Jayce replied, rolling his eyes before glancing back at you. āAnyway, the good news is weāre wrapping up here. We should be flying back the day after tomorrow. Youāll finally get some peace and quiet without me bombarding you with updates!ā
āPeace and quiet? Jayce, Iād hardly call your calls a disturbance,ā you replied lightly, ignoring the sudden spike of anticipation at his words.
Viktor spoke up again, his voice smoother this time. āIām sure itāll be good to get back. Familiar surroundings and all that.ā His eyes flicked to you briefly, and something in that gaze made your breath hitch. Jayce was oblivious, grinning and nodding along, but Viktorās yellow gold eyes lingered just long enough to make your stomach twist.
āYeah, definitely,ā you said, forcing yourself to keep your tone even. āSafe travels when the time comes.ā
āThanks! Anyway, Iāll let you go. Weāre calling it an early night over here,ā Jayce said, stifling a yawn.
The call ended shortly after, leaving you staring at the blank screen. You sighed, leaning back in your chair, fingernails tapping anxiously against the edge of the desk.
-
The gallery buzzed with energy, the hum of conversation weaving through the air as you moved from piece to piece, guiding potential buyers with practiced ease. Your smile was poised, your tone professional as you answered their questions and described your work, but the sting of your bitten cuticles betrayed the nerves you kept buried under layers of polished charm.
Despite your best efforts, your thoughts occasionally wandered. Viktor and Jayce were due back tonightālate, youād told yourself more than once. Youād have time to finish the showing, decompress, and slip into something casual. It was fine. You were fine.
Still, your mind conjured flashes of Viktor's teasing smirk, the low timbre of his voice in your ear, andā
āYouāve created such movement here,ā a manās voice broke into your thoughts, gesturing at a vibrant abstract piece nearby. āIt feels alive.ā
You shifted, regrounding yourself. āThank you,ā you said warmly, stepping closer. āThat was the intentionāa sense of fluidity and life, as if itās always in motion.ā
His smile was appreciative and you slid into explanation, gesturing with your hands to emphasize the pieceās details as you settled back into your element.
The man nodded thoughtfully, offering a few more comments before excusing himself to examine another painting. You exhaled quietly, straightening your shoulders as you turned your attention back to the gallery space.Ā
The evening had gone smoothly so far, but then your gaze swept toward the entrance and the world seemed to narrow to a single point.
Viktor.
His posture was composed and confident as ever. The low, warm light caught the angled lines of his face, and his eyes were already fixed on you. Your pulse quickened as he began making his way across the room. He moved with deliberate grace, the tap of his cane almost rhythmic against the polished floor.
You swallowed, willing yourself to remain composed as he closed the distance between you. He looked every bit as devastating as you rememberedāperhaps even more so after days of his absence.
When he reached you, he didnāt greet you with words right away. His eyes swept over you, lingering as though taking in every detail.
āYouāre not supposed to be here yet,ā you said, your voice carefully steady despite the racing of your pulse.
āPlans changed,ā he replied smoothly. āWe caught an earlier flight.ā
āAnd Jayce?ā
āJetlag,ā Viktor said with a shrug. āHe went home. I thought Iād make better use of my time.ā
His tone was calm, his words innocent enough, but the way his gaze dipped to your lips and then back to your eyes betrayed the true intent behind his presence.
āYou didnāt have to come.ā
His brow arched, and he tilted his head slightly. āAnd miss seeing you command a room like this? Never.ā
Your cheeks warmed under his scrutiny, but you quickly diverted the conversation, gesturing toward the artwork nearby. āHere for the paintings, then?ā
āHere for you,ā he corrected, his tone sending a shiver across your skin.
Before you could respond, a passing guest offered a polite nod, drawing your attention away just long enough for Viktor to step closer, wrapping an arm around you in what seemed like a polite, casual embrace.Ā
To anyone watching, it was nothing out of the ordinaryāa perfectly respectful greeting. But as his arm pressed against your back, his fingers slid lower, tracing a line down your spine. The movement was slow, deliberate, and his fingertips dipped just beneath the waistband of your skirt. You held your breath.
āIāll let you get back to work,ā he said, his voice carrying that infuriating mix of control and amusement.Ā
But before he fully stepped back, his lips brushed near your ear, his breath balmy against your skin. āI missed you,ā he murmured. āMalĆ” hvÄzdaā¦ā
Little Starāheād first called you that in passing, after Jayce had teased you about becoming a celebrity in your field. It had been a lighthearted comment, a playful quip that Viktor had picked up on. But over time, it stuck and became something far more intimate.Ā
As the evening wore on, you felt the weight of his gaze wherever you moved. Whether you were explaining a piece to a potential buyer or exchanging pleasantries with a collector, you were keenly aware of him in your peripherals. He never lingered too close, always giving you space to work, but his presence was impossible to ignore.
By the time the gallery emptied, you felt wrung outāby the crowd, by the evening, but mostly by him. The cab ride was quiet, the only sound was the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the driverās radio. You sat beside Viktor, close but not touching, though the air between you felt suffocatingly warm. Every bump in the road jostled you, and every brush of his leg against yours set your nerves fraying.
You glanced at him, trying to gauge his mood, but his expression was maddeningly calm, almost unreadable. He leaned back against the seat, one hand resting on the door, the other draped casually over his knee. But his eyesāhis eyes betrayed him.
Dark and glinting, they flicked to you, and the corner of his mouth twitched, the barest hint of amusement at your visible tension.
The driver spoke up, asking Viktor something about the best route, and he replied smoothly in that light, accented voice that had been driving you mad all night. You caught his profile in the dim lightāsharp lines and soft lipsāand you had to look away, your nails digging into the edge of your seat.
āAre you always this restless?ā he murmured suddenly, his tone pitched low enough for only you to hear.
You swallowed, the flush creeping up your neck. āI donāt know what youāre talking about.ā
His smirk was a flash of teeth, quick and dangerous. He shifted, his leg pressing more deliberately against yours, the subtle movement enough to make your pulse skip.
āI think you do,ā he said, his voice almost teasing. He let his hand drop to the seat between you, his knuckles brushing your thigh. It sent a jolt through you.
You shot him a look, your jaw tightening as you leaned slightly closer, your voice a low hiss. āDo you ever get tired of your games?ā
His gaze flicked to your lips before dragging slowly back to your eyes. āNot when Iām winning.ā
Before you could reply, the cab took a sharp turn, throwing you slightly off balance. His hand caught your leg to steady you, firm and sure. He didnāt let go.
Instead, in the shadows of the backseat, his fingers slid upwards, the warmth of his palm scorching through the fabric of your stockings. You sucked in a breath, barely audible over the noise of the engine, but your heart raced.
His pinky finger grazed the edge of your underwear, teasing the barest edge of lace. The movement was deliberate, slow, and utterly torturous. He kept his eyes forward, his expression calm, as if nothing were happening.
Your pulse thundered in your ears, and you pressed your knees together instinctively, but his hand didnāt budge. His thumb stroked a slow, lazy line against your inner thigh, just shy of the place you needed him most, and it was all you could do not to squirm.
When the cab slowed at a red light, he leaned in, his breath brushing hot against your ear. āCareful, malĆ” hvÄzda,ā he whispered, his voice a dark, velvet tease. āWe wouldnāt want the driver to notice, would we?ā
Your teeth sank into your bottom lip to stifle the sound that threatened to escape. He finally withdrew his hand, the loss both a relief and an ache.
The cab rolled to a stop in front of your apartment building, and you practically bolted out, desperate for the cool night air to calm your overheated skin. Viktor was right behind you, but you didnāt dare look back at him.
The elevator ride up felt like an eternity. Each passing floor seemed to stretch on longer than the last, the tension between you thickening with every second. Viktor didnāt help. He stood next to you, but the air around him seemed to thrum with barely contained desire. His once teasing touches were growing bolder, and his breath seemed to waver every time he ebbed closer, his body pressing into yours ever so slightly. The subtle shift in his posture was enough to let you know just how much he was also losing control, how much he wanted you.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and your apartment was only a few steps away. You barely made it to the door before he was there, crowding you against the frame. His fingers slipped from your arm to your waist, tugging you closer, pulling you in with an urgency that sent a shiver through your entire body.
The key turned in the lock, and you barely had time to step inside before Viktor followed, the door closing behind him with an almost predatory click. In one swift movement, he had you pressed against the wall, cane clacking to the floor and his lips on yours. There was no hesitation nowāno games, no teasing.
His mouth was hot, claiming, and you couldnāt help but respond in tandem, body arching into his.Ā
āIts been too long," he practically purred against your clavicle, the vibrations of his voice going straight to your core.
"Too long," you agreed, though the words came out hoarse, breaking into a soft whimper as his teeth nipped at your skin.
The sharp edge of his bite was quickly soothed by his tongue, a slow sweep that had your knees threatening to give way. His hands slid under your shirt, fingers skimming over your bare skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He groaned softly, his breath warm against your neck when his hips pressed into yours, a deliberate grind that stole the air from your lungs. Your hands weren't idle, either, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel more of him.Ā
Your fingertips dragged over the expanse of his chest, and the subtle hitch in his breath sent a rush of satisfaction through you. His lips never left your skin, trailing fiery kisses along the column of your throat as his fingers tugged your shirt up and over your head, discarding it without a second thought.
He took a moment to drink you in, his amber eyes dark with desire, before his hands were on you again, possessive and unyielding. With a sudden shift, his grip tightened around your waist, and before you could react, he spun you around. The cool press of the wall against your chest was sudden as he caged you in.
His fingers traced the curve of your back, then moved to the clasp of your bra, sliding it from your shoulders.
"Viktor," you breathed, your voice shaky with anticipation as his hands roamed over your now-bare skin, pinching your nipples and mapping every inch of you like he couldn't get enough.
Your hips moved instinctively, grinding back into the rigid buldge of his slacks seeking out friction. His low, guttural groan in response sent a fresh wave of heat pooling in your core, surely staining your panties. His touch, ever restless, slid down your sides and found its way to your thighs, the rough glide of his palms pulling your skirt up around your waist.
The cool air of the apartment prickled your skin as he moved and his fingers curled around the delicate fabric of your stockings. A sharp, audible tear filled the room as his impatience got the better of him, the fragile material giving way beneath his touch. The sound was quickly accompanied by a gasp from you, although it was too late to protest as his hand slid over the bare skin of your ass, his touch unapologetic.
āI'll buy you a new pair.ā
His tone was sharp, yet quickly drowned out by the metallic clinking of his belt buckle. It was a wonder you'd made it this long, your head practically swimming, knees trembling as his slacks hit the floor. You wanted to see him, craning your neck in a pathetic attempt to catch a glimpse of the body you'd been craving for a week and a half, but he was quicker.Ā
His grip found the nape of your neck, pushing your cheek back against the drywall while his other hand snaked its way between your legs. A mewl escaped you as those same slender fingers pulled the now sticky lace to the side, wasting no time proding your entrance before pushing two digits inside. Your eyes squeezed shut and you heard him exhale, clearly satisfied with the way your greedy walls practically sucked him in. His fingers flexed, curling a few times in a weak attempt to stretch you out and earning a few muffled whimpers from your shaky form.Ā
āPlease-ā it was all you could manage, squirming under his hold, feeble hands reaching blindly for him.Ā
He was certainly in no place to deny you, especially not as his cock grew angrier by the second, flushed and leaking with precum. When he retracted his fingers it was audible, a squelch that made his mouth water, but there was no time. His hand left your nape, moving to the base of your spine to coax you into a deeper arch and you eagerly obliged while he lined himself up.Ā
That first languid roll of his hips was pure bliss, the slight burn as his cock stretched you out left you slack-jawed and all the time apart was suddenly forgotten, instantly fucked out of your brain. Viktor was no more immune, a whiney moan tumbling from his mouth as you clenched around him. It was clear neither of you would last very long when the energy quickly became feverish, all semblance of control lost with hips desperately rutting together as pleasure seared its way through every nerve in your body.Ā
This time when you craned your neck towards him, he relented. His body pushed impossibly closer, chest flush against your back while a possessive hand caught your jaw, reeling you in for an open mouthed kiss. It was messy and unrestrained, his hips never slowing.Ā
āI missed you-ā It fell past your lips into his mouth before you could stop it.Ā
There was a tiny stutter in his rhythm, almost unnoticeable as his brows pulled together in surprise. It was out of character for you to say such things, raw and unguarded, but tonight felt differentā like the time apart had stripped away your defences.Ā
His grip on your jaw tightened, firm but not cruel, just enough to remind you who was in control. A tiny smirk of satisfaction crept onto his mouth as he pulled back just enough to look you in the eye. āI missed you.ā
The sincerity of the moment cut through the heat just for a second before his lips were on yours again. This kiss felt deeper, more deliberate as his free hand skidded down your stomach before landing between your legs. You broke from the kiss with a shaky moan, head falling forward against the wall as he began smooth circles over your neglected clit. His lips trailed the crux of your jaw, down the back of your neck as his movements became rougher. He ignored the pain threatening his leg, breath heavy and uneven as he bit on the curve of your shoulder, his own wanton moans vibrating off your skin.
You could feel your orgasm creeping in, white hot and consuming in the pit of your stomach. The dual sensation of his hips grinding against yours and the quick motions of his wrist between your thighs had your vision blurring at the edges. As if he sensed it, he adjusted his angle, moving deeper and more intentional. His focus was now singular, chasing every reaction you gave him, determined to push you to your limits.
Your body contorted into his, a ragged cry escaping you as the tension coil in you tightened. He grunted lowly against your shoulder, his own voice taking on a wobble as his own orgasm loomed not far behind.Ā
āLet go for meā
It was all you needed to tip over the edge, toes curling and your body going rigid in his grasp as pleasure rolled over you in unrelenting waves. The sounds spilling from your lips were downright shameless, and you were certain your neighbors would despise you for it.
Viktor wasn't far behind, his rhythm faltering as he chased his release. His hips stuttered against yours, a broken groan tearing from his throat as he came, your body greedily pulling him deeper and milking him for every last bit. His body slumped against yours, both of you trembling, a tangle of shaky limbs held upright only by the support of the wall.
For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of labored breathing before Viktor straightened up, gently slipping out of you. The absence of his touch left a lingering ache, but as you turned to face him, the sight of his disheveled hair, the sheen of sweat on his skin, and the smirk tugging at his lips had you smilingāsoft, dazed, completely spent.
You laughed softly, a breathless sound, leaning against the wall for support. He chuckled in return, winded but fond, before stepping closer to cup your face. His thumb brushed over your cheek, his gaze softening as he drew you into another kiss.
This one was different. Slower. Softer. As always. That was the first time you let him stay the night.
The next morning, you woke to a tangle of sheets and the soreness of a night well-spent. Viktor was still sleeping soundly beside you, his face half-buried in your comforter, dark lashes fanning against his cheek. He looked so peaceful that it made your chest ache. A sharp knock at the door pulled you from your leering. Groaning softly, you slipped out of bed, throwing on a robe and tying it hastily. The moment you swung the door open your heart nearly stopped.
āMorning,ā Jayce greeted brightly, a fast-food bag in hand. Before you could say a word, he stepped inside as if he owned the place. āHope you donāt mind me dropping by. Thought Iād bring you breakfast.ā
Your stomach flipped in panic as you quickly moved to block his path, though he was already surveying the room with his usual casual ease.
āJayce, uh, nowās not reallyāā
He stopped mid-step, his brow furrowing as his gaze landed on the floor. His lips parted slightly, confusion flickering over his features.
āø pairing: jayvik x fem!reader
āø word count: 4.5k
āø tags: mdni! minimal nsfw, fluffly, poly relationship, relationship beginnings, blossoming love, s1 act 1, no mention of y/n, alcohol use.
āø notes: so excited to get this out! had a fun time giving this relationship history and i spent way too much time overthinking whether the ending was too rushed or if it was too self-indulgent... and then i realized its a fic so i get to do what i want LOL! pls let me know if you would like more parts, or if you want some drabbles about this specific trio. i would really appreciate it.š„¹
<- part 2
You had always been academically gifted. Rising to the top of your classes each semester, pushing aside anyone in your way. Especially for a young woman, who had been accepted into the Academy before you had even finished your secondary schooling ā a gifted student with the proudest of parents and professors.
Born with an influx of ambition flowing through your veins, knowing from a young age your duties to the world. It took more than wordy false promises to make a difference to Runeterra, it took action. Thatās why you vowed to help Zaun.
What better way to take action, than to help those who had been long forgotten about. You were smart enough to see the way the city had been tossed aside, forgotten about, while Piltover only continued to grow and thrive. There was sickness festering underneath, people dying because of the less-than living conditions and poverty that swallowed it whole.
There were many days when you wondered if it was too much, if you, as a topsider, could actually make a difference. Would anyone want your help? The bigger question being ā how were you going to help?
Then, you met Viktor.Ā
That was when your ambition rose higher than ever. A smart, young man a handful of years older than you ā a man from Zaun himself. The youngest assistant to the dean, a title that was hard to come by, and rather jealousy inducing.
Youād weaseled your way into his life quite easily, finding him in the halls and striking conversation whenever you could. He was polite, and good at slipping away when your attention became overbearing. You couldnāt help your over-excitement for a scholar from the undercity. Someone who matched your levels of ambition. Someone who was able to teach you about the place that had been nothing more than whispers and off-hand comments by your peers.
You fell in love. Quickly, and hard.
Viktor, too. It was your smile, your innate excitement, the genuine intrigue you had of him and how he was able to share the experiences of chronic illness with someone who wasnāt just a damned doctor ā someone who understood the pain. How could he not fall in love?
Viktor found himself appreciating you more and more with each passing day, wondering when youād sneak through the halls to find him to share your newest revelation.
Wondering when he could be expected to be pulled into a broom closet so you could ravage his lips with your own. He hadnāt been so experienced with romance until you appeared in his life, content with focusing on his studies at the academy. You changed the trajectory of his lifeāand so had Jayce.
-
āHextech?ā You raised an eyebrow, sitting on a stone bench within the academy courtyard and holding a half-eaten apple in your hand, āI donāt know. Sounds⦠unstable,ā you murmured honestly, looking between Viktorās eyes as he stood in front of you. You took another bite, the sweet flavour calming you.
You had to admit, as much as you were uncomfortable with this new scientific breakthrough, so to speak, you had never seen Viktor quite this excited about anything.
āPrecisely,ā Viktor said, eyes practically shimmering as he spoke to you, āthatās why youāre going to help.ā
āNo way,ā you huffed, standing on your feet and waving him away, āyou just told me that all the work got confiscated, how the hell would I even help?ā You spoke in a hushed whisper, as if Heimerdinger himself was listening in to the conversation.
āEh, confiscated is a loose term,ā he said, taking a step toward you, a gentle hand on your shoulder. You tensed at the touch, turning your head from his gaze and shaking your head adamantly.
You had morals, and perhaps you listened to the dean a bit too much at times. Science was incredible, but ethics were important, and the explosion was proof that it was an unpredictable type of magic. If Heimerdinger made the call that hextech was unsafe, a yordle with decades over your own experiences, then you should listen, no?
āIt has the capabilities of helping more than just the city,ā he urged, fingers tightening on your shoulder, āPlease. Let us show you.ā
Those words tugged at your heartstrings, leaving you conflicted as your heart yearned to know more. You took a deep breath, closing your eyes momentarily as your mind reeled at all the possibilities.
The first image to pop in your mind was the proper union of Zaun and Piltover, an incredible feat that no one could ever pull off. No more distinction between the two ā just one beautiful place to live. Your dream.
Could hextech really be the key?
āFine,ā you sighed, crinkling your nose and opening your eyes, ābut Iām under no obligation to like this Jayce guy, he sounds like he doesnāt know how to properly take care of his research.ā You looked up at Viktor through your lashes, watching the way the corners of his lips curved into a small smile, āWhy are you smiling like that?ā
ā
āCrank it!ā Jayce exclaimed from his chair, eyes full of childlike wonder, as Viktor stood at the chalkboard, crossing through equations and murmuring about the research he was still properly acquainting himself with.
You, however, stood next to Jayce, chewing hard on your bottom lip as your partner agreed with his words.
It all seemed fine, plausible, even. Yet, you remained apprehensive.
āAnd it if it doesnāt stabilize, what then? Part two of the great blue explosion that destroyed your apartment?ā You asked, eyes focusing on the man sitting, his honey-coloured eyes shining as they watched you. Your stomach twisted tight, hating the way he made you fill with butterflies.
You knew him for less than twenty-four hours, and he already had you twisted around his fingers. Gods.
It was completely unfair to be caught between them both.
āItās worth a test,ā he was adamant, then a sigh left his lips, ābut we donāt have access to my equipment.ā
āWhich is being destroyed tomorrow,ā Viktor murmured, eyes back on the chalkboard and fingers touching his chin as he was lost deep in thought.
You jumped when Jayce stood quickly, the chair he sat on nearly toppling over.
āWhat?ā he asked, panic rising in his throat.
āOh, yeah,ā Viktor cringed, looking over his shoulder at Jayce, āSorry. I meant to tell you.ā
You could sense the way Jayce was teetering on the edge of a breakdown, his breath hitching in his throat as he rambled on about how it was his life work, how they could show the council the equations to show them the proof. There had to be something!
But Viktor was right, proof wasnāt reliable on paper. They needed physical proof. A real test.
āWe canāt do it without the crystals. The enforcers took them all, theyāre gone,ā Jayce ran his hands over his face as he collapsed onto the chair once more, deflated from the situation.
Your hand rested atop his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze, much like Viktor did with you when you were overworked. Jayce flickered his gaze to you, those puppy-like eyes offering a silent āthank-youā.
āMhm,ā Viktor hummed, ālocked away in Heimerdingerās lab,ā he continued, eyes settling on you.
āNo,ā you were quick to know where he was going with this, āCount me out, we are not breaking in.ā
āSheās right,ā Jayce said, eyes widening, āyou heard the council, if weāre wrongāā
āBetter be right then,ā Viktor interrupted, and Jayceās eyes sparkled with possibility.
You felt a tightness in your chest, shaking your head as you took a step back. The two of them spoke back and forth, but you hadnāt been listening. Just as you reached the boiling point, you turned on your heels and took a step away, but Jayce was quick to turn his attention back to you. He stepped forward, hand grabbing your wrist, and you felt your heart jump up into your throat.
āStay,ā he pleaded, hand tightening.
You huffed a loud sigh through your nostrils, brows creasing together and lifting. Gods, why did he have to be so goddamned charming? You hardly noticed the curious look that Viktor gave you two before rolling his eyes and turning back to the chalkboard. The smirk on his lips well hidden.
āFine!ā You snapped, pulling your arm from his grip, ābut if we get caught Iām telling everyone that you two made me do it. I am not taking the fall for this.ā
Jayce grinned, a toothy smile that lit your cheeks aflame, āDeal.ā
You stayed a few feet behind the two men, arms crossed over your chest, as you careened through the halls quietly. You were hardly a rule breaker, in fact, usually a stickler for keeping peace. It was in your nature, like many topsiders.
When the three of you reached the door, you felt panic rising as footsteps echoed down the hall from where you had just come from.
āShit,ā Jayce whispered, āhurry.ā
Viktor was fiddling with the keys, fingers filtering through them until he found the one for Heimerdingerās lab. With practiced ease, he slipped the key into the door lock, twisting back and forth until it clicked.
Both you and Jayce were standing side-by-side, watching a flashlight in the distance, pointing in your direction, but too far to pick up on the three figures breaking in.
Viktor opened the door, and they stepped inside, but you were frozen. Unable to tear your gaze away from the enforcer that had been doing patrols and walking right toward you.
āAh!ā You gasped when there was a harsh tug on your arm, stumbling into the laboratory and crashing against Jayceās chest. Viktor closed the door behind you without even the slightest creaking ā a perfectly silent entrance.
āYou've never broken a rule in your life, have you?ā Jayce smiled, eyes watching you with curiosity as you pulled away from him yet again. You opened your mouth to answer but Viktor cut you off.
āShe is a law-abiding citizen,ā he answered, supporting himself on his cane as he walked further into the lab, looking around for the confiscated equipment.
āCan you guys keep it down? Theyāll hear us.ā You whispered, pushing past Jayce. Annoyed, and thankful the redness on your cheeks wasnāt visible in the darkened room.
āHuh,ā Jayce grinned in response to Viktor, walking behind you as he looked around the lab, āyouāre not kidding.ā
āShut up.ā You hissed.
Settling in the lab, you stood off to the side, peering at some of Heimerdingerās books as Jayce scrambled to find the pieces of his work. You listened to the sounds of the electrical whirring as he welded the parts back together, lost in thought as your fingers traced over the spine of a book.
A hand lifted to the small of your back, startling you for a moment.
āSorry,ā Viktor murmured, eyes watching you.
āItās okay,ā you chuckled, smiling as you leaned against him. Silence grew between you two as you slowly dropped your hand from the bookcase. You glanced at Viktor, biting down on the inside of your lip in habit, āDo you think hextech really has the strength to help people? Like us?ā
Those honey-eyes softened as they flickered over your nervous expression, and he nodded, āI do.ā
With a deep inhale, you tried to let go of your apprehension to the situation. This was for the best. If you wanted to reach your dreams, you had to run over a few toes, right?
āItās all here,ā Jayce called from his spot at the table, pulling the goggles off of his face and turning to look over at you two.
Viktor held up a blue hextech crystal to you, one from the handful that was confiscated, and when you offered him a questionable look, he insisted with the forward movement of his hand. Slowly, you reached out and took it in your fingers, feeling the rigid orb press against your skin.
This was it.
You pressed a kiss to his cheek before making your way to Jayce, who had been looking at you two with a small smile.
āHere,ā you said, offering the crystal with an open palm as you stood next to him, Viktor coming up beside you.
Jayce reached out, taking the crystal, but not without a lingering touch to your hand. Viktor took notice, a sparkle in his eyes that you hadnāt noticed as you watched in curiosity as the hextech crystal was placed into the machinery.
It glowed a bright blue hue, sparks from the crystal illuminating the room. You had never seen anything so beautiful.
āItās time to crank it!ā Viktor said excitedly as he snapped close one of Jayceās notebooks he had spent time looking through the past few days, looking in front of you and toward Jayce.
āAre you sure you know what youāre doing?ā He asked, growing uncertain as Viktor sucked back a breath and shook his head.
āDo it,ā you interjected, eyes wide as you stared at the beauty of the hextech. The inner scientist in you couldnāt be tamed any longer, you needed to see what this could do. It was almost addicting, and you couldnāt look away. It had sucked you in completely, āyou have to try.ā
They shared a look between each other, swallowing lumps down their throats. Viktor leaned forward, pressing the button of the machine, and it began to spin. It gained enough speed that it created a constant blow of wind that pushed your hair back wildly ā electric currents flying wildly.
āI donāt think itās going to hold!ā Jayce said loudly, the electrical crackling of the machine deafening all other noses, ālook at the buildup!ā
āThe resonance will stabilize it, trust me,ā Viktor returned, sharing a thoughtful look with Jayce, an attempt to calm him.
You, however, were unable to look away. You stared at the wild glows of blue, a smile on your face, and blissfully unaware of the enforcers that were making their way up to the laboratory after seeing the blue light shining from the windows of the lab.
Moments later, the chaos settled, and you gasped with a big smile, hands slamming on the tabletop, āthis is incredible!ā You exclaimed in awe, watching as it stabilized.
Viktor smiled to himself, his hand finding your back yet again, ātold you it would work,ā he said encouragingly, eyes flickering to Jayce, āall yours.ā
āItās never done that before,ā he murmured to himself, unable to tear his gaze from the slowly spinning crystal that sent waves of electricity to the surrounding runes, ā...alright. Here we go.ā
Hesitantly, he reached to the button Viktor had pressed, twisting the knob several times, so the surrounding runes began to spin and orbit the crystal.
You watched expectantly as Jayce twisted it over and over, creating different pathways for the crystal to spark energy. You couldnāt help but lean closer, even when the out flowing electricity stung your cheeks.
What the three of you hadnāt expected was a surge of energy to blast out, nearly toppling you all and breaking the labās windows. Within the impact, you fell right into Jayce with a yelp. Strong arms wrapped around you as he reached for the knob, and you clung to him, face buried into his chest.
The energy was strong, and for a moment you prepared for the untimely death of three scientists who just wanted to change lives. How fitting.
Then, the glass from the window flew back into place, as though time around you reversed, causing a brief moment of respite and enough time for Jayce to push forward and slam his hand on the button. The crystal fell back into place, and you were all able to breathe.
Slowly, you peeled yourself away from Jayce, feeling around your face and body to make sure your body was still completely intact.
āIncredible,ā Viktor beamed, smiling, āwe need to try again.ā
You and Jayce shared a look, silently agreeing that it was now or never. And for you, there was no more backing out.
This time, you took a few steps back, not wanting to be caught up in the aftermath of a worse explosion, but still curious enough to peek over their shoulders. As you settled back, you swore you heard sounds coming from the hallway, but it was hard to tell over the crackling sounds of the hextech.
Pressing your ear against the door, you closed your eyes to focus, and you gasped.
āSomeoneās coming,ā you told them, hands holding the doorknob tight, āyou better hurry.ā
Viktor took a few steps to the door, sliding his cane through the handles of the door so it was snug, ābetter than nothing.ā
The two of you shared a startled gasp, the rattling of the door loud when the enforcers reached the door and began to hit it with force, kicking and yelling for you to open up. Heimerdinger was with them.
āStop this lunacy at once!ā He called from beyond the door, and your gut twisted in guilt.
A few more heavy kicks and the door creaked.
āTheyāre almost through,ā Viktor said, turning around back to Jayceās side, āno pressure.ā
āThat sounds like pressure!ā Jayce yelled, working hard to synchronize the runes with the knob. He looked over his shoulder at you, who was now pressing against the door with your weight. With each kick of the door, you huffed, doing your best to keep them from pushing it in.
A rather heavy kick caused you to stumble, but you got right back to it, watching over your shoulder as Jayce closed his eyes and focused on the hextech.Ā
Your attention was pulled back to the door when the cane cracked, and you tried to push against the door, but it was no use. One more kick and youād be goners.
But the hextech won.
The sound of another surge pushed you against the door, and you panicked at the intensity that felt like it was going to crush you, and then suddenly⦠you were weightless. You turned to Jayce and Viktor, eyes wide, as you all had begun to float up into the air.
After one more kick, they broke inside, but the surge reached them, too. They stumbled back, while you had started laughing.
It was incredible, absolutely incredible.
āExcuse me, underfoot,ā Heimerdinger spoke, pushing past the enforcer and stepping inside his lab, gasping when his eyes landed on you three.
You were nearly touching the ceiling, floating with your belly to the ground and caught slowly spinning between Jayce and Viktor. Your giggles erupted into a fit of laughter, unable to control it as you twisted around in the air.Ā
Jayce flicked a piece of metal, where it floated through a glowing blue orb that was just above you, and it shot out right at Viktor. You collectively gasped, taking everything in.
This was magic and science blurred together, a medley of perfection. Hextech worked. You did it!
āWill you please stop hovering?ā Heimerdinger spoke, looking up as you spun your body around, touching and prodding at debris.
It was like swimming, you were able to push yourself, and you accidentally collided against Jayce, the two of you sharing a laugh. You couldnāt quite place it, but as your eyes caught his, you felt something ā like a mutual intrigue of each other. Was attraction too strong of a word? Your cheeks reddened, matching his own, then he cleared his throat and turned his gaze away.
āIām not sure how to do that, sir,ā Viktor finally responded, pushing toward you both and smiling as the three of you moved around together smoothly, not touching. Floating. Feeling free.
Like all things in life, it didnāt last. The surged power of the hextech settled, and thankfully it was a smooth descend that kept you three from any broken bones.
Viktor had been wrangled by Heimerdinger, only after a good verbal lashing that included you and Jayce. Blabbering about the rules, ethics and how dangerous this was. At the end, your partner had been whisked away for damage control, trying to explain everything and to keep any of you three from penalties and punishments.
It left you and Jayce to clean up, gathering everything together into the back area of the lab, still in awe over everything that had happened.
Once finished, you stepped out into the brisk night air first, somehow still chipper enough to bounce down the steps while Jayce hustled behind you. You hadnāt been so inclined to do goodbyes, but he stopped you with a hand on your wrist, much like earlier. It sent a shiver up your arm.
āWait,ā he said, and you faced him, battling the redness that crept up your neck as you tried to remain composed, āwill you stay?ā he asked, grip loosening on your wrist, āto help us, I mean.ā
āWith the hextech? Of course,ā you answered, rolling your eyes playfully, āWho in their right mind would see that and not want to explore it? That was incredible, Jayce. You should be really proud of yourself.ā
A smile lifted at the corners of his cheeks, the compliment doing wonders to the insecurities that lie deep within him.
āWanted to make sure,ā he eventually said, dropping your wrist as you both ventured away and into Piltover, toward your homes, āI like you. Well, I mean ā youāre good to have around. Smart, you know.ā
A giggle bubbled up, a hand lifting to your mouth to try to stifle it, āyouāre a dork, just like Viktor.ā
Jayce smiled at you, biting down on his bottom lip as the two of you ventured down the streets together, āhow long have you two been together?ā
The question was quick to fluster you as you met Jayceās curious gaze. You wondered if the question accidentally slipped out, and you could ignore it, but you could tell he was waiting for an answer.
āOh, uh, just a couple of months. Officially.ā You answered shyly, hands clasped behind your back as you walked side-by-side.
āThatās nice,ā he murmured, ā...so, has he always been so absurdly intense about science? Donāt get me wrong, I like everything about his ambitions, heās a great guy for even wanting to help me. Heās justāā
āSurprisingly eccentric?ā You laughed, nodding, āwhen he gets excited about something, itās like his brain goes haywire. I suppose thatās the way of being an ambitious innovatorā
āYeah, I suppose so,ā Jayce smiled, quietly admiring you in the moonlight. Studying and memorizing everything he could.
The two of you ended up walking around aimlessly, indulging in small chatter as you shared your hopes and dreams. You shared nearly everything you could about your life, and he told his story about him and his mother, and how that sparked his discovery towards hextech. It was easy to talk to Jayce, to get lost in his voice ā he was just so damned kind.
Nearly an hour passed when you finally approached your apartment, which was rather close to the Academy. The two of you had simply taken a few detours around the neighbouring streets.
āTrust me, if you want to get on the deanās good side, then you need toā¦ā your voice drifted off when your eyes settled on a certain individual sitting outside on a stone bench. Broken cane in his hand and looking up at the sky. āViktor!ā You called out, rushing ahead, āif I had known you were coming back to mine, I wouldāve hurried back.ā
He turned to look at you two, raising a curious eyebrow and smirking as Jayce slowed his pace behind you, āI have only been here a few minutes, itās all right.ā
You dug around for your keys in your pocket, walking up to him and outstretching an arm for support as he stood. He could walk relatively okay without his cane, but you still enjoyed the way he would lean on you. It became habitual between you two.
āI should leave you both to it,ā Jayce cleared his throat, giving an awkward wave as you two ventured toward the apartment.
āWhy donāt you come in?ā Viktor asked, motioning for him to follow.
You looked up at him in interest, figuring the two of you would be falling asleep the moment you got inside. Nonetheless, you went along with it.
āNo, no, itās late. I donāt want to overstayāā
āCome inside, Jayce. We donāt bite.ā
Viktor was convincing enough, or perhaps Jayce had too much of a soft spot for him because he was quick to accept the invitation.
It ended up being a great night, the three of you crowding around your kitchen table. Drinking some nicely aged wine you had hidden away for only the most important occasions. You celebrated your shared success and discussed everything hextech, the possibilities and what you hoped it would provide. You shared laughs, especially as the night went on, and you had all begun to feel a bit delirious at times as the sun began lighting the sky above the horizon and the wine settled in your stomachs.
āWell, I hate to be the one to end the night,ā you smiled, sleep beginning to win its war over you, āIām tired and sore, I should get some sleep.ā
āYeah, I should get back to mine, or, whatās left of it,ā Jayce agreed with a dampened chuckle, eyes flickering out of the window to gauge the time with the colour of the skyline.
āWhy donāt you stay the night?ā The question fell from your lips much too quickly, unsure if it was your overt politeness or an underlying desire that lead it, āif youāre okay with that.ā You shot your gaze to Viktor.
It felt like hours, but the few seconds you took to share a look said lots. A silent agreement about your shared feelings for Jayce.
āSure,ā he answered. A shy smile tugged at your lips, and your lover turned back to Jayce.
The man seemed a bit uncertain, and maybe a bit too tipsy to understand the looks thrown at him. His amber eyes jumped between you two, āIāve intruded far too muāā
āStay.ā Your voice mixed with Viktorās almost too perfectly, in complete synchronization.
āOkay.ā
The night became a blur. It was Viktor who had led you both to the bedroom, the wine clouding all judgment from the three parties and allowing you to just be. To indulge in each other without wondering what would come next. To allow yourselves to act on attraction and lust with nothing holding you back.
āIām glad you stayed,ā you murmured, lips lingering along the stubble on Jayceās jawline. Viktor, who was behind you, peppered kisses along your bare shoulders.
āMe too,ā Jayce breathed in response, hands careening your naked body and intertwining with Viktorās fingers with they met over your hip.
āLetās stop talking,ā Viktor mumbled with a quick nip at your skin, the confidence in his voice sending a shiver down your spine.
Jayce wasnāt quite certain how he managed to be wrangled in by you both, but he wasnāt going to complain. Not when, for once, everything felt right.
Viktor's words curl around you with familiar warmth. It's hard to tell where he ends and where you begin. Your eyes squeeze shut and if you focused hard enough you could feel his heated breaths against your skin, how each syllable feels against you.
You're carefully balanced on his hips, flushed bodies pressed together until there's nothing but mere molecules of space between you two. But you're prideful, like you've always been, replying albeit a little shakily, "You're one to talk."
Viktor isn't satisfied with your answer, how your tongue still tastes of victory and you feel his hand inching up your bare back, how it wanders and traces the same path its followed a thousand times before. His digits, slender and long, curl into your hair before he gives it a brief yet firm tug, putting enough force behind it so that your head lulls backwards, exposing your throat to him.
He leans forward, humming as he noses against your throat. Closing his eyes he listens, honing in on the fact that he could almost feel your heart thumping, how blood rushes to the surface of your skin. This seems to distract him enough from the mess between your legs, the way you've soaked his pants, the way your hardened nipples continue to brush against his coat.
"For someone in your current state you're oddly confident," he murmurs, letting each word settle in your bones with a thread of promise ā perhaps even challenge, daring you to keep pushing his buttons, toy with him, to see where this all gets you. "You're acting as if you haven't been aching to grind against me the moment I took your clothes off."
Your thighs tighten around his hips. You whimper.
Viktor chuckles softly, a gentle heat that unfurls against your skin. "No?" he coos and his voice is sickeningly sweet for someone who has you poised and posed to his liking, guiding your body with an iron fist. He raises his brows in mock curiousity when your glossy and swollen lips open and close, yet nothing but a pathetic moan slips from your lips.
"You poor, poor thing." A soft, mocking coo escapes his lips, a sound that's almost tender, yet laced with a thread of lust that makes your pulse jump in both anticipation and mild irritation, being strung along a thread you desperately wish he'd snap.
"Don't fret, you'll have your fun soon enough, sweetheart. But first..." he murmurs. "Why don't you show me just exactly how desperate you are."
synop: viktor is upset with you. the walls are closing in on your identity. you have nowhere to turn but away.
wc: 2.4k.
request from anon: Your Viktor X mage reader is so GOOD!!! It made me so happy considering that my oc is a mage and works with Viktor and Jayce!
If you have time, could you maybe write something in the same scenario (reader being a mage, working with the boys on Hextech + dating Viktor) but where the reader had been hiding that they're a mage and now they have to confess it to the boys and explain why they understand the arcane so unusually well?
So sorry if this is worded badly, and if you don't want to write it that's perfectly fine! Have a great day/night!!
-š¦
includes: hurt/comfort. happy (?) ending.
author's note: i do apologize that i couldn't fit jayce into here, but i think we all know he'd just wag his tail and perk his ears up and love you all the same. (...puppy-coded jayce x reader fic, anyone?)
āItās almost as if you already know how this all works.ā
Viktorās words made you freeze.
Hextech was beginning to reek with magic. There were jumps in logic that were far too great for science; it was you, mucking up information, crafting runes, testing things that made no sense to a non-magical mind, one that didnāt possess your internal compass. Viktor and Jayce were along for the ride at the beginning, but the explosive success of the Hexgates and the novelty of the technologyās potential was fading into careful studyāa form of work that would expose your abilities and leave you vulnerable to accusations like Viktorās.
But you didnāt already know how it all worked. Magic was an unknowable thing; it was a plane above you, surging through you in ways youād never fully understand, not within your lifetime. You were working merely off these fleeting moments where magic, instead of your mind or even your heart, guided you. Magic told you where to stepāit didnāt tell you why, it didnāt bother to explain, and it most certainly didnāt care how it appeared to the rest of the world.
It was only a matter of time before your āgeniusā was seen more as prescience. You no longer had a simple knack for the arcane. You were now a hostile guard of secrets that would otherwise better the world. It just broke your heart that it was Viktor who saw through it first. That heād have to be the first to be bear your burden.
His words bit with little subtlety. It was late. Desk lamps glowed a harsh white, washing out his already pallor skin and exacerbating the bags hanging beneath his eyes. You didnāt know if he already suspected your abilities, but you now knew he most certainly noticed how you stumbled through every technicality yet were still, always, ten steps ahead of him.
Maybe it was jealousy, maybe it was sleep deprivation, maybe you were looking too far into it all. But you could only respond with nothing. Your mouth hung agape for a moment before snapping shut. You fled the lab. He didnāt follow.
You retreated to the universityās sprawling library; it was too cold for the garden and too late for anywhere else. You buried yourself in books and words when the world became unbearable but, tonight, fatigue and despair clouded your ability to focus. You found yourself crying in a study nook instead.
Somehow, in your attempt to protect the one you loved most, you found yourself driving a wedge between you instead. It sickened you.
āMy, this isnāt what the library is for!ā
You weren't sure how much time had passed before Heimerdingerās cheerful voice chirped out beside your chair; a moment later, you heard him scuttle into the chaise beside you. You didnāt bother to look.
āWhatever is the matter, dear?ā
You took a shaky breath as more tears escaped you. The Yordle clicked his tongue and reached into his coat pocket. After retrieving the handkerchief folded neatly inside, he reached out and passed it to you. You gave him a grateful look as you used it to dry your face.
You sniffled. He waited patiently.
āI⦠I fear I may not be able to work on Hextech anymore.ā
āOh, myāI understand your upset now. Why do you think that?ā
āI justā¦ā Your breath fluttered. āI think Iām causing an impasse. And I would rather Viktor and Jayce work on it alone instead of it being abandoned altogether.ā
āYou three are inseparable,ā Heimerdinger insisted. āWhat in the world could you be doing that would call for such a drastic measure?ā
You sobbed. āI⦠I canāt explain.ā
āSurely itās not your relationship with Viktor.ā
āNo, absolutely not,ā you insisted firmly. āThis⦠This would be a decision Iād make to save that. He and Hextech mean more to me than anything. Even my own participation.ā
A quiet fell over you twoānot uncomfortable, yet not devoid of thought either.
ā...May I be honest with you, my dear?ā
You nodded, finally looking over at him.
āI know youāre a mage.ā
The blood drained from your body and the world shuddered upside down. You gaped at him in dread. The Yordle merely chuckled.
āDonāt be so worriedāif I believed you were a threat, I wouldāve turned you in long ago. But I have no reason to, nor any desire to.ā
You allowed yourself to calm. A Council Member knowing was the worst possible scenarioābut Heimerdinger had a soft spot for you in addition to thousands of years of experience. Fate graced you, of all people in all possible times, with magic. You were benevolent, incredibly sharp, and ambitiousāand if there was anyone the Yordle believed should wield the arcane, it would be someone like you.
ā...How did you find out?ā
āViktor and Jayce are not the only ones who have noticed the leaps you make in your studies.ā
You nodded weakly. ā...Whatās going to happen to me?ā
āNothing at all, dear. Iāll admit, I was quite fearful when I put the pieces together. After all, magic is a very dangerous thingāeven an inexperienced or feeble mage holds far more power than any non-user. Yet I cannot deny the work you have done for the world through Hextech. You have proven your worth, your passion, and your goodness. I donāt believe the public should know youāre a mage, for obvious reasons, but I do believe you have a duty to continue your research. Your abilities give you an invaluable advantage.ā
You sniffled. āBut Viktor⦠I fear heās building up resentment because of that. I canāt⦠I canāt keep doing that to him, sir.ā
āI have lived a very, very long lifeātrust me when I say a relationship such as yours is a true marvel. His resentment is understandable, but it is a drop of water in the ocean of adoration he has for you. Severing your ties to Hextech will only summon a storm. You must tell him the truth.ā
āWhat if he hates me for it?ā
āMy dear, he leaves the lab when you merely ask him to. Heās going to marry you.ā
You were exhausted, but you still ran back to the lab. The moon yawned from behind the windows over an empty chair and a desk in disarray. Viktor was upset with you, so you knew he wouldnāt be homeāwhich left a single place he could possibly be.
Viktor sat on the ledge of the maintenance shaft. His eyes hung heavy but his mind whirred as he played the way you left the lab, defeated, over and over against his skull. He knew he shouldnāt have spoken to you like that. You were the love of his life, his irreplaceable partner in Hextech, and his closest friend. He had frustrations, naturally, but he allowed them to escape their leash and lash out at you. Then, once they had finished with you, they turned and began to gnaw on him.
Your hand was warm on his shoulder. He knew it was you immediately. He turned to meet your gaze, expression somber, hand jumping to yours.
āMilĆ”Äku,ā he breathed, āIām sorry.ā
āItās okay,ā you murmured as you settled beside him. You squeezed his hand, rested your head on his shoulder. A wave of relief washed over him. āIām sorry too.ā
āYouāve done nothing wrong.ā
āNo, I have. Iāve been keeping something important from you.ā
You opened your free hand. A single rune nestled in your palm. Viktor gave you a confused look.
āA rune? I donāt understandāā
Without so much as the utterance of a word, the wave of a gesture, or any visible exertion of effort whatsoever, the stone began to glow a familiar blue as it lifted itself from your skin. It levitated, revolving slowly, as Viktor finally grasped what was happening.
ā...Youāre a mage,ā he whispered. The truth shifted the air. You nodded as your hand began to shake. Your fear cleaved your connection with the arcane and the rune fell, lifeless, back into your hand.
āWhy didnāt you tell me?ā His words were clipped. Panic made you defensive. Disagreements were common in science, but you and Viktor rarely had them outside the lab doors. The irregularity of this, compounded with the danger of magic and fatigue, made you both a little more upset than you shouldāve been.
āIf it wasnāt obvious, my kind isnāt exactly skipping through meadows hand-in-hand with non-users, Viktor.ā
āThe three of us are trying to change the worldās view on magic. You shouldāve told Jayce and I much soonerāthink of what we couldāve done if we knew this!"
Your head ripped off his shoulder to glare at him. āTelling you wouldāve done nothing but put you in danger!ā
āWe couldāve made progress ten times faster!ā
"This isn't about morals or philosophy, Viktorāthis is life and death! That progress would be meaningless if it meant I had even a chance of losing you!"
Viktor always feared if he did not charge forward with perfect efficiency he would wither away, his life unimportant and impactless. But your words rung out in the night, struck Viktor and resonated through his body. Instantaneously, his world shifted. He saw the way you regarded him, how you held him as the pinnacle of your life. Even above Hextech. Above progress. You were scared. You cared about Hextech just as greatly as him; but what terrified you enough to conceal a crucial face of your own identity, to endure his acerbic comments, to consider abandoning your greatest passion, was not the discovery of your abilities or the destruction of your work.
It was the potential loss of him that came with it.
He finally understood. He saw the world through your eyes. He had been picking evolution over you, chasing importance and impact when he already had it cradled in his hands. He had become spiteful of the person he loved most dearly because you were making more progress. In that moment, he chose the path of his life.
He chose you. For what was progress to an empty man?
ā...You would be worth dying for.ā
The softness of Viktorās voice made the anger in your shoulders and face immediately fall away; the actual statement made your heart tear apart. He would keep your secret even if it meant death upon discovery. He would forever share your burden.
You both immediately reached for each other. Viktor's hands took your face, pulling you to him with urgency as he kissed you fiercely. Your hands immediately ran up his chest, the sides of his neck, into the short hair at the nape, then fully into his locks. He snaked an arm around your middle to pull you flush against him; the mention of death only served to burn this moment in his memory. Should the worst happen, should you get caught and he lost you, heād always remember the way your skin felt against his, how you kissed him like he mattered, how you felt like a well-loved puzzle piece against his own. There was no knowing where he ended and you began, and it terrified him how much he loved it, how he squeezed you closer to exacerbate it.
You only parted when your lungs burned. Panting, you shared breaths and atoms. Viktor bumped his forehead against yours and looked up at you with that gorgeous amber gaze. You were tearing up.
"I meant it," he murmured. Hands still on your cheeks, he thumbed the corners of your eyes, wanting to take the pain before it even started. He held you with more care than his runes, his inventions, his life's work. He held you in the way a priest cradled his scripture.
āPlease donāt go doing that,ā you murmured.
āOnly if you donāt either.ā
"I promise."
A quiet tension still scintillated in the air. ā...Iām sorry for raising my voice at you. And for the back-handed comments. And accusing you of slowing down our progress.ā
You couldn't help but laugh softly. āWith a rap sheet like that I should quit anyways.ā
ā...You were going to quit?ā
āVik, I⦠The danger of being a mageāyou were days from finding out. You were frustrated all the time and I was only dividing us further.ā
āNo, no more thinking like that.ā He grabbed your arms, squeezed them. āYou were not the reason for any of this. Hextech is our lifeās work, and I can only hope that we continue on it until we die hunched over our papers; but I would give it all up to keep you at my side.ā
āYou donāt mean that, V.ā
āWhat in the world makes you believe I donāt?ā he asked incredulously, leaning in to catch your eyes again. His expression was earnest, adoring, nearly puppy-like from the sheer intensity of his concern.
āIāthatās just a very romantic statement.ā
āYou believe Iād die for you, but not that Iād give up Hextech for you? Surely you arenāt jealous of our creation.ā
A beat. You both smiled. The tension broke with it, and the two of you devolved into laughter. The sound of it made Viktorās heart just soar. The catharsis of an invention that finally worked, finishing a long book, understanding some complex ideaānone of it compared to the way your voice rang out like bells when he made you laugh. Viktor nuzzled his nose beside yours. You reached up, thumbing his bottom lip.
āI'm not jealous. I just know neither of us could survive without Hextech in our lives.ā
āMm, I'm sure weād find a way to pass the time.ā
Viktor closed the gap between your lips again. You both smiled, kissing each other sleepily, unaware of just how prescient your words knelled.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
Viktor thinks his leg should go without saying. Everyone else seems to disagree.
He is a cripple, not deaf or blind. He is perfectly capable of hearing the whispers over the thud of his cane as he passes by, not so focused on walking that he cannot see the way their gazes track him as he shuffles down the Academyās halls.
There are too many stairs in the Academy, he is finding. Every time he encounters another set, he grits his teeth, hefts his bag a little higher on his left shoulder, and climbs, despite the growing ache in his right hip and the inordinate weight of the tomes he carries.
There is only the work, he reminds himself.
The number of people does not shrink as he climbs up to the fourth floor. They eye him in a way he cannot easily describe. It is not⦠hate, that is in their eyes. It is not quite suspicion, though Viktor is sure it would be were it not for the too-loose, too-stiff, too-fine Academy uniform he is wearing. It was a courtesy of Professor Heimerdinger, who had sent it along with the books and a map of the Academy, annotated with Viktorās class schedule.
Heimerdinger has worse handwriting than the ādoctorsā Viktor is well acquainted with in the Undercity. Hence the early-morning visit to his office, where he is the entertainment for the other early Academy students. The ones who are more assured of their belonging here, if he can judge by their jewelry and their shoes.
(He wears no jewelry, has never owned any, and he stapled the outsole of his right shoe back together this morning.)
The other students, congregated around classroom doorways in their impenetrable social groups, stare at him in the same way he used to look at strays back home. They were a good source of amusement, given the absence of human company that plagued his childhood. He liked those animals. He fed them when he could, pet them when he couldnāt, and learned early how to tell when one would bite.
He realizes, as he spots the plaque outside of Heimderdingerās office, that these students stare at him like that. They smirk with bemusement or avoid his gaze altogether. They hide their remarks poorly behind their hands.
They regard Viktor as a stray. Something to pity. Something to be cautious of. Something to be nice to, if he can prove himself by rolling over enough times.
Viktor supposes he is a stray, with how Heimerdinger plucked him off the streets of the Undercity and gave him a new āhome.ā What, does he now need a bell around his neck? Perform tricks?
He breathes and takes a moment to unclench his right hand from around his cane before it cramps too much to be useful. He resolves to do what he has done all his life: ignore the way they make him a spectacle, though they are worse up here, like they have never seen a cripple before.
Maybe topsiders have not. Viktor cannot recall seeing anyone like him so far.
He knocks on the office door before his brain can take him too far down that path. Unproductive.
Heimerdinger answers promptly. It is odd for Viktor, at his height, to have a superior he must look down at. He supposes it is something else he must get used to.
āViktor,ā the professor says, surprised, though he does let him in. āItās early. Very early, my boy. Classes donāt begin for another half an hour.ā
Viktor stands in front of the massive, dark wood desk and waits for Heimerdinger to sit back in his chair before he says, āYour map is illegible, and there are too many stairs.ā
Undercity habits beget speaking quickly and directly; in an environment in which nothing is wasted, words are no exception. Topsiders, however, can afford waste.
āProfessor,ā Viktor tacks on in a too-late attempt to adhere to topside standards of respectability.
Heimerdinger, thankfully, chuckles. āTerribly sorry. Youād think that after enough decades of scribbling on blackboards, I could use a pen well enough.ā
Well, no. After seeing this map, Viktor began to fear for this manās students, himself included. Professor Heimerdinger teaches his introductory engineering course.
He draws up a new map, humming as he works. With nothing else to occupy himself, Viktor leans his cane against the desk, placing both hands on top of the furniture to take some weight off his hip, and surveys the office.
A bookshelf, matching the dark wood of the desk, stands along the far wall. Its shelves are bowed under the weight of the tomes it contains. Most of the spines are in languages he can read, some are not, and his fingers twitch toward them all the same. He stands on a plush, patterned rug - that explains the instability of his cane, and of his leg, he should rest a little more weight on this immovable desk - that would be better used as a blanket down below. Trinkets and baubles clutter the desk, the biggest of which is a globe. It spins of its own accord, illuminated by⦠something.
Viktor wants to take it apart. See how it works.
He takes his weight off the desk to kill that temptation and barely muffles a hiss at the flare of pain that shoots up his right leg from ankle to hip. He stretches his right hand surreptitiously behind his back, preparing to grab his cane once again.
This office looks exactly as he had expected it to from his one previous meeting with Professor Heimerdinger. It is practical⦠by topside standards; it is as large as his kitchen and bedroom back home put together, and any one of the items on the desk could pay three monthsā rent, though that is⦠ālow-ballingā it, as he has heard some people say.
āHere you are,ā Heimerdinger says, handing him the new, blessedly legible map.
Viktor takes it and scans it quickly. His first course is on this floor, thank goodness, but the restā¦
āProfessor, these are,ā he pauses, trying to think of how to phrase his concern. He cannot seem ungrateful, not when Heimerdinger has already helped him and when he has him later for class, and he cannot be annoying, not when he was already ignored when he brought up the stairs the first time.Ā
But his leg screams at him, and to prevent the pain from giving him a sympathetic headache, as sometimes happens, he grabs his cane. To hell with the hand cramps.
āIs there any way to have all my classes on the first floor?ā he finally says.
Heimerdinger glances at his cane, and his furry eyebrows raise. This is not the first time he has seen it, but Viktor thinks it is the first time the professor remembered it was there, or that it meant something besides⦠well, he does not know. A fashion statement, maybe?
Perhaps topsiders havenāt seen a cripple before. They would see plenty if they ever went down.
Viktor hears the unspoken ābut if you had asked earlierā and bites his tongue against excuses.
āIām sorry.ā
āItās fine. I will manage.ā And Viktor will, because Undercity habits mean that opportunities are not wasted either. A little pain is worth it. It will be no more difficult than anything he has already done.
Heimerdinger hops down from behind his desk and totters toward the door. As he passes Viktor, he pauses and makes an aborted movement to reach out to him before correcting course.
At least he stopped himself, but that was probably only for practical reasons. Unless Heimerdinger wished to replace his cane altogether - and what a shoddy replacement his bouncing steps would be for solid wood - there is nothing he can do.
And Viktor can walk on his own just fine. It is why he has the cane in the first place.
He grips the map a little tighter, hefts his bag onto his shoulder, and turns toward the door.
He makes it one step (on his injured leg, cane in his right hand) before Heimerdinger asks, āViktor, which one of your legs is the bad one?ā
He grits his teeth. There is no moral attribution to his body. It is neither good nor bad. It just has parts that work and parts that do not. He has one leg that works and one that does not. If he could chastise it into functioning by calling it ābad,ā it would have been fixed when he was a child. But that is not how it works, and it is wasted energy.
āMy right leg, Professor,ā he says because he always wishes that any and all conversations about his leg be redirected to important matters as soon as possible.
Heimerdinger hums. āYouāre using your cane incorrectly. You should hold it in your left hand, not your right.ā
He mimes the motion, and Viktor tries not to feel⦠insulted? Ashamed? Coddled? Belittled? He cannot quite put a finger on it.
But there is no time for him to articulate it. Heimerdinger checks his pocket watch, squeaks, and runs faster than Viktor estimated his legs could carry him, leaving him alone in the threshold of the hallway.
He tries Heimerdingerās suggestion, out of curiosity. The class is on this floor, and he has more than enough time to get there.
When he was a boy, no one taught him how to use a cane. He did what felt natural and what let him move the fastest. It was awkward, sure, but anything that caused him less pain was deemed a success.
It is awkward now, with the cane in his left hand. Slower as he walks down the hallway, because it is new. But it is more stable, he finds. A little less painful, as the pain stays localized to his ankle and knee, rather than his hip.
He could get used to it rather quickly, once he stops feeling so stupid about not knowing.
As he gets to his first class - it is in a room bigger than most big Undercity shops - the thump of his cane and his slow pace prompt more students and even his professor to stare at him. Viktor takes the closest open seat and is briefly, ludicrously, tempted to bark at them.
If they are going to treat him like a stray animal, should he not act like one?
No. He should not. Nothing is wasted, least of all this opportunity. He ducks his head down and opens a book on subjects he knows, matters he gets right, instead of wrong, like how to use his own cane, apparently.
Viktor thought he knew the comprehensive list of all his nonworking parts: the leg, of course, but also the childhood rickets, his lungs, his spine, the calcium deficiency that left his teeth stained slightly more yellow than topsidersā, whatever made him bendier than the average person, and not always in a good way.
Evidently, topside is intent on adding more to that list. Like the cane.
It does not matter. When he is the only one in the lecture hall who can answer the professorās question - a leading one that she said they will know by the end of the semester - as a largely self-taught trencher, he relaxes. He even smiles.
There is only the work.
Read a continuation here. And another one here. And even more here. And another. And one more.
Little!Jayce with Caregiver!Mel & Viktor Headcanons
As a fandom, I know weāre big on little Vi, Caitlyn, Jinx and Viktor more than Jayce. I love every one of them, but hear me out on little cutiepie Jayce! No spoilers for season 2.
Jayce isnāt necessarily afraid to be vulnerable around Mel and Viktor ā obviously he seeks comfort from Mel when he needs it and isnāt afraid to weep tears of sadness and joy at Viktorās bedside. But when heās little he feels a deep sense of guilt, especially after he takes on his role as a councillor. Like heās not allowed to regress because there are responsibilities are piled onto his shoulders and heās a grown man, and who would ever understand
In comes Mel. Jayce regresses around her first because she makes it so easy, with her tender touches and tendency to cradle his face and look at him with such warmth in her eyes that it feels like heās staring into the sun.
At first heās small without telling her. They lay on her bed together as the sun sets, Jayceās head in Melās lap and her fingers carding through his hair. Itās a typical pattern for them, a safe space they love to come to and rest quietly in one anotherās presence. However, Jayce finds it difficult to hold all of his emotions in and winds up sniffling in her lap one evening, hiding his face in the soft fabric of her dress and quickly dissolving into sobs of relief and embarrassment when Mel tells him that itās alright, sweetheart. You can cry if you need to.
Mel takes very good care of her boy. She slowly chips away at this new, vulnerable side of him and learns a lot about little Jayce by treating him gently. For one, Jayce is much more sensitive when heās little, both physically and emotionally. He doesnāt like wearing his stuffy senatorial clothing, and especially hates the high collars of many of his usual shirts and jackets. A way that Mel can tell Jayce is close to regressing or needs to be small is when he tugs at his shirt collar uncomfortably, clearing his throat and practically itching to flee whatever room heās in.
Emotionally, Jayce is quick to look down on himself and is oftentimes teary. If Mel tells him not to touch her painting while itās drying after heās caught curiously poking the canvas, a deep pout will appear on his face and heāll apologize and go sit himself down in the corner of the room. āM sorry, Mel. Didnāt mean to be bad.
He also gets embarrassed very easily, quite unlike his adult self. He has a hard time shaking off his internal adult monologue that tells him thereās something wrong with acting the way he does. He struggles with asking Mel for food or toys and oftentimes prefers to listen to her read out loud rather than participating in a child-like activity. Jayce will hold onto her hand while she reads to him and grows easily frustrated when she has to let go to turn the page.
Viktor knew Jayce was regressing months before he directly found out. Viktorās incredibly smart and very sharp, so it wasnāt any less than completely obvious to him when he picked up on the way Jayce would skitter away to Mel after a long day or grow too quiet when they worked on the newest Hextech formula together. He was hesitant to bring it up to Jayce, though. Viktor figured that if Jayce wanted him to know heād say so. Besides, Viktor respects Jayce far too much than to pry in his personal business.
They ended up being forced to confront Jayceās regression during a late night at the lab. Jayce had fallen asleep at his desk, softly snoring as Viktor quietly tinkered with a new Hextech prototype. However, Jayceās gentle breathing turned into the smallest sounds of distress ā these were common for Viktor to hear, after all, Jayce started having stress dreams about the same time he became a councillor. Viktor glanced over at Jayce, brow furrowing, concerned about the other in a way he didnāt typically show from day to day. His brow furrowed even deeper when Jayce woke with a start and glanced around the room with wild eyes, like he didnāt know where he was.
Then, a soft and scared Mel, left his lips, and Viktor immediately identified what was going on. Jayce had been feeling small even before he fell asleep, and waking up without being in his normal environment with Mel made him regress further. Viktor had never seen him truly regressed before, and everything about Jayceās body language made him seem so much smaller and unsure than he usually was.
Jayce, youāre here in the lab. It is alright. Viktor reassured him as best he could, despite being very unsure about how to speak to Jayce. The littleās ears went red immediately as he realized where he was and that Viktor was talking to him, and oh no, that Viktor knew he was small when he was supposed to be big. He couldnāt help but to burst into tears of embarrassment, his crying only making him even more upset. Viktorās oh dear didnāt help matters much either.
Viktor managed to calm Jayce down by simply sitting quietly and allowing him to get all his tears out. Once Jayceās sobs had slowed down to sniffles, Viktor got up and gently squeezed the littleās shoulders, meeting his eyes. He murmured that everything was quite alright and that they could go and find Mel together. Jayce nearly knocked Viktor down with the force that he threw himself at, wrapping the smaller man in a hug. Viktor wheezed and then chuckled, patting Jayceās back affectionately as they parted. He knew it was time to see Mel when Jayceās next action was to tug at the high collar of his shirt. Come on, little one, Viktor remarked, as the pair went off to wake Mel in the middle of the night.