Chapter Text
Viktor was viciously bored out of his mind. He was never the one for mundane and forced interactions but that was exactly what these networking parties were all about. It was just an extra rotten cherry on top that he was forced to trail Heimerdinger on and off, while the Dean of the Academy asked him to describe the latest promising projects to any potential stakeholders and Academy patrons. He had memorized a whole pitch presentation and basically gave the same exact paragraph anytime Heimerdinger introduced him to a new wealthy personnel.
He was often bored in life but this was a coma inducing boredom. Still, the drinks were lavish so that was comforting and he could drown himself in the fancy liquor.
Sipping on his champagne Viktor did as he was told, fighting the urge to be snarky and roll his eyes every few seconds.
First hour was decent, but as the time went on the Houses all muddled together, all reeking of wealth and pompous self-importance and he was losing the fight to hide his attitude. Viktor was at the bar, ordering himself something strong to calm the pinpricks of annoyance when he caught eyes with Mel across the room.
She too looked like she was also losing her battle to remain poised and hide her sass towards the cookie-cutter flavorless pieces of stale mindsets. He asked a bartender for two shots of vodka and carrying them gingerly in one hand, he ambled over.
“How are you holding up, dear assistant to the Dean of the Academy?” Mel drawled in her melodic voice. Viktor shrugged and replied in the same manner “Important people to talk to, important matters to discuss, Councilor Medarda.”
He extended a shot glass to Mel. She accepted. “So, the usual then?”
“The usual.” Viktor nodded once.
They say bright minds recognize each other in a room full of idiots, and have spent countless functions, events and galas together in proximity.
Where Viktor was all academics and traditional intelligence, Mel was all manipulation and subtle art of negotiations and compromises at the finest. Heimerdinger often called upon both of them as necessary to get what he wanted for the Academy, and by extension for Piltover.
Mel and Viktor drifted towards each other like two ghosts haunting the same space. Out of necessity and desperation, a certain kinship.
“You look beautiful tonight” she complimented him.
“You too.” Viktor returned the flattery. She looks like sunshine and he is but a pale reflection. Moon to her sun.
Over the years they became quite close relying on each other at these gatherings. Friendship blossoming into fondness with every stifled sass and eye roll.
It was at one of these exact formal networking events, both bored out of their wits when they devised a little game.
A drinking game, so to say.
If they were introduced to someone who referred to themselves as the High House of… they take a shot.
If someone referred to them as darling , or sweetheart or any other condescending pet name, they take a shot.
If they found themselves reiterating what they had so blatantly explained more than twice, they take a shot.
If they find themselves involuntarily scoffing or rolling their eyes they take a shot.
If they find themselves needing to laugh at a idiotic remark, they take a shot.
And every time they take a shot, they have to do a subtle cheers to each other, and at the end of the night they debrief on who had the worst luck – but most of the time they end up too tipsy to care and share the steamy and rich gossip they overheard. Viktor had always an uncanny tolerance for alcohol, a gift from his genetics, and so did Mel being from Noxian descent.
Viktor and Mel knocked back their first shot in honor of their livers. Thus began the game.
Fifteen minutes in, Viktor had taken three shots and Mel, from across the floor rolled her eyes at someone, locked eyes with Viktor and swung back another shot. Her fourth, if Viktor is keeping track correctly.
Thirty minutes in, Viktor was at shot number eight and Mel was keeping steady with him.
An hour in, Viktor took his fourteenth shot of the night, and he had forgotten how many Mel had taken. He was starting to get a little too happy-go tipsy.
He shuffled across the room, leaning against a wall taking a break from bottomless shots he’s been downing without an end in sight. The night was young. Mel tapped his shoulder and offered a glass, she had one for herself. Both filled with clear liquid.
“You are insane” Viktor said, looking at the glass like it had personally offended him.
“Maybe it’s water.” Mel hummed, and Viktor took the glass.
He took a sip, and it definitely was not water.
It was a gin and tonic, mostly gin. Good tonic. It was crisp, bright, and slightly bitter. Ambrosial. Mel leaned in, shoulders touching Viktor’s. “So did you hear anything interesting?”
“Everyone’s talking about the Golden boy.”
Mel hummed in response, “I’m getting a lot of soulmates talk. Shoola thinks she’s found hers.”
“ Thinks being the key verb.” Viktor scowled “Do you believe in that crap?”
“I like the idea of it.” Mel said casually, sipping her drink. “It’s romantic.”
“Romance is chemicals produced by your brain,” Viktor said. “Soulmates are an absurd theory with no evidence”
They say you can recognize your soulmate in any form. Even if you were stripped of your senses and driven mad the one thing you can still find is your home in another person's soul. An undeniable destiny with a magnetic pull forcing two people together. The reasoning is that the Arcane has determined your fates from birth and a strong soul connection is sometimes forged by magic.
Viktor is a man of science.
The whole thing was complete rubbish. It reeks of romanticizing broken promises. Viktor did not believe a single word of it.
In fact, it was irritating to even consider the whole thing, like it irked him that useless information was taking up space in his brain. Viktor took another sip of his cocktail, making a disdainful scoff.
Mel laughed and looked up at him through her eyelashes in that alluring way that makes men swoon. Viktor chuckled back, “Your talents are wasted on me, Medarda. You know I don’t swing that way”
“I misfired, I do that when I’m tipsy” Mel said with playful laughter in her tone.
“Let’s do something fun with that,” Viktor said with a voice laced in mischief. Mel crooked her eyebrow, listening.
“You think you can get any guy to go home with you, even one that I pick out?” Viktor smirked.
“Oh so, so easy.” Mel rolled her eyes, smiling wide.
“That one.” Viktor pointed at the newly dubbed Golden Boy of Piltover, who had recently became endorsed by the Kirammans. Jayce Talis, a promising inventor with much to prove.
They have never interacted directly but already Viktor profiled him as all good looks and luck, little substance. Mel nodded, and said “I’m going to have him begging, he looks like a boy toy.”
Viktor nearly snorted, laughing too hard, and Mel giggled right back with him.
“Is it a competition?” Mel grinned, a picture of perfect innocence.
“With who?”
“With you. To see which one of us gets to take him home?”
The way his drink hit with a sharp freshness, juniper berries with hints of citrus was making it feel like he never made a bad decision in his life. Like he could charm the stars out of the night sky. Like he wants to do something stupid tonight.
“It’s a competition.” Viktor said, raising his glass.
The art of seduction is never a simple one. Especially when you are a cripple with a cane and your opponent is the fiercely beautiful Mel Medarda. The concoction of alcohol making its way into the depths Viktor’s bloodstream. He is at a disadvantage but his guts are screaming at him to go for it, that Talis boy was his.
Maybe Jayce would make a good fuck, he hadn’t blown off steam in a while.
Mel made first contact. She decided to take the indirect direct approach and walked over to Cassandra Kiramman. Within a few minutes, Jayce was being called over like a faithful dog to be introduced to Mel.
Jayce obliged, he had no other choice — Cassandra was his patron, and he could not lose her good graces. Viktor caught the slight grunt and an eye roll as he walked over, right before he plastered on a politician's smile.
They were introduced, Jayce willingly took her outstretched hand and kissed the back of it like a true gentleman. But the way he lingered, making eye contact with her… well, looks like he was well versed in flirtatiousness too. It was watching a dance really, the almost touches and prolonged eye contact, the smiles, taking turns in nonverbal communications. A give and take, a call and response. Viktor drained the last of his gin and tonic.
Viktor also noticed that regardless of the flirty back and forth, Jayce’s eyes kept drifting towards another person somewhere else in the room. It was a look Viktor was very well acquainted with. One of ambition and drive, a need to prove something to the world.
He followed Jayce’s gaze to Heimerdinger.
Interesting.
Setting the empty glass down, Viktor walked over to the dean of the Academy within Jayce’s eager line of sight. Heimerdinger started prattling about probability and mathematical applications as soon as he saw Viktor. It was a topic that always came up when Heimerdinger was tipsy, both being stubborn in their beliefs they debated countless times on the matter. Without doubt they were discussing calculations once more.
Throughout their conversation, Viktor kept noticing how Jayce was looking in their direction, attention fleeting from Cassandra — and by association Mel. He challenged Jayce by meeting his stare a few times.
Jayce excused himself to walk right up to them, extending a hand to introduce himself to the professor.
“Hello professor Heimerdinger, I have been a long time fan of your work and wanted to introduce myself.” Jayce held out a hand “Jayce Talis”
Viktor gave him points for the bold self-introduction.
Heimerdinger was visibly chuffed as he took Jayce’s hand. “I overheard you debating mathematics earlier and got curious”
“Ah yes, we were discussing the applications of finding a critical frequency of using the Shannon-Nyquist sampling theorem.” The dean explained in his lecture tone. “And potential applications extending it. I am of the belief that it is best if kept purely theoretical”
“I am just saying the transforms help with bridging a gap, and may have real-world applications we have yet to find” Viktor responded back, only slightly annoyed at the professor’s know-it-all attitude.
“Why would it be better as just a theory? All theories are meant to be proven right or wrong eventually.” Jayce added “testing it’s limitations is what drives progress”
So, Jayce Talis wasn’t just a pretty face, Viktor was intrigued.
Jayce extended a hand towards Viktor “Sorry, I don’t even know… your name”
“It’s Viktor.”
Something flashed across Jayce’s face, eyes widening a touch before settling into something softer. Almost tender. Jayce stood a little taller, a minuscule tension in his muscles like he was nervous.
“Yes, I should have made introductions” the professor proclaimed, “This is Viktor, my assistant. And the most coveted pupil.”
“Nice to meet you,” Viktor said.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” Jayce responded back, golden eyes fixed onto Viktor’s face.
They debated and Viktor listened attentively. Initially Viktor was focused on mixing compliments and banter at Jayce. But soon it was all forgotten.
They were just discussing math now. Pure, unadulterated calculations.
It was at this moment Viktor decided that he would forgo the competition. Jayce Talis was handsome but he definitely was not just a pretty boy toy. Scholar to scholar, he would not partake out of respect.
The conversation was truly refreshing, inspiring. Jayce shared his views eloquently and had good solid claims to back his belief. They debated, challenging one another until Heimerdinger got whisked away. And still, they talked about science and the implications of progress. Jayce got called back to Cassandra and Viktor was left speechless, intoxicated by the sheer brilliance of their intellectual synergy.
He was painfully sober now, and needed another drink to pull him back down from the mental high.
Standing by the bar, Mel sneaked up on him. She ordered something for herself.
“So, my sweet Viktor, you were hoarding Jayce to yourself for a good hour” she teased.
Viktor’s eyes widened slightly, surely it was only a few minutes. Their conversation seemed so short, intense but much too short lived. Viktor could have spent the whole night basking at the sound of Jayce's voice.
“What do you think about him?” Viktor questioned Mel. She stated “Kinda… nerdy, decent guy. I guess.”
This was odd, Mel usually was the one to swoon for a well-toned body and Jayce had made an unforgettable impression on Viktor. He shrugged it off “I will forgo the competition.”
“Why?” Mel asked, baffled.
Viktor could have said a million words but decided on a simpler explanation, “Ehh… I think you two make a better looking pair. I give you the win”
“It’s not over till the fat lady sings.” Mel sing-songed, and leaned in closer, whispering, “What are your thoughts on him?”
The bartender handed them their drinks. Viktor grinned, looking down at his drink. He felt strangely giddy as he replied, “Pretty face, smarter than I gave him credit for. Possibly ingenious in his own right.”
She seemed surprised at that, blinking a few times, “Viktor, I’ve never heard you refer to anyone as smart before. Never. Not even Heimerdinger in all the years I’ve known you.”
Viktor looked at her, asking her to elaborate in silence. Mel looked taken back, and quickly a knowing smile spread across her face. “You always do this”
“Do what?”
“Give up when you really want something.” She stated.
“No, I am choosing to respect him as a fellow inventor.” Viktor defended himself.
“You can respect him and get to know him better.” Mel said, “Perhaps it’s time for you to try and actually work on something long term instead of a series of one night stands.
To this Viktor waved his hand, brushing it off “I am busy. And everyone is a bore when you get to know them, I prefer not knowing them.”
“You can have your cake and eat it too, my sweet Viktor. You just have to find the right cake” She said with a hint of something in her voice, and would have continued, but Jayce walked up to the bar.
“Councilor Medarda.” Jayce nodded at Mel. “Viktor” And he nodded at Viktor.
Jayce asked for a whiskey sour.
There was a small silence that brought on some discomfort between the three parties. Like the kind of awkwardness that follows when someone you were just talking about walks into the room.
Mel broke the spell, “I hear you’ve impressed Viktor with your hard muscular brain, Mr. Talis”
“…Brains are mushy and soft.” Jayce spoke, slight confusion on his face. “And is not a muscle”
“Yes, if anything he has impressed me with his soft and moist brain” Viktor said without skipping a beat, matter of fact. He debated hitting Mel with his cane.
“Hard brains would be very bad.” Jayce stated, glancing at Viktor for validation.
“Yes, that could indicate a tumor. Cancerous most likely” Viktor agreed.
“Two intellectuals, I see.” Mel murmured almost to herself, into her drink.
“Yes, with soft and wet brains.” Jayce retorted, more confidently. Viktor stifled a laugh at how cluelessly cute such a large man could be.
“The softest of brains.” Viktor stated, amused “Very moist, very squishy. All soft tissue.”
“Ah yes. How could I have ever implied anything was rock hard ” Mel rolled her eyes so loud Viktor was sure the whole room heard it.
Viktor shook his head slightly at Mel, side eyeing her in a way only she would understand. He caught the glimpse of a smile on her lips.
“Oh…” Jayce breathed out, “I guess my brain can be hard for Viktor.”
“What” Viktor said, at the same time as Mel, “What”
“Wait, no. Sorry I didn’t mean…” Jayce looked utterly mortified, ears flushing pink at the edges and fumbling “I meant I could be, if hardness impresses Viktor.”
They both stared at Jayce, blankly, doing their absolute best to hold in a giggle.
“Nevermind” Jayce coughed, clearing his throat. He sipped his drink and took a breath in, eyes locked on Viktor. “I … came over to ask you if you could take a look at an independent study I am working on. I’m having some issues finding a stabilizing frequency, theoretically.”
Viktor surveyed Jayce, with his golden eyes sparking to life and a genuine smile on that enchanting face. He felt his heartbeat skip once.
“Do I hear a lady singing?” Mel said, feigning interest somewhere else across the room.
Mel winked at him, and mouthed the words have fun . She sashayed away. He had won, it seemed? Possibly she had given him her blessings?
But truth be told he had genuinely become engrossed in Jayce Talis. Every sentence out of that man's mouth bewitched Viktor. From their first interaction, everything felt so natural, meant to be. He bit his lower lip, considering his options, the thought of working with Jayce excited him.
The delight must have shown on Viktor's face, as Jayce, falling right into it asked “Do you want to go back to my place? I could show you my prototype”
Viktor held Jayce’s gaze a few seconds longer than necessary, for some reason he did not want to look away. He could get lost in those golden pools he thought, then quickly considered it might be the alcohol talking.
He could go with Jayce, possibly fall back into his pattern of fuck 'em and chuck 'em mentality or he could be civil, head back to his own place alone so next time he could face Jayce as an equal not a past fling. Perhaps they could even work closely together in the future. Only if he could ignore the unnecessary blood rush into his pants.
Maybe he could split the difference? Actually only focus on science at Jayce’s place?
“Well… if it’s for science's sake. Lead the way” Viktor prompted, careful not to give away too much of his excitement.
A goofy smile spread across the Talis boy’s face, half quirked and mesmerized.
The walk back to Jayce’s apartment was natural, Viktor had expected it to be awkward and clunky but conversation flowed with ease and grace of water flowing. Jayce walked slow, keeping pace with Viktor and his cane.
“How did you enjoy the event, Golden boy of Piltover?” Viktor mused.
He heard Jayce groan under his breath “Please don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s like I’m being… paraded.” Jayce added, a little too quickly as if compensating “I’m thankful to have the Kirammans take me in and invite me to these events.”
“I know what you mean. It was never my dream to become an assistant to the Dean of the Academy.” Viktor said, quietly.
“Yeah, exactly.”
“I wanted to do good in this world, give back. Make something great” Viktor sighed. The alcohol in his stomach was bubbling, fluttering like butterflies. He wasn’t sure if he had said something off putting to ruin the night.
“Me too. To put technology in the hands of the working folk. To make their lives easier.”
Viktor was pleasantly shocked to hear those words, almost mirroring his own. Especially from someone with a good name, a wealthy patron and most importantly from Piltover. They talked about work, professors and the event. They talked about nothing and everything.
Jayce was… a great man. Viktor suddenly felt guilty for labelling him as a simple pretty toy earlier.
“We are here. It’s… uhh, messy. I wasn’t expecting someone over tonight” Jayce said, opening the front door to his flat. Viktor walked and the first thing that caught his sight were the blueprints piled and rolling on the floor by his desk, more papers sprawled across the work table. And a large blackboard with intense calculations written in.
He was drawn to it like a moth to flame. Drawn to the familiar organized mess of notes and work and research like it was his own. Like it also was a part of him, belonged to him.
Viktor studied the black board carefully.
Jayce walked over, placing a gentle hand on his lower back. The touch sent sparks up his spine and he could swear where Jayce’s hand was on his skin burned with something entirely electric.
He explained the basis of the theory, and Viktor mind immediately started putting pieces together.
“This will never stabilize.”
“Yes, that’s my current issue.”
Picking up a rogue chalk, Viktor began rewriting the equations, manipulating variables and massaging the calculations into shape. He canceled out unnecessary terms and Jayce watched him with keen fascination.
“That’s not how I would have done… ” Jayce breathed out “oh wait, oh… that’s genius”
Jayce’s comments turned from refusal to confusion to understanding and to elation. Viktor was impressed by the other man’s ability to keep up without having to explicitly state his thought process. Even that in itself, is a rarity.
“Would you like some coffee? Or Tea?” Jayce asked, starting up a kettle. Viktor glanced over, focusing on his calculations “Yes, I would love a cup. Thank you”
Viktor chuckled, scratching out the intermittent steps of a complicated equation. Jayce picked up a chalk and started solving the other adjacent equations alongside him. It was like finishing each other's sentences, their thoughts perfectly in sync. Completing each other.
They talked and bounced more ideas off each other. Drinking coffee as the moon rose higher and higher, climbing the night sky. They carved out a space in time for themselves, uncaring about how late — or early — it was.
“It will only stabilize at…” Viktor started, “Higher frequencies” Jayce exclaimed with a huff of laughter, “you… did it”
“In theory, yes” Viktor said, looking at his work, double checking his steps. It feels so, so good to spark and fire those neural connections that test the bounds of his knowledge. Jayce spun him around, embracing him tight. When Jayce eased his hold, Viktor looked up at the taller man through his eye lashes.
Those magnetic golden eyes sparkle and he saw it all happen in slow motion. Jayce leaning down to kiss him, lips lightly brushing against his. Slow and deliberate, asking an unspoken question.
Was it still alcohol making it feel like he could never make a bad decision in his life?
What was the probability if he fucked Jayce, they could work together in the future? Given previous data points, zero.
Why was his heart racing?
Viktor replied back by deepening the kiss. He felt fingers trailing down his back, to his thighs. Jayce lifted him up, pushing him against the blackboard, and Viktor wrapped his legs around Jayce’s waist to keep himself steady.
Lingering taste of sweet coffee mixed together. Their tongues intertwined, hot and intoxicating. Jayce nuzzled up against Viktor’s neck, and he let out a small breathy gasp as kisses were planted on his sensitive skin. The world beyond them falls away into muffled nothingness.
Hands fumbled as they undid the buttons on Viktor’s shirt, while keeping him pressed against the blackboard and Jayce’s body. Viktor’s hands also worked undoing the tie around Jayce’s neck, loosening and undoing the buttons on his shirt. He was lifted once more, then carried over to a bed, tossed onto it. An eager mouth waited for him as they kissed and shed the remaining pieces of their clothes, undoing pant buckles and slipping out of their slacks and boxers. Throwing their socks away somewhere onto the growing pile of mess.
Jayce plants kisses down Viktor’s chest and stomach, right to the lower abdomen. He spreads Viktor’s legs apart and set himself in between them.
A gasp escaped Viktor as he feels Jayce’s hands on his member. Mouth taking in the tip of it, and a hand gently moving up and down its length. Jayce’s tongue caresses the sensitive top. It’s a bit of a tease but Viktor doesn’t mind, and lets out an audible moan in encouragement.
Rather than continuing, Jayce’s lips kiss the tender areas around the inner thighs. He is extra cautious around his weaker leg and Viktor is grateful that he doesn't make a big fuss, but does handle it with gentle care. Warm fingertips trace his skin on his hips and legs. Feathery touches that tingles with life. It feels like Jayce is mapping out his body, testing different areas and listening to Viktor moan and whine, noting the sensitive places where Viktor responds and places he does not.
He is being studied, like Jayce is an artist and Viktor is a poem.
Viktor preens in the fact that Jayce is taking time to explore his body, he has been with too many men who have put their own pleasure above his.
But patience truly is a virtue and when Jayce’s tongue runs along the whole length of Viktor and it takes just about everything Viktor has in him to not ram himself in that pretty mouth and thrust his hips up. So instead, he caresses his hands over Jayce’s head and neck tenderly, as Jayce plants kisses on his inner thighs.
Something about the tenderness feels right. Good.
Fluttery tickles send a warm fuzzy feeling in Viktor’s stomach, and he focuses on the gentle affectionate movements.
As if it's a reward for waiting, Jayce takes his whole shaft deep within his throat and stuffs a finger into his hole all the way to the knuckle. Viktor lets out a loud gasp at the suddenness, back arching as he keens into it. Fingers move languidly in and out, and he can feel himself twitching with the delicate sensation.
He grips the back of Jayce’s head feeling the tight squeeze of his throat. Jayce starts to bob his head up and down, and it feels so velvety, so mellow. Viktor’s gasps come in breathy whispers, ones of a lover being worshipped.
Another finger slips in, stretching him out. The action is so fluid that when the warmth in his stomach builds and Viktor comes it catches him off guard and out of breath.
Jayce lets him feel the wave of his climax crash and calm, kissing his collarbone and the hollow of his neck. Jayce does so with need but not urgency, positioning himself in line and pushes in. Gently, and purposeful. Viktor is malleable and wet so the pressure is all welcomed.
When Jayce rocks into him, unhurried and deep Viktor wraps his arms around Jayce’s neck a little tighter and legs firmer to feel the connection. Viktor’s body craves to be consumed and touched and to feel as one. He keens into Jayce.
Rough and animalistic is the norm for a one night stand, or the kinds of non-commitment based relationships Viktor has to relieve stress. But this is a softer kind of fucking, Viktor would even go as far as to say they are making love.
For the first time in Viktor’s life, he understands in his bones what they meant when they say soft actions speak the loudest. Jayce grinds into him at a steady pace, letting Viktor feel every pleasurable inch by indulgent inch.
It’s driving him mad at how lucious it is. How each thrust is dripping in honey.
Jayce nuzzles in the crook of his neck, cooing and from this whisper of a movement Viktor’s body shudders in pleasure. It is the breath on his skin, the fullness in his body and the way every part of him is being heated in an embrace.
Viktor comes again and he is gasping breathless. The rise in him is gradual like embers into fire. It’s not an all consuming heat but the warmth of sunlight in summer. A golden ache that hums with longing and breathes life into every waiting corner of his body.
Jayce has already found the places that coax a delicious moan and the places that make him see stars. Every stroke is deliberate in sending shockwaves up his spine, sparking with warmth.
He is shuddering again. The way Jayce’s golden eyes hold Viktor, it's filled with passion and devotion. Like he is the most precious thing Jayce has held.
Viktor is covered in a sheen of sweat from the decadent orgasms. He trembles from the sweetness of it all.
And when Jayce’s rhythm becomes jerky, unstable Viktor knows he is close. They kiss, deep and intimate, slowing down the world that surrounds them. Jayce comes, with a grunt and Viktor is overwhelmed with something soft and warm and needy.
He would have cuddled in if Jayce had not beaten him to it faster. Viktor is wrapped in those big strong arms, secure and safe.
The sound of Jayce's heartbeat is drums against Viktor's ear. He is lying on Jayce's chest as Jayce plants soft kisses on his forehead. It's all too sugary, sickeningly so but Viktor is feeling all too pliable to care.
Viktor never spends the full night over at any of his partner's. The more detached and nameless they are, the better. He likes his own bed, and cannot sleep anywhere else. But strangely, Viktor is relaxed. He never is after sex with a stranger.
Stranger is the wrong word to describe Jayce.
It feels like he has known Jayce all his life. Like he has been with this man in multiple lifetimes.
Slumber is heavy in his eyes and he considers breaking his rule this one time. His whole body feels malleable and stress free in a way that is so freeing. He could sleep here for a few hours, and wake up and head to his own home. Cuddled up close against Jayce’s body, he cannot find the will to break free anyway.
Viktor lies to himself that he will leave a nice note for Jayce to find in the morning after he sneaks out later. He drifts off into sleep.
In Viktor's dream, he sees an older version of himself. He looks not of this world, something of a different dimension. Like he is made up of the aether, forged from the Arcane. Swirls of color and light swim past him with each step he takes, each step this other Viktor takes. It is more beautiful than anything he has ever imagined.
Viktor is with someone in this ocean of stars and magic. Next to him stands another man holding his hand, taller and broader. They look happy together, the kind of happy that is only talked about in fairytales. A fragile, glimmering thing that is whispered in hopeful sighs.
He is paralyzed, not in fear but in disbelief. In awe.
The man walking with him looks like Jayce Talis. an older version of him, hardened with time and a similar build and the same height. A distant reflection, familiar, as though time had bent and Viktor is gazing into the future.
His heart knows before his mind can catch up. A single word echoes softly, undeniably, through his soul. It is an immediate and unshakable recognition.
Soulmates.
They do exist. And Viktor has found his.