Chapter Text
Viktor wakes to the smell of sizzling bacon. He rises with a groan and pops his joints methodically, preparing himself for the day's wear and tear. He quickly dresses, more concerned with making sure his bag has all the proper documents and notes. Today was an important one for both his and Jayce’s classes; they would begin to introduce their large collaborative project that would span most of the semester. By winter their students would have drafted, pitched and created a new invention of their choosing. It was a brainchild of the both of them in an attempt to encourage more creative thinking in the next generation of Piltover and Zaun’s scientists.
Viktor emerges from the bedroom already wearing his coat, setting his bag and cane right beside the table as he gratefully takes the offered cup of coffee from Jayce’s hand. “Thank you,” He murmurs, settling in to eat his breakfast swiftly.
“No need to rush, we have more than enough time.” Jayce is already dressed, but he clearly still needs to shave. His hair has yet to be styled either. It falls into his eyes when he leans down to scoop a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
“I would hope.” Viktor raises a brow pointedly, smiling to himself when Jayce flushes under his attention.
“I was thinking of growing it out…” He mutters, taking a sip of coffee to avoid elaborating further.
“As much as I do enjoy your more rugged appearance, a half grown out beard will get you quite the look from our colleagues. Imagine Professor Medarda’s face.” Viktor chuckled to himself as he did so.
“She’d see me in her office, I’m sure.” Jayce agrees. They eat silently for a few moments before he returns his attention to Viktor’s face.
“How did you sleep?” Jayce asks carefully, clearly trying to make it seem like just casual conversation. Viktor knows there’s more serious concern behind it. He saw the bags under his own eyes that morning in the mirror. He knows he looks worse for wear.
“As good as it could be, I suppose.” He turns to look at Jayce’s big eyes and sighs. “I promise, I am quite alright. I’m focused on getting our students on track for the Distinguished Innovators project.”
Jayce nodded, but Viktor knew he wasn’t convinced. However, they both knew the line of questioning would end there for now. They had to leave soon, and neither wished to push a subject that required more time and care.
They finished breakfast. Jayce shaved, though reluctant, and gathered his things as Viktor waited patiently at the door. The train ride to the campus was short, and Viktor spent the majority of the ride watching the scenery fly by outside the window. Jayce had placed a hand on his thigh, though Viktor wasn’t quite sure he even noticed. He was absorbed in adding some notes to his lesson plan. The simple touch was grounding, and Viktor briefly wondered if he might have come untethered without it.
Piltover University was a masterwork of architecture; all stately white marble and tastefully colored eaves. Gold trim that shone in the morning light. A tall bell tower that tolled out the top of each hour. Perfectly manicured lawns, sprawling courtyards and winding paths filled with students making their ways to respective classes. Often, when arriving at the ornate gold metal gate, Viktor would find himself restraining a scoff. It was all quite unnecessary; fountains, real gold, flower beds that cost more than his salary to maintain he was sure. What mattered was the knowledge being shared, not the showcase of how prestigious the institution was through egregious spending.
When he first began teaching he often felt like he was betraying a part of himself. It was a miracle he even attended the university at first, but to be welcomed back as an alumni even after they treated him like a barely tolerated stray? It had been Jayce’s excitement to share knowledge that assisted Viktor in finding his purpose as a professor. Most of his students were the uppity kind one would expect to find here. However, every once in a while, he would encounter one different from the rest. Either with a thirst for knowledge and creation despite their privileged station, or a scholarship student who had clawed their way to table through hard work and pure untapped potential. He found himself unintentionally favoring these select few, though he would never admit it. Perhaps he saw himself in them; or maybe he saw the sparks of change in their small act of rebellion by just continuing to fight for their higher education when many would say they did not deserve it.
Viktor and Jayce parted ways only upon reaching the hallway of offices in the science building, located on the east part of campus. Jayce snuck a quick kiss to Viktor’s cheek before he was promptly shooed away in fear of being caught once again by a student witnessing “unnecessary pda between administrators”, as Dean Heimerdinger would put it.
It was only because Viktor kept his back to the room while shutting the door that he did not notice the guest already in his office. That, and also the fact that she had chosen to await his arrival in the dark.
“Jinx!” Viktor managed to hold his composure somewhat, though he jolted slightly. He knew she would be quite too pleased with herself if she ever truly surprised him. He often thought each new stunt she pulled was exactly that; another playful attempt to break through his practiced collectedness.
“Heyyyy teach!” Jinx is seated in the guest chair on the other side of his desk, feet kicked up on top of furniture. She leans back languidly, causing the chair to rest on the back two legs alone. An annoying and dangerous habit. But he already was on Jayce about doing it when he was restless while they worked. He couldn’t bring himself to scold her too. So he just shakes his head, moving to set down his bag and remove his coat.
“What can I do for you this very early morning?” He speaks pointedly, settling in his desk chair and pulling his files from his bag.
“I wanted to discuss my submission for the Distinguished Innovators project this year.” She smiles brightly, slamming forward on the chair to lean on her elbows instead.
“We have discussed this for the past two years and my answer remains unchanged-”
“Yes, I knowww, but what if it’s all just in theory?” She speaks quicker, excited. “Like, I’m not actually building the explosives, just explaining how they could be built.”
Viktor sighs and eyes her. He’s almost grateful she rarely shows to class; she’s quite literally brilliant but she also gives him at least half his yearly headaches. “As I said, my answer remains unchanged. I know you must have other ideals. I’m willing to give you a lot of leniency, but not on this. It’s not about me. It’s about the University guidelines.”
“And you’re no lapdog.” Jinx huffs, leaning back again. “C’mon. They aren’t even harmful. Trust me, I know that much has to be true. I know you’re curious about the mechanisms.”
“It does not matter what my personal feelings are.” Viktor’s gaze remained on the stacks of paper he had begun to sort through. “How about that essay you were supposed to have the draft for last week?”
Jinx’s mouth snapped shut and suddenly she was up, out of the chair and sweeping her messenger bag over her shoulder. “Y’know what? I just remembered…I have to meet Ekko for study hall this morning. See ya!”
Viktor shook his head as she left as quickly as she arrived. He continues prepping the classwork when he notices a few papers left on the other side of the desk. He reaches out and slides them closer.
He recognizes Jinx’s notes and sketches quickly. They were as colorful as she was. His finger traced the linework of the compact explosive blueprint, lost in thought. Somehow, the designs felt more familiar than as if he had just seen them once or twice upon previous convincing attempts. He could almost feel the weight of a finished prototype in his palm. Like he’d held one before. That couldn’t be right.
Viktor was wrenched from his thoughts when his office door opened again. He briefly prepared to scold the student for not knocking, but was greeted by Jayce’s face.
“Missed me already?” He teased, pushing the sketches away to return to his work.
“Always.” Jayce responded and Viktor rolled his eyes. “I forgot to grab my half of the project outlines from you.”
Viktor nodded, finding the paperwork and handing it off quickly. Jayce took them, but hesitated, gaze lingering.
“Anything wrong?” He asked.
“What do you mean?” Viktor responded too fast. He knew it, even more so when he saw the way Jayce’s eyes flickered.
“Nothing,” Jayce leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of Viktor’s head. “Lunch in my office?”
Viktor hummed in agreement, savoring the feeling of Jayce’s warmth and the smell of his cologne before he pulled away to leave. The door shut softly, and Viktor was once again left alone with his lost thoughts.
Until the bell tower tolled out the ninth hour, and he hurried to make it to his classroom in time for his first class of the day.