Chapter Text
“I am certainly not going, Jayce,” Viktor said with disdain clear in his voice. He hated those high class parties. There was so much food it would feed ten families for a month in the Undercity. And everyone stared at him like he wasn’t invited.
“You have to! It’s celebration for our success. Mel wants to publicly thank us for our service!”
Viktor just stared at him for a moment. “You mean your success. I am not needed there.”
Jayce looked at him with sad puppy eyes. “You are my partner, Vik. We are in this together. Hextech is mine as much as it is yours.”
Viktor sighed. Those stupid eyes always made him weak. He hated it. “Jayce, look, I know you mean well but we need Hextech to look good. And even though you are fine with me, some people just wouldn’t be able to stomach seeing me on that stage next to you. And I would prefer to stay behind the scenes anyway.”
Jayce just stood there looking like a kicked puppy which wasn’t good for Viktor’s heart.
“But I want to share the stage with you,” whispered Jayce without looking up from his feet.
In that moment Viktor knew he was doomed. He really had to come up with something fast. “I don’t-I don’t have suitable clothes.”
Jayce looked surprised for a moment but then he started rubbing his chin. He didn’t think that clothes were such a big deal. “I thought your clothes are fine.” said Jayce after a while.
“Well I think it would be impolite.” Viktor replied a bit too fast. He winced slightly at how hurriedly he said that. But he needed to convince his partner.
The taller man stood there for a little bit longer before he sighed. “Alright. I will tell Mel.”
Viktor almost started jumping with happiness but kept sombre expression while he nodded. “Sorry.”
Jayce just waved his hand. “It’s not your fault. Don’t worry about it.”
When he left, Viktor sat back to his table feeling like he won a war without any casualties. He went back to his work but after few moments someone pat him on his shoulder. He looked up clearly annoyed. This wasn’t time for some chitchats, he was getting close to something.
Jayce gave him a big smile. “It took some time but Mel helped me out.” He pulled some clothes from behind his back. “I stole your uniform to make sure they are the right size so they should fit.”
Viktor looked at it with horrified eyes. No way. It was slowly sinking in how much he fucked up. Wait. How did he get them so fast? “Some time? You were gone for like five minutes.”
Jayce frowned at him. “Viktor, I was gone for almost ten hours.”
Viktor looked dumbfounded for a moment and then he whipped around to look at the clock on the wall behind him.
“Did you work the whole time I was gone?” Asked Jayce. He sighed when Viktor smiled at him sheepishly. How was Viktor still alive was beyond him. The man barely ate or slept and he wouldn’t move from his desk for hours. It was really worrying Jayce lately. His partner was completely overworking himself and he couldn’t do anything about it since Viktor would just flip him off whenever he tried to make him stop. “That’s it. We are getting dinner. Now.”
“You can go alone. I would like to finish this. I am not hungry yet and it won’t take long.”
If Jayce heard that from anybody else he would believe it. But in Viktor’s case it was definitely a lie. “What did you have for breakfast?” From the way his friend avoided his gaze he knew that he didn’t eat anything all day. Jayce sighed again. “Viktor, you can’t keep on going like this.”
“Don’t worry. I am honestly fine.” He just wanted to get back to his work. Food could wait for a few more hours, right? But Jayce stared at him disapprovingly and he knew that he won’t let him work until they eat. “There are some apples...” He immediately stopped talking at the look Jayce gave him. “The place down the street?” He tried instead.
Jayce gave him satisfied smile and nodded. “Yeah, we can eat there. You can try your new clothes on when we return.”
Viktor shortly looked at the black clothes with golden decorations. He really dug his grave this time.