Chapter Text
"I must say, Mr. Talis, I am quite impressed with your conviction. Risking your life, everything you’ve ever achieved, for the potential to end up in a Stillwater cell… I cannot quite say yet if it was admirable or foolish to come before the Council with such fantasies of magic… But you are intriguing, yes, intriguing indeed .”
Jayce listened to the steady rhythm of Viktor’s cane touching the hard tile floor as he moved around the room, inspecting the work, his life’s work, laid out on the various lab benches and tables, stopping briefly before the chalkboard to muse over Jayce’s calculations. His heart was fluttering, coming up into his throat each time Viktor addressed him, looking over at him with golden eyes sleekly lined with dark black kohl, the man oozing authority and fine taste, slim frame cinched with a vest matching his shimmering amethyst-hued corset that seemed for aesthetic purposes and yet was just as necessary to keep his core supported as he went about his day. He was adorned in golden accents that sparkled like cosmic stars when he was caught by the light flooding in through the laboratory windows, golden clasps around the wrists of his long silken plum-dyed shirt sleeves, earrings dangling from his ears that swiveled attractively as he moved and brought attention to the tender slope of his graceful neck. He was the picture of poise and opulence, the limp in his leg barely noticeable to Jayce as he was simply transfixed with him, both because of the fact that Viktor held the key to his future in his pretty, manicured hands, and because, well, he was beautiful, and Jayce was always weak for people who infused beauty into everything they did.
Jayce had been brought before the Council, facing crimes of going against the Academy’s Ethos after his Hextech project had quite literally burst into explosive flames, nearly claiming the lives of several children in the process who had broken into his lab. Of course they would need to punish him for it, Jayce understood that much, but he couldn’t possibly allow them to destroy his life’s work, his dreams. He’d made an impassioned speech, and though most looked unconvinced, he noticed Councilor Medarda leaning over to whisper something into Viktor’s ear, those eerily golden eyes flicking over to him, like a predatory cat sizing up its meal, his mouth curling into the smallest of smiles when he listened to Councilor Medarda’s words. Then, Viktor had stood from his chair, both hands planted on the counsel table as he cleared his throat, presence commanding the attention of the room. It astounded Jayce how people seemed to respect him, a Zaunite turned Councilor, a bridge of peace between the two cities, though it really shouldn’t have been that surprising, as Jayce was certain someone who had come from the undercity, only to end up rich and powerful like Viktor, must have done many, many respect-worthy and admirable things as he’d crawled his way up to the top where he now stood.
“While I agree that Mr. Talis’ actions were reckless, I feel it is also reckless to condemn such a bright, talented student to exile. We cannot wave away all that we simply do not understand. I propose a sort of probationary period for him, which I will oversee, as I am the department chair who best aligns with Mr. Talis’ work. And, of course, my penchant for studying the realm of the Arcane should assist me greatly in assessing if this research should be put to good use, or demolished. I suppose I will be acting as his patron of sorts.” Jayce felt flushed and weak under the gaze of Viktor’s eyes, as he called forth a vote on the matter, and Councilor Medarda was the first to raise her hand, soft smile on her features that seemed to match Viktor’s, the two of them in cahoots to set this plan of theirs in motion and probe Jayce’s work. With his and Councilor Medarda’s hands up, others followed suit, until there was a majority vote on the matter, and that brought them to the present, with Viktor taking his sweet time to get to know Jayce’s lab, taking one of the unrefined Hextech gemstones into his fingers and examining it up close, the stone casting a bluish tint over Viktor’s complexion.
“...So… What do you think?” He took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders, stress making his head feel like it was pounding. “ Please, there must be something I can do to convince you-,”
“I have not even cast judgment yet, and you are already attempting to plead with me? Oh, Jayce, you must have a stronger backbone than that if you want to get into this business of tampering with the Arcane. It is not for the weak-willed. It corrupts the easily persuaded.” The way Viktor rolled his name off his tongue was almost sensual, and it stopped Jayce in his tracks, that familiar flushed feeling returning to his cheeks as he turned his gaze away from Viktor’s intense stare.
“ Sorry, Councilor.” Jayce muttered, and he felt a hand touching his jaw, commanding his attention, the soft leather of Viktor’s gloved caress causing Jayce to go doe-eyed as he looked at Viktor, noting the presence of his beauty marks, making him for a moment appear human instead of the untouchable Councilor, or god, Jayce imagined him to be. It settled him some, though not by much since Viktor was still touching him, and that was enough to send his blood pressure spiking, for reasons he couldn’t quite discern in his jumbled up mind, other than that the man was pretty, which made him feel like a school boy with a silly crush.
“And do not apologize so easily. You defended your research so well before the Council, do not start acting sheepish now. What made me most excited about you was the fact that you believed so strongly in your work.” Viktor chuckled a little before he added, “And you may call me Viktor while we are working together, there is no need for formalities. You are stiffer than me, and I am the one in a brace. ”
He removed his hand from his jaw, and that was when Jayce felt he could finally breathe again, gasping and reeling, though relieved to know he apparently had Viktor’s favor, even to the point of Viktor allowing him to call him by his first name. His only name, as he was from Zaun, and last names seemed difficult to come by there, but to Jayce, that just made him all the more unique, different, special. “Working together? So does this mean you… You believe in my work? You see potential in Hextech?”
“Yes, if it was not already obvious. I believe you are on to something extraordinary here, something that will change the world as we know it. And, perhaps selfishly, I want to be the first to climb on board this journey with you. Councilor Medarda and I are both looking forward to what you can achieve. She was honestly the one who persuaded me to give you a chance.” He held out his hand to Jayce, intending for him to shake it, like they were closing some sort of business transaction. Jayce accepted it, shaking Viktor’s hand, wide smile and toothy grin flashing as he thanked Viktor over and over, their touch lingering for just a fraction too long.
“I look forward to our partnership, Jayce Talis.” Viktor said, cooing his name again, sending a shudder down Jayce’s spine.
“As do I, Councilor-, ah, Viktor. ” Jayce corrected himself, which seemed to amuse Viktor. He held tight to his dazzling cane with its fine adornments and metallic carvings, while his other hand cupped Jayce’s cheek once more, a sign of affection and intimacy common among the people of Zaun that Jayce wasn’t expecting, but it was certainly not unwelcome.
“Good boy, you catch on quick. I must be on my way now, but I expect to see you in the lab tomorrow morning. I will bring coffee, we will need it for the long days ahead.” Viktor gave him one last parting glance before he was on his way, and Jayce watched him leave until the last dark strands of his hair swept up and clipped back with golden pins were past the threshold of the laboratory door and he was gone. He picked up the unrefined gemstone Viktor had held, sighing as he twisted it in his fingertips carefully, his mind a haze of excitement and apprehension and a sudden, almost crippling desire to want to make Viktor proud, and not let his support be in vain.