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Returning to public life would be hard. Jayce knew it would be hard. After a too-long trial and a five year exile, he had expected the Kirammans to have dropped him from their patronage, but the kindness of Cassandra (or perhaps just Caitlyn's insistence,) Jayce was to make his reappearance in high society at the Kirammans' annual New Year Gala (read, high society rager.)
Piltover had changed in the years he had been away. The once dull, and golden streets are now lined with pink, purple, yellow, blue flowers. The border between Topside and the Undercity is as good as gone, with only a barely visible line dividing the two halves. Upon Jayce's return, he had made his way to The Last Drop in supplication. ("It's been a long time," Powder had said, "it's still painful, obviously, but I'm happy now. Vi would've loved this. I'm sure you two would've gotten along swimmingly if things were different.") He spent far too long apologising ("It wasn't your fault, you know. Something was bound to happen if things continued," Vander had said, Silco nodding beside him,) but with his guilt reprieved, he agreed to attend, to Caitlyn's great relief.
"Why am I here, again?" Viktor mumbles in Mel's shoulder. "I am not a politician, or activist, or business owner."
"So that parents can try to woo their way into their children attending the Academy," she replies, easily. Viktor groans again.
"There is an entrance exam. In two locations. Send them there instead," Viktor releases himself from the safety of Mel's nape, "I should not be here."
"I think being Headmaster of the most prestigious school of science and technology in Piltover warrants you being here just fine, Viktor." Mel says. "Heimerdinger made you his successor for a reason, use your charms, or something. Or get drunk." She says 'charms' with a certain disdain Viktor rolls his eyes at.
"Getting drunk doesn't seem like a bad idea, you know. At least there will be food. Heimerdinger came to these things as the Head of the Council, by the way, not Headmaster of the Academy."
"Yes, and as the new Head, Councillor Kiramman must invite you as a show of good faith. Successor to Successor." Viktor clicks his tongue.
"I hate it when you're reasonable," Viktor grumbles, dusting off the non-existent, "I still do not want to go."
"You hate me anyway," Mel retorts, grinning, then motions for him to follow her.
The Kiramman house is just as he remembers it. Big, shiny, and haughty. Even after the years working to bridge the gap, there are still houses which look like they were built from gold in Piltover. Viktor wants to melt it for parts. The suit Viktor is wearing is far too prim for his liking. He has half a mind to undo his bow tie if he wants to seduce any of the terribly-boring-but-nice-to-look-at businessmen, but in his best effort to match Mel's perfectly clean appearance, he refrains. The two of them are fashionably late, arriving about forty minutes after the party officially started (sober, to Viktor's disappointment) to a hall filled with the wealthiest and most influential people in Piltover and Zaun. Upon their arrival, Tobias Kiramman greets them, and Mel is accosted and whisked away by a foreign politician whose name Viktor paid no mind to (Mel would fill him in later whether he liked it or not.) He finds reprieve, though, in Councillor Silco— one of the few of Mel's colleagues he actually liked.
"Your program is going well," he says, taking his place beside Viktor. The past three years were spent on creating several science and history programs in Zaun, with Viktor, of course, composing a science and mathematics syllabus in order to give Zaunite children a better chance at education.
"You mean your program," Councillor Silco was and is the head of it, pushing and maintaining the compensatory programs was a good deal of work, as Viktor gathers. Silco murmurs in humble agreement. Viktor sighs. "Cut to the chase Councillor, what do you really want me for?"
"Powder keeps refusing to take the exam," he says, with malcontent.
"A shame, I would love to have her. She has talent."
"We keep telling her. Ekko keeps telling her." Viktor hums.
"Have they worked it out yet?" The Councillor laughs lightly.
"You ought to come by, they've worked it out alright." Silco pauses, taking a sip of his drink. Bourbon, looks like. "Speaking of coming by, you know who visited The Last Drop the other day?." Viktor gives a non-committal shrug. "Jayce Talis, he returned from his exile a few weeks ago."
"Is that so?" Viktor wishes dearly he had a drink, instead, he sucks the saliva from his cheeks.
"It is. He came by, gave Powder an impassioned apology or something, bearing gifts from his travels. Vander says he's even more handsome than the day he was sentenced," Silco chuckles at that. Viktor fiddles with his cuff. "I hear he's here tonight." Viktor keeps his eyes on his cane, doing his best to hide his interest. He can feel Silco's amused look on his temple. Maybe Viktor doesn't like him after all.
"It's nice he can make an appearance, the Kirammans must care dearly for him." Silco hums, far too knowingly for Viktor's liking.
"Ah, Councillor Medarda," Silco says, startling Viktor out of his stupor. Mel is scowling, hidden beneath her polite and proper facade. She reaches out a glass of whisky to Viktor, which he takes graciously. She nods to Silco in greeting.
"That man is an absolute fool," she says into her champagne flute. Silco huffs.
"Well, I should take my leave. Let me know if you have any idea to convince Powder, Viktor, Vander and I would greatly appreciate it. I will probably speak to you later, Mel," Silco says, making his way back into the crowd, giving Viktor the amused look again.
"What was wrong with him. The foreigner," Viktor asks, taking a sip from the crystalline glass.
"Trade deal. He wants to raise the price of his wheat by twenty per cent. If he thinks any of us is agreeing to that, he must be insane." Mel looks up. First at Viktor, then past him, narrowing her eyes at something— someone, rather— behind him. Viktor tilts his head in questioning. "Is— is that Jayce Talis?" Viktor feels his heart beat a little quicker.
"Ah, Silco said he would be here." He says, trying to appear as collected as possible, distantly aware of his ears heating up. Mel does not seem to hear him, watching Jayce through Viktor's hair.
"He has a beard," she says, half disbelief, half lust, mouth agape.
"What?" Viktor hisses and swings his head behind him, seeing Caitlyn Kiramman with an, indeed, bearded Jayce Talis. He stands awkwardly in a fitted forest green shirt, with the sleeves rolled above his elbows. He looks good. Unfairly good. Viktor's face heats, his heart quickens, warming his chest, and suddenly, Viktor needs to lick that man. "I need to sit down," he says instead, Mel wordlessly nods and guides the both of them to a marble bench. The glass he is holding threatens to slip out of his fingers, so he sets it down onto the slab. After a moment of collecting himself, he looks helplessly for a distraction, eyes landing on the tables of food. Once he feels he has calmed down enough, he makes a show of squinting at the deserts, "Is that— truffle? Mel be a dear and get me some of that. The shortcake too. My leg hurts." Mel looks at him in disbelief, seeing right through his scheme, and scowls at him again, but does so without protest.
Once she leaves, Viktor undoes his bow tie and top button, and grimaces as he dips his fingers into his whisky to run through his hair. When he decides he is sightly enough, he leans into his cane, pretending to be bored as he waits for Mel— who certainly will be held up by politics and business— to return. He dances his eyes across the hall before 'accidentally' making innocent eye contact with Jayce Talis. Viktor tilts his head inquiringly, and after a silent conversation across the gilded floor, he beckons Jayce over with a few slow blinks. His eyes gleam as he watches Jayce politely detach himself from Caitlyn's side and makes his way over to him. The man stumbles across the marble, awkwardly avoiding the moving bodies of other attendees. Viktor spares a glance to Mel, who seems to be trapped in conversation with Salo, he pities the woman.
When Jayce arrives before him, anxious and eager to please, Viktor rakes his eyes over him. Up close, Viktor could see the silver embroidery which decorated the seams, and the shining buttons which sat comfortably, Viktor presumes, on Jayce's skin. He wore no tie (a pity) but the colourful embellishments made him look positively delicious. His neatly trimmed (but still rather long) hair and beard made him look like a puppy; Viktor would have fun with him later. After a moment too long, Viktor motions for Jayce to sit beside him. He leans into his cane coyly, tilting his head slightly, staring into Jayce's deep hazel eyes, watching the light dance in his pupils. Jayce fidgets nervously.
"I— I'm Jayce, Jayce Talis," he manages, cracking under the pressure of Viktor's gaze. Viktor's lips quirk.
"I know," he says, low. Jayce panics for a second, before regaining his composure.
"You're Viktor, right? The Dean's assistant?" Viktor blinks in acquiescence, not bothering to correct him, "I never got a chance to thank you, for saving my life, and speaking for me." Viktor had spoken in Jayce's defence all those years ago, speaking from the perspective of a scientist, and a Zaunite. It was not the fault of an inventor for a death caused by inequality.
"It is no bother to stand up for what you believe in," Viktor says, gently. "I heard from Silco that you would be here." Jayce smiles, bashfully.
"Oh, I went to The Last Drop after I got back, felt appropriate."
"He speaks highly of you. Silco, I mean."
"Does he! I couldn't get a good read, he is a very intimidating man." Viktor chuckles at that.
"When he wants to be. He says you spoke to Powder." Viktor takes a sip of his whisky.
"I did, she was very kind. Smart, too."
"Silco wants her to apply to the Academy. I have no doubts she would pass the exams if she tried." Viktor smiles into his glass. "Did she show you any of her projects?"
"She did. There was an air purifier of some kind? We actually exchanged some ideas." Viktor raises a brow, in a tell me more expression. Jayce flushes, looking nervous again before brightening in excitement and raising his hands in demonstration. "While I was abroad, I became incredibly interested in waves, and concurrently with transmitting information. Like, light and sound tell us what we see and hear. They travel in waves, over long distances, right? And I started thinking, what if we could send other kinds of information with waves? Like, long distance communication, that's faster and more efficient than a letter or a messenger. So I started researching waves. I used Heimerdinger's work as a basis for—"
"Truffle. And shortcake. And they had some of these biscuit things," Mel has escaped from the prison of small talk, it seems. Viktor's disappointment is quickly swayed by the promise of a good snack, but he dearly wishes to take Jayce far away, listen to all his ramblings. Mel places the plate on the bench beside Viktor, then clasps Jayce's hands in her own. Viktor shoots her a 'back off' look. "Mel Medarda, it's nice to meet you, Jayce Talis."
"Likewise, Councillor Medarda," Jayce composes himself, flustered. Mel gives him a smile and Viktor a look of mock surrender.
"It is always a pleasure to meet a man such as yourself. Now, there are your sweets Viktor," he mumbles out a thank you, "I should really go back out there and mingle," Mel rolls her eyes at that before dusting herself off, glancing knowingly at Viktor, and returns into the crowd. Viktor sighs.
"Would you like some? The truffle and shortcake is good, but I've had the biscuits before and I didn't like them." The nervous look in Jayce's eyes returns, Viktor wants to kiss it away, but he takes them, and makes a pleasant noise at it. Viktor takes a bite of the shortcake, savouring its slight flavour, and hands the rest over to Jayce. He has the truffle for himself. Viktor blinks and looks fondly at the man he has known for barely twenty minutes, and downs the rest of his whisky. "Why don't you show me the rest of your wave theory in my office? I have a chalkboard." Jayce flushes and nods almost eagerly and rises, searching for someone— Caitlyn, Viktor presumes— to say goodbye.
Viktor keeps his master-key on him at all times; mostly because he needs to lock the doors after late night sessions in the office-lab, or if inspiration suddenly strikes him and he needs to get into the office-lab. But, there is a small part of him that keeps it on him for the off chance that a beautiful and intelligent stranger will enamour him, and the fantasy that he will take this stranger inside to show him the wonders of their mind. This fantasy is finally fulfilled when he drags Jayce with him in the admin building of the Academy. It is dark in the hallway, no-one but the two of them are in the building, the thought excites him. Viktor's office, which used to be Heimerdinger's office, is the last one down the corridor, with tall, decorated doors.
"Are we allowed to be here? Are we breaking into Heimerdinger's office?" Jayce asks with urgency.
"No, we are breaking into my office," Viktor says, unlocking the doors.
"But— this is the Dean's office." Jayce fidgets anxiously.
"Aye— you silly man. I am the headmaster. This is my office." Viktor stands, looking amused at Jayce's bemused face.
"You didn't correct me earlier."
"You were going to find out anyway." Viktor pushes the door open, flicking the lights on. Jayce closes the door behind him. Viktor has half a mind to be embarrassed by the mess on his desk, but instead saunters toward it, clears a small spot for himself, and raises his body to sit pertly on it. He finds a piece of chalk and tosses it to Jayce. "You can erase what's on it, it's in my notes already." Jayce does obediently, looking a little lost once he does so. Goodness, he is adorable. "As you were saying?"
"Oh! Right. So— uhm, Heimerdinger did quite a bit of research on electromagnetism and radio waves, and I used that as a basis to make an alarm—" Jayce starts scribbling on the chalkboard, and Viktor watches and listens, rapt. He has not felt like this in a long time. The past five years was filled with bureaucracy and he was so, so bored. And suddenly, the pieces fall into place. The man that escaped him so long ago returns to his rightful place— across from Viktor, in a lab. Viktor is exhilarated. Jayce moves around the chalkboard like minnows in coral, excitedly pointing and demonstrating with his hands (big, soft hands,) and darting his eyes around for Viktor's approval, which he happily gives. His sketches are beautiful and clean, lines solid and inviting. His voice is smooth, even when excited, with natural charisma that sails into Viktor.
"—And I got it to work! Three miles! Over the river! I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life. I hit a block after that. I think it was part lacking inspiration, but also I just didn't have access to the resources I needed. I only had so much to spend on fancy equipment, eh?" Jayce trails off, bashfully.
"Do you have a prototype?"
"Huh?"
"Do you have a prototype?" Viktor repeats, slower and with purpose.
"Oh! Yeah, I do, it's at home somewhere." Viktor leans his head into his cane, blinking (what he hopes is) seductively.
"Why don't you bring it in next week? I'll make sure you're let in." Jayce looks at him, eyes wide, mouth hanging open— adorable.
"I can do that? Really?" Viktor nods and Jayce all but runs up to him, wrapping him in a hug. Viktor awkwardly pats his shoulders, heart beating. When Jayce pulls away, his face is flush, the glimmer in his eyes remain, brighter with the reflection of the candle. Viktor keeps his hands on Jayce, just for a moment, giving him the opportunity to pull away, he doesn't. The two of them face each other, lingering, breathing each other's air.
After several seconds, Viktor decides he cannot take it any longer and wraps his fingers around the uppermost buttons of Jayce's shirt, tugging forcefully on the fabric (why didn't he wear a tie?) dragging him down to Viktor's mouth. Viktor kisses him. Gently and quickly first, but with Jayce's affirmative Oh, he all but attacks his mouth. Viktor clamps his eyes shut and drapes his arms over Jayce's shoulder's, forcing him to bend further down. Jayce tastes like shortcake. They release from each other, breathing into each other, looking at each other with surprise and conviction. Jayce returns to his full height and lightly moves Viktor's cane out of the way.
"I want to blow you," he says, with all the certainty of the world. It is Viktor's turn to flush.
"Okay," he breathes out, kicking gently at the back of Jayce's knees, forcing him to crumple before him. Viktor parts his legs, allowing Jayce a comfortable spot in front. Jayce unbuckles his belt with the tenderness of a cat rubbing against your leg.
Having Jayce below him is like having a puppy in his lap, his hands like paws, and his hair like ears and the fur on the top of a dog's head. Viktor runs his fingers through it and it is as soft as he imagined it being. Jayce frees him from his underwear with a lick of his lips, stroking Viktor with calloused hands. Then he descends on him. And Viktor whines, shifting so that he leans on his hands behind him, as he lets Jayce have his way with him. He looks down at Jayce, lapping hungrily at Viktor's cock, with lidded eyes. Jayce looks back at him, gaze hard and absolute. Jayce wraps his arms around Viktor's waist, locking him into place, not allowing him any reprieve from his onslaught. Viktor feels electric. Jayce lifts Viktor's legs over his shoulders, pushing further, threatening to knock him onto his back. It goes on for what feels like hours but more likely several minutes, and when Viktor nears his release, he knocks on Jayce's back in warning. Jayce only tugs him closer in response. Viktor's breath hitches and he readjusts, covering Jayce's head with his body.
When Viktor finishes, he is heaving, breathing deeply into Jayce's nape. Jayce looks up at him softly, seeking some kind of sign that he did a good job. Viktor smiles, he's been doing a lot of that today, and pushes Jayce's hair out of his face. In return, Jayce nuzzles his beard into Viktor's thigh.
"Do you want me too…" Viktor trails off when Jayce's eyes widen in a mixture of panic and embarrassment.
"I—uh, already—" Viktor barks out a laugh, stroking more at his hair.
"Seriously?" Jayce tries to hide his embarrassed smile inside Viktor's leg.
"Well, how do you feel about properly finishing tonight. In my apartment. I have a bed you can fuck me in." Viktor trails his thumb to Jayce's lip, which Jayce takes into his mouth. "I can give you a proper orgasm." Jayce looks at Viktor flushed and wide-eyed.
"Okay," he breathes out.
The walk back home was the longest walk Viktor had ever taken, and here he is, fumbling for his keys while Jayce envelopes him, kissing and licking at his neck. It takes him an embarrassing amount of time to slide the key home and unlock the door. Jayce is over him once he pushes the door open, embracing him from the front and helplessly kissing him. Viktor does his best to shut and lock door, and with effort, he does. He allows himself to be swept into the tidal wave that is Jayce Talis. Letting himself be pushed into the wall. dragging his hands along Jayce's firm and solid back. Pulling away, he taps his fingers on Jayce's shoulders and moves Jayce's hands down to his thigh, motioning that he will jump up. Jayce complies easily, loosening his grip on Viktor. He leans his cane on the entryway wall and pushes himself up, Jayce doing the rest of the work. Viktor wraps his good leg around Jayce's waist and leans down to kiss him again, cupping the other man's head, pushing him deeper into his mouth. They stay like that for perhaps too long. Jayce pulls off of Viktor's lips, breathing hard into his air.
"I don't know where your bedroom is," he says. Viktor leans his head back.
"Last door in the hall," he says, and returns to mauling his lover's face.
Jayce stumbles through his hallway, backing the two of them into Viktor's bedroom door. Still kissing Jayce, Viktor reaches behind himself for the handle and strains to push it open. Jayce finds his way into Viktor's double bed and bends down to drop him into the mattress. The two of them stare into each other, Viktor's leg still hanging onto Jayce's hip.
"Take your shirt off," Viktor says, breathlessly, and hears a just-as-breathless Okay in return.
Jayce carefully (too carefully) unbuttons his shirt, taking his time on each one, not breaking eye contact with Viktor. With each undoing, Viktor's gaze zeroes in on the hair which covers Jayce's pecs. He decides that he is bored of watching and sits up. He reaches for the belt buckle, undoing the polished silver. He also decides that that is enough work for him and begins lapping at Jayce's neck, trailing lower and lower until he reaches the curled hair on Jayce's chest. He runs his fingers through it, and as he does, Jayce finishes undressing, revealing his glorious cock. He is everything Viktor could have wanted.
Viktor needs his clothes off. Now. And Jayce seemingly agrees, helping him to unbutton his dress shirt. His bow tie has disappeared, probably lying somewhere in his office. The two of them peel his shirt off, exposing his skin to the cool winter air, seeping into his apartment. It suddenly occurs to him that Jayce is warm, very warm. His belt was put on flimsily in his office, so now, in the dim light of his bedroom, it and his trousers come down easily. All at once, both of them are naked. Jayce climbs onto the bed, pushing Viktor further up so that his head lies on a pillow. He brackets him, arms and legs radiating with heat, staring down into Viktor's eyes.
"You're beautiful," Jayce says, quietly and tenderly, bringing his hand down to cup Viktor's jaw. Viktor, speechless, can only wrap his arms around Jayce's neck and pull him down for a kiss, then panting into his neck.
"Finger me," he commands, pointing vaguely to his nightstand. Jayce obeys, scampering over him to pull the oil from the drawer.
He coats his fingers easily, Viktor watching with lidded eyes. Jayce hooks Viktor's calves over his shoulders again, gaining some leverage and getting a perfect view of Viktor. Jayce gives Viktor a slight smirk before diving into Viktor's crotch. At the first touch of Jayce's tongue, Viktor gasps. That electric feeling returns to him. Viktor was never a particularly vocal man, but Jayce manages to pull soft whines with the brush of his tongue over Viktor's hole. He's getting desperate now, kicking at Jayce's back. Jayce complies, to his absolute relief. Viktor holds his breath with anticipation at the intrusion. Jayce's calloused fingers are thick and perfect. He is an unbelievable man. Viktor croons at Jayce's look of wonder, bucking his hips into Jayce's finger. He adds another; the stretch is delicious.
By the time Viktor deems himself ready, he is panting and Jayce is three fingers deep in him. He shifts slightly, having Jayce drop him from the suspended position he was in. Viktor pulls him down for another kiss, murmuring a I'm ready and Fuck me in his lover's ear. Jayce pulls his fingers out of him, and strokes his cock a few times.
Jayce looks at Viktor when he lines himself up, and with the first push in, both of them groan. Jayce pauses once he is fully inside, so that Viktor can adjust. Once both of their breathing evens out, Viktor jerks and Jayce starts moving again. Viktor keeps looking at Jayce as he thrusts, as Jayce does with Viktor. Not once breaking their eye contact. Viktor does not moan, but Jayce draws out gasps and grunts and whines as he fucks him. They do not talk. They do not need to talk. It's as if just by looking at each other they know just what the other wants. Fucking steadily and heavenly.
With each thrust, the fire bubbling in Viktor's core threatens to overtake him. Still looking at Jayce (always looking at Jayce,) Viktor wraps his arms and legs around him, not letting him go. His breath becomes erratic and his eyes threaten to close. Then Jayce hits it, and Viktor's head is thrown back, breaking their eye contact and the careful tension with it. With that, Jayce speeds up, hitting Viktor's prostate with more precision. And Viktor starts moaning. The hands around Jayce's neck forces his face into Viktor's, and Jayce, beautiful and gracious Jayce, licks and laps at it. Kissing it until Viktor whispers how he's close in Jayce's ear.
"I am too," he says, low.
"Come inside me," Viktor almost begs.
Jayce says nothing, but grasps Viktor's cock in his hands, gently stroking him to completion. As he comes, he feels Jayce come too. Viktor gasps and heaves. Jayce does not pull out, for the moment. Instead pushing Viktor further into the mattress. Only once Viktor's breathing evens out does he pull out, detaching himself from Viktor. Viktor, rather embarrassingly, whines for him to stay, but after a moment, Jayce returns. He has a washcloth in his hand, which Viktor doesn't know where he found, but it is soaked in warm water and Viktor melts into it as Jayce cleans him.
He stares at Jayce, mouth gaping like a fish— so he imagines— and motions for him to rejoin Viktor on the bed. Jayce tentatively lays next to him, solid and warm. Viktor kisses him again, deep, tender, and loving. Jayce smiles. And Viktor smiles back. He reaches out to scratch at the hair behind Jayce's ear.
The clock on the wall read two thirty-seven. Viktor looks back at Jayce, boneless, weightless, and exhausted. Jayce does the same. He rearranges them so that Viktor is leaning on Jayce's muscle, wrapping an arm over Jayce's front. He pulls his blanket tight over both of them, and falls in deep, comforting sleep.