Chapter Text
This morning, when Viktor goes to meet the mage on the roof of the Hexgate, something feels… different.
The mage is silent as he watches him approach, more cold and distant than usual. The air feels charged and heavy, like a thunderstorm is rapidly approaching despite the clear blue sky surrounding them.
“What is going on?” Viktor can’t help but ask, taking a few cautious steps forward.
“You’re ready.” The mage states simply, solennel.
Viktor stops in his tracks, breath stopping short and anxiety pooling in his guts at the words. Of course, he’d made tremendous progress in his control of the Arcane during the last few days, but the memory of a dead butterfly in his hand haunts him.
“Are you sure?”
No matter how badly he wishes for Jayce to be standing by his side right now, he isn’t particularly fond of the idea of making things worse for them either.
The mage nods, looking at him with golden eyes as his hand drifts down towards the statue that’s perpetually kneeling in the grass. “You know I would never risk his safety.”
Viktor has no choice but to agree with him, they are one and the same in this after all.
With a shaky breath, he closes his eyes and lets the Arcane guide him towards Jayce.
The same small golden star he’d found a few days ago appears in his hand, flickering like a flame in the wind. He carefully cradles it between his palms, bringin it close to his chest, and focuses. He pictures the acceleration rune, the first portal Jayce and him made together and finally Jayce himself, standing next to him, the feeling of warmth that comes from his smile and his hand on his back.
Viktor opens his eyes as the blue light of the Arcane dissipates, leaving bright blue ambers to float in the air.
In front of him, with the blue blanket pooling in his lap, Jayce is sitting up shakily, squirting against the glow of the sun. He looks terrible, skin pale and cheeks hollow, but he’s alive, and right now that’s all that matters to Viktor.
His body moves before his brain can catch up, and he scrambles, on all four, to reach Jayce. He tackles him into a bone-crushing hug that Jayce reciprocates almost immediately, tough with much less strength.
Viktor can’t help the giggle that bubbles out of his throat, relief washing over him like a wave. He still can’t quite believe that the weight and warmth underneath him is real. He looks up into
something indescribable, something that’s been growing between them from the moment they met, culminating in this precise moment. So Viktor follows his heart, and places a gentle kiss on Jayce’s lips.
He had intended for the kiss to be chaste, a quick little thing to get across his feelings, but Jayce wastes no time in chasing him, lips crashing into his with the desperation of a dying man. And Viktor meets him there, lets himself go, drowning in the feeling of relief and love he allows himself to feel.
In the end, the need for air makes him detach himself from Jayce, though Viktor doesn’t go very far, letting his forehead rest against Jayce’s.
They stay like this for what feels like forever, basking in each other’s presence, hands roaming, searching for a heartbeat, for warmth and life.
Suddenly, Viktor remembers that they have an audience, and looks up to find the mage standing a few feet away from them, silvery eyes shining with unshed tears, and a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Live happily, for those of us who couldn’t.”
Before Viktor can talk, the blue light of the Arcane is flowing around them, runes rushing past at dizzying speed. He can feel himself start to float, Jayce’s weight on top of him almost disappearing. So he holds on to him with all his might, feels Jayce doing the same, and closes his eyes as the Arcane envelopes them in a flash of blinding light.
Jayce wakes up with a start, the sound of water dripping against rock echoing in his ear. His heart is thundering in his chest, skin covered in sweat despite having kicked the blankets off the bed and the open window letting in a soft breeze.
“Are you awake, my love? We wouldn’t want to be late.” Viktor’s muffled voice asks him from the other side of the door, and already Jayce feels like he can breathe again. He sits up with a grunt, muscles aching from how tense he’d been while having his nightmare.
Viktor walks into their bedroom a few minutes later, dressed in fitted brown pants and a cream-colored sweater that’s a few sizes too big for him. He stops in the threshold, letting his weight rest more heavily on his cane as he looks at Jayce with a soft smile.
“What?” Jayce asks him with a smile of his own, picking up his brace from the bedside table.
“Nothing. I was simply looking at you.” Viktor takes a few steps forward, resting his cane against the wall as he sits next to him on the bed, holding out a hand. “Here, let me help you.”
Jayce knows better to argue with the request, so he hands over his brace with an eye-roll and a fond sight.
He lets himself lean back down as Viktor puts his leg brace on for him, staring at the familiar ceiling of their bedroom. “Hey, Vik?”
Viktor hums, not looking up from his work.
“How long do you think we’ve been here?”
“Four hundred and twenty-six days.” Viktor answers him as a matter of fact, giving a final tug to the strap below his knee. “There, all done. Now go get dressed, Powder and Echo would never forgive us if we’re late.”
Jayce does just that, putting on a pair of comfortable loose pants and a nice button down Viktor had bought for him a few weeks ago.
Viktor is already waiting for him by the front door by the time he’s done. Jayce joins him with a slight limp, his leg and back still stiff from his agitated sleep. “What do you think these two have planned this time?”
Viktor takes hold of his right hand, where his middle and right fingers, along with his pinky, are now made of thin metal, delicately carved with swirling patterns that remind him of galaxies and star clusters. He opens the front door, letting in warm sunlight and the sound of the bustling undercity. “I have no idea. But today is a beautiful day, and we will enjoy it. Together.”
“Together.” Jayce leans down, using his free hand to tilt Viktor’s head up, and kisses him, soft and unhurried.
After all, they have the rest of their lives ahead of them now.