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A flash of light was the last thing he remembered. A deafening roar of the explosion as it's power and heat knocked him onto the floor. A cloud of dust and ash flying into the air. Rubble falling around. The briefest second of pain. And then darkness. A seemingly never ending ocean of pure nothingness. There was no sound, no sensation. He'd like to say that state held up for a long time, but what was time anyways ? Did it still pass wherever he was now ? He could not possibly tell.
Then, something changed. It was as if he was floating. Something was surrounding him completely. Yet wasn't sure if he was swimming in it loosely, or if it was clinging and sticking to every inch of him. Perhaps it was both ? Could it possibly be both ? Logically, he wasn't able to be simultaneously stuck in something and float inside it freely. Though he had hard time applying any logic to what he was currently experiencing.
Time passed. Or did it ? Again, he could only guess. But he finally had enough energy to try and move. It didn't work. Whatever substance that he was trapped in was reluctant to let him move, allow for even a twitch of a finger. His eyes refused to open too, though he had vague hunch that his face wasn't covered in anything. There was nothing sticking to it. No pressure like the one around the rest of his body. He wasn't certain, if he should be relieved, or question it even more.
He couldn't recall much. Almost like his brain was slowly turning into mush. Who was he ? Where was he ? What was happening ? He didn't know, but he was calm. It was a weird feeling. One he hadn't felt for some time now. He was convinced that he should be calm in whatever situation he was in and yet nad no way to possibly guess why.
A tingling sensation slid against his skin. And then crept deep inside of him. Starting in his lower back and spreading further along his body. Soon, it was accompanied by a pulsating warmth. It was soothing. The most soothing thing he felt in his life. Or at least that's what he thought now. It wasn't easy to make such statements, with all the sights and sounds currently passing through his mind. Some were memories, some fantasies. Though it was impossible to tell which were which. His head was in disaray.
The pleasant feeling didn't last forever. He wasn't sure, if it went on for years, or mere miliseconds. But he knew exactly when it ended. As another feeling replaced it. It was warm too, at first. Then, it turned scolding hot. Melting into his back, bringing a wave of pain. Filling his veins with molten lava, burning every cell. He felt it before, yet couldn't figure out the exact circumstances in which it happened. He had hard time thinking through the agony. Every bone and muscle seemed to twist, tear itself apart and grow back again. Implode and explode with no end in sight, both in turns and simultaneously. He wanted to scream and yet his mouth was unable to open. He couldn't even utter a sound. Was if what real suffering was like ?
Then came numbness. All sensation started to fade once more. Yet just before loosing his sense of touch, another thing occured. His body started melting from the inside, dissolving. That was far from an expected change. But despite all rationality, he wasn't suprised. Nor was he scared. The only emotion inside him was calmness. And he had no energy left to question it anymore.
His form was transforming. Twisting into something completely different from what it once was. From what it was supposed to be. But even knowing that, he didn't know what exactly was different. He wasn't able to see, or feel it. So he simply endured it. It's not like he had any way to guess. It felt right for now, so he just accepted it. With a feeling that he was growing into something better, greater.
Sometimes, a sensation from outside the nothingness reached him. A gentle caress against his face, every once in a while. And a sound. A voice. It was nothing more than an incoherent murmur, yet it still made his heart skip a beat in whatever part of the mush of a body it currently floated. Made his breath hitch, if he even still had the lungs necessary for that. Set a warm blaze in the chest he supposed he had. He didn't know what was this feeling. He knew it was pleasant. And that he certainly wanted more of it.
Anything outside of whatever imprisoned him was like coming from above the surface of deep water. Foreign sensation trying to pierce through a thick wall of numbness. Some suceeded, bringing memories with them. A sight of someone he couldn't possibly describe, yet longed for with the whole of his soul. The part of him that was always missing being found in another being. The person was next to him, he was sure of it. Or at least that was what he hoped for with all his might.
He was weak, yet almost complete. Though instead of satisfaction, it brought a pericular confusion and loss. The feelings of rightness and fairness disappeared, his mind flooded with whispers. Talking of a mission, a grand scheme. Tempting him. But all he could do now was try to push them away. Attempt to recall this soft tone and warm hazel eyes from his dreams. Bury himself in those perfect fantasies. Can butterflies dream inside their chrysalis ?
Soon, he felt a current going through him. A painful jolt filling his body, startling him awake. He choked briefly, gasping for air. Took a shaky step forward, to free himself from the substance that entrapped him. It was more of an instinct than a decision. If he could decide, he'd wait for even just a while. Let the tremble in his legs pass. Yet the choice wasn't his, so he nearly collapsed with every next step he took.
The lab spun around him, bringing sickness and worsening his dizziness. He looked around, lost. And then moved once more, some unseen power bringing him towards the man that slept hunched over a desk. Exhaused, with only blood-soaked bandages covering his top half. Vulnerable and bare. They both were. Perhaps it was what guided him closer, attracted like a moth to a flame.
"Jayce..."
The name left his lips before he could register it. Barely above a whisper, yet enough to wake his partner up.
As the other's eyes focused on him, Viktor looked down onto his own body. Took in the new metalic form, a ripple of disgust entering his mind as the reality of the situation hit him. He looked at Talis once more, the uncertainity and confusion in his gaze growing. But now, a sense of hurt and betrayal joined them.
He always wanted to be something more. To grow wings. Yet he'd never agree for them to spread in this manner. If he only had a choice... If he could decide his own metamorphosis.
"What am I..?"