Archive of Our Own

  In a world where the line between the universe and the real world has been blurred, Jayce and Viktor find themselves in a unique position; the Arcane, the wild Rune, has given them a second chance at life.
 This outcome and journey, both literal and metaphorical, set them up to understand each other and have the chance to redefine their bond. Or well; that's what Jayce would say it is for.
 He doesn't understand why he can do this - he was perfectly content with their "last" moments being the end - together. But he's determined to make the most of his new life.
(And he hopes and hopes and hopes Viktor does too.)

  A lush, vibrant garden filled with colorful flowers, glowing plants, and twinkling lights set in the middle of The Placidium of Navori - their first stop in the whole world. Viktor has mentioned his admiration of the flowers from their shared dream, so Jayce brought him to Ionia. Is that a little too dramatic? Probably. 
The air is sweet with the scent of all the blooming, colorful plants near their feet. Jayce looks around in awe - he's never seen wildlife this beautiful before.

"I heard this nation recently went under a horrendous attack. We didn't know much about it in Piltover… until the same enemy started knocking at our door, uh" Jayce looks around trying to see if there are any locals nearby. He doesn't want to upset anyone (he wonders how well-spread their language is in this land).

"These gardens are magical and a lot of scholars come here to study in all of Ionia. Has to do with the spirits I think."

"You seem like you read up on this place before coming here," Viktor glances at him (he never cared a lot to learn about other nations, he regrets it now).

"Well! Machinery has always been my true calling but Piltover has a lot of stored texts about other nations - because of all the diplomatic things and trading it does. Got access to it all because of my family history early on."

Jayce smiles. He used to read all the books he could get his hands on (he knows Viktor did too, they shared a lab) and so that made it possible for him to plan this trip (trip? More like a journey).

"That's… nice, I suppose. Would you like to visit this other area?" Viktor points to the left. It seems more closed off and relaxed compared to where they are standing now.
Jayce frowns thinking about Viktor's bad leg (because somehow regaining your original body doesn't actually change anything about it) and reaches his hand out for the man to grab onto.
When he does they carefully walk over and look at a million other plants and small bugs they will remember for the rest of their lives.

  Ionia is truly a beautiful place - they learned during their travels to this village. The land is filled with life even after its painful past and it's just so bustling with all the different breeds of… aliveness in it. Jayce is amazed by all the people they pass, all the animals, all the shadows and lights - everything. He could imagine himself living in a place like this.

  The village they are staying in - the locals have told him they are pretty close to the Temple of Koeshin, something to do with keeping the balance of Ionia's lands. He and Viktor have heard numerous stories of the heroes (of the shadows, technically) doing that work.

  During a night out, enjoying some dinner (Viktor seems to enjoy Indian cuisine a lot - so Jayce tries to ask the innkeepers to share some recipes with him for the future).
 They have recently acquired a new cane for Viktor to use, during an odd job they did for some money, so sightseeing and just looking around has become much easier for them.
They were walking around the market when Jayce noticed the other slightly frowning and he immediately offered to find them somewhere to sit and eat something.
Viktor silently thanked him. Jayce's heart fluttered.

"Oh! That's so beautiful…" Hwei looks at them with a bright glow in his colorful eyes.

He's the artist they met during their outing and have invited the man to spend some time with them in the evening. They've told him about their experiences so far and all the places they've visited in Ionia. Jayce can't get over the gorgeous scenery of the nation and so he tells his memories as colorful as he can.

Viktor seems to keep himself closer to Jayce and hold onto him in some way while in the presence of the painter.

"You two reminded me of some paintings I've finished recently, actually…," his velarian is a little blurry at the edges of his words but he tries to speak as clearly as possible.

"May I show you? I'm staying somewhere nearby for the time being. I am looking for my… for someone I wish to meet again. I'm just traveling through these parts."

"Oh, so are we! Well, not looking for someone… but we are also just passing through!" Jayce responds with genuine excitement behind his words.

"We would like to see your paintings, if you really don't mind sharing," Viktor answers, for maybe the second time that evening. Jayce can tell something is bothering him. He wants all his pain to go away.

"I offered, didn't I?" Hwei smiles and leads the way.

 His art is truly out of this world and it seems to be centered around certain themes - in groups. A lot of them feature the same masked figure (is that the ' someone '? Jayce wonders). They are colorful and full of life and so, so magical.

Hwei himself seems to be full of magic.

Time seems to pass differently when you are traveling through the whole wild world. It was just spring a moment ago and it's already turning to winter.

Passing through the countless mountains of The Freljord was truly an experience nothing could ever replace. When they arrive at the end of the nation, specifically at Valar's Hollow, they decide they need some time to think about their next destinations and rest. They learn this is the place where merchants and traders gather and stay before venturing into the icy north.

(Jayce is quite happy they are already done with that).

They still pick up smaller jobs or make tools, and weapons to stay in places before moving to the next - it seems to work perfectly fine.

"Is this warm enough?" Jayce asks after sitting down and clapping his hands together to get some excess dust off from what the firewood has left on his palm.

Their current room is pretty small but comfortable enough for two people.

"It's perfect, thank you Jayce," Viktor smiles back at him, his pen still between his fingers.

"Do you want to look at my notes? I feel like I messed up a calculation somewhere but… I can't seem to find where…?" He runs his free hand through his hair and looks at Jayce with determination in his eyes.

He's been working on some smaller machines that could make the locals' lives easier dealing with the heating. They are allowed to stay in this room, in exchange for their help.

"Ah, so… wait let me look at this again, please" Aurora fixes her glasses as she looks over Viktor's notes for the millionth time that night.

They met her in the hollow a few weeks ago, while waiting for the heavy snow to pass before leaving - she immediately hit it off with Viktor and has been helping him with the heating system he thought of.

She's quite an interesting person Jayce would say if you asked him. She's from a Vastayan tribe (they first learned about them in Ionia but Aurora is the first one they met face to face) and she's well known in the world of spirits. She explained her work to them the first night they met her and Viktor had countless questions to ask her.

Jayce looks over from the armchair he's sitting in, Viktor and Aurora seeming to be in deep conversation. Something deep within his body turns with a painful flavor in his gut. He ignores the feeling.
 Viktor smiles softly at her and when he glances up from his spread-out papers on the short table in the room, he locks eyes with Jayce. His eyebrow raises in question to Jayce's pained (is he that obvious?) expression.
 Jayce shakes his head and his lips turn up, slightly. He signals Viktor nothing is wrong and truly, nothing is wrong (he tells himself).

He ignores the feeling.

When Aurora leaves their room that night, she looks over Jayce before stepping outside and asks him to follow her for a moment. He stands up and listens, of course, yet his body feels stiff and his mind confused by her request. She's not his friend, technically speaking.

"I noticed you staring at us." Her monotone voice wakes him from the small trance his mind put him in. He looks at her with a baffled expression.

"Don't look at me like that, I know what you were thinking." He tries not to do what he's just been told. He can't.

"I… Okay, I have no clue what you mean." He's confused. Has he been found out? Found out about what exactly?

"I know you love him. I can see it and so do the spirits around you, Jayce." Aurora turns to face him. "You should really hear the way he speaks about you, you know? Would save a lot of unnecessary jealousy on both sides."

Jayce can't respond as his voice seems to be stuck in his throat. Aurora, without waiting for a response, just nods at him and leaves for her own place to rest.

They never talk about it while staying in the Hollow again. Jayce keeps thinking about her words even after they've parted ways.

  The Great City of Demacia definitely lives up to its name. It's huge. There are so many people. There are so many things to see. Jayce feels like he's lost his mind a little while spending time here.
He and Viktor have made it their plan to go to the grand, the massive library located near the plaza (some students they met mentioned the amount of text stored in there in passing as they giggled while not even paying attention to the volume of their conversation).

However, what they didn't consider is how this big city is compared to the last places they visited. But no problem, they got it figured out! As they always do.

"Can you find the book on my list? I've looked over the respective category but…," Viktor half-whispers as he stops by Jayce standing on a ladder placed onto the tall bookshelves.

Jayce shakes his head as he looks down on him.

"I found these, they are about the history of Demacia! We will definitely find something interesting in here," Jayce gasps when his feet finally meet the ground again. He holds two smaller, thin books in his hands.

"Let's find a table, shall we?"

Viktor smiles at him and grabs his cane.

"I swear, this is biased against mages."

"Wild words from someone raised in Piltover ," Viktor raises an eyebrow while turning to face Jayce.

"It is, obviously. This place is all against mages, as far as I know. They even built these walls against their magic." He points to the thick, white walls that the entire building is made of.

"It's supposed to suck it away, I think."

He keeps his finger on the paragraph about this specific material to show Jayce what he's talking about.

"Isn't that quite magical by itself?" Jayce asks and moves closer to Viktor to be able to read what the book says about it.

Their forearms touch as they sit in silence for the remaining few hours in that library, reading the books they picked out for themselves and each other.

"It was great to feel like a student again," Jayce breaks the silence of their walk back to their inn.

"We never stop learning, especially when traveling," Viktor tilts his head. "But yes, I agree. I enjoyed it."

In their room, their moods remained the same, both of them cheery and tired from all the mental work they'd done during the day

  Having one room, Jayce noticed, was the easiest choice. A lot of keepers already saw them as a couple and there was no point in denying it even though they were wrong. Or well… Jayce isn't really sure about that part.
He knows he loves Viktor and he hopes it is mutual (he knows it is.. But what if it isn't?). Before traveling nothing happened or if it did, they never spoke of it. During traveling? The same was the case.
 If Viktor remembers the soft kisses he gives Jayce in his sleep sometimes, or the hugs they shared in bed during the winter months - then there must be a reason why he never brought it up to Jayce. Surely.

"Ah, good morning Jayce" Viktor greets him in the shared living room space, already dressed in his daily clothes, reading the newspaper the inn gets delivered every day.

"The keeper has given us this bottle… to celebrate us being great patrons? I didn't understand what she meant by that but I know you will never say no to a treat like this," he smiles.

"That's really sweet! I will make sure to thank her when I come back in a bit. I think I need some exercise," Jayce picked up running a few times during the week in Ionia at first, then it became a habit for him.

At first, he said it was for his 'mental to be kept in check'.

"You wanna drink it tonight, V? I won't do it without you," he smiles as he turns back from the door before leaving.

"Why not?"

  Okay, so Jayce kind of regrets that now. Because holy shit Viktor is so beautiful.

 He's always known that obviously, he has eyes. But it's entirely different when said man is right in front of him, more open and much, much freer than before. When he is free from his mental anguish and is at… home.

(Well, Jayce would say it's home where his heart is. His heart lies with Viktor, all over the world, as long as he is with him.)

Viktor smiles and smiles and he smiles at Jayce . Jayce feels like he's about to faint.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" Viktor asks boldly. Oh shit .

Jayce tries to respond but his view is cloudy, the only thing he can focus on is the other man, and if he looks away his heart aches.

"Cat got your tongue?" He feels Viktor moving closer to him. Oh shit .

"Ah, I…" he tries, he really does.

"Hey, hey you… don't look away now. I'm trying to talk to you," Viktor smiles softly and sits next to him, their sides touching, their glasses untouched but already empty on the table in front of them.

"I'm here, what do you…" is all Jayce says because as he's about to speak he feels Viktor intertwine their fingers and his brain goes empty. All he feels is the warmth of the other's skin and the sudden heat of his own skin.

"Oh?" Viktor's gaze is unavoidable. "You seem flustered, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, sorry…" Jayce shakes his head but it's still spinning. He feels sober suddenly as if he hadn't consumed anything, just from one touch. He doesn't dare to move.

"Ah.. hey," Viktor says again, his voice close to Jayce's ear. Jayce can't keep himself from looking at his mouth as he forms his words.

A small smirk makes its way onto Viktor's lips before he grabs Jayce's face with his free hand. Viktor connects their lips with a swift motion of his body and quickly stops before getting ahead of himself.

"Tell me I've been thinking wrong and you don't want this and I will stop," Viktor says, his tone firm and his gaze serious.

"I don't think there's anything I want more in life than this, V," Jayce gasps, glancing into Viktor's eyes. His mouth stays slightly open which is immediately used against him.

Jayce can't tell if he's died again and went to heaven or - this is just what heaven feels like. Viktor's lips divorce his own, with a small line of saliva following his tongue, and it lasts for a split second before they are back together again.

He gasps and moans into their kisses like a desperate, starving man. Jayce's free hand is in Viktor's (now) long hair, holding his head and body close.

While kissing, Viktor has mostly moved into Jayce's lap, his knees on both sides of the man's sitting figure, his body flushed close.

His hands have relocated themselves - all over Jayce's torso. One of them is trying to find out how to unbutton the cage that is the man's shirt. And when his slender fingers finally figure it out, they are immediately holding onto the man's chest, playing with his nipple. Jayce gasps in surprise and moans when Viktor does it again.

"Wait, wait.." Jayce raises his hand and holds it against Viktor's stomach. "I… I want to make you feel good."

Viktor raises an eyebrow but lets Jayce move off of him and watches with wide eyes as the man kneels in front of him. (He feels like he's with his cult again).
Jayce's hands shake as they hold onto Viktor's thighs. He helps Viktor get out of his clothes and makes him sit back the same way he was before.

Jayce's hands are still shaking by the time he gets on the same level as Viktor's crotch. His mouth waters at the sight. His trousers suddenly feel much more tight than before. But he's a man who follows his word - so he gets to work.

  Jayce first bites the inside of Viktor's thighs then licks at the mark - and he does this many, many times before making his way to his cock. At first, he awkwardly holds it in his hand then gives the tip a small, experimental lick. Viktor shudders under his touch and keeps his eyes locked onto Jayce's head.  
 With newfound determination, Jayce takes Viktor's length in his mouth. It lies heavy on his tongue and Jayce takes big huffs of air through his nose as he lowers his head. His tongue swirls around the cock, wetting it more as it goes deeper. When Jayce feels comfortable with the position, he starts moving his head, slowly raising himself then going down again and again. Viktor moans obscenities, 'God' and 'Jayce' countless times before he starts to squirm.

"Jayce you are so beautiful, look at you! Ah…" Viktor cuts himself off with a moan after a twirl of Jayce's tongue around his shaft. "You are perfect, so good… so, so good."

The praise goes straight to Jayce's dick and he has to adjust his pants because of the tension he feels within himself. He moans around Viktor's cock in his mouth and continues licking him.

A few minutes (or lifetimes) pass before any sounds besides moans and gasps leave their mouths again.

"Wait, wait…" Viktor pushes Jayce off himself. "I'm too close, don't wanna come yet. I…"

"I want you so, so, so bad Viktor," Jayce slurs, his voice raspy. He breathes fast like his lungs can't be filled with enough air.

"Do you want me… in you?" Viktor cocks his head to the side. He didn't expect this, his expression is mirroring his thoughts.

Jayce nods frantically, "God… so bad. Yes, yes, I do" he begs. He seems out of it.

"Okay, okay… stand up first," when Jayce listens, Viktor does the same and immediately puts his hand behind his back to keep him steady.

"Just like that, love. I'm sure it would be more comfortable in our bed, don't you think? Do you have any oil with you?"

"It's… in the small pocket of the small bag," Jayce looks away, embarrassed. He's about to explode.

"Okay, take off your clothes and lie on the bed for me, okay?" Viktor's free hand holds his chin up. "I will be right with you."

Jayce nods and does as he's told.

"Hey, are you alright? We don't have to do this if you don't want to," Viktor says and sighs when he's back at the bed. He's holding a small vial in his hand. Jayce is spread out on their shared bed and Viktor feels his heart skip a beat - holy fuck .

"Viktor, I swear on my life," Jayce's thoughts have cleared up a bit - he's much more coherent now "If you don't fuck me tonight I think I will die. Genuinely. Seriously. Please," he begs.

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure…," Viktor steps closer, climbs onto the bed, and sits down next to Jayce. He grabs a pillow and signals to the man to raise his hips. He puts the pillow under Jayce and wets his fingers with oil.
"If there's anything you want differently, just tell me. I won't hurt you."  

  After Jayce nods at him, Viktor's hand goes on an adventure. At first, he holds Jayce's butt in his hands and squeezes it. Then, his wet index finger circles the man's hole before he slowly pushes it inside. With every movement he makes, he looks up at Jayce's expressions - expecting maybe a change in his decision but what he sees is just pure art. Jayce has raised his arm in front of his face, biting onto the flesh of his forearm to keep himself quiet.

"Ah, love… don't silence yourself," Viktor says right as he puts a second finger in. As he scissors Jayce open with small, calculated movements of his hand, he watches the man moan under his touch.

Viktor's free hand rests on Jayce's muscled thigh, giving it a squeeze every time he feels like it.

After adding a third finger and moving them in and out of Jayce's hole, Viktor decides he's ready now. He ignores how uncomfortable it is for his tired muscles to move - he has better things to do. He confirms with Jayce once more if he wants this and when he receives the final yes he pours more oil onto his own length that has been neglected. (Jayce was just too beautiful to look at).

  Viktor places himself in front of Jayce and slowly pushes his cock past the man's rim. Even after this much preparation, the sudden change is intense for both of them. Viktor gasps as Jayce moans his name.
 Viktor waits, waits until he feels sane again to move, and pushes his length deeper. He starts to move in and out when he feels Jayce less stiff under him and he ignores the pain spiking up his thigh as he does.
 Their bodies are in perfect sync as they both get comfortable with their position and Jayce raises his hand to lock their fingers. He smiles wide when Viktor grasps his fingers.

V iktor's thrusts start to get frantic and clumsier at the same time Jayce's moans and small whines are beginning to be less controlled - they are both close. Viktor lets go of Jayce's hand and places it on his cock - jerking him at the same speed as his hips and watches with awe as the man arches his chest upwards.

  When their climax hits, Viktor empties himself inside and crashes onto Jayce underneath him. Jayce comes onto his hand and his own stomach. Their breaths are uneven, their chests rise without a fixed rhythm. Viktor sighs as he tries to change his position.

 A bit passes, and they get cleaned and under the covers without a single word uttered between them. Viktor presses a soft kiss on Jayce's lips before he hugs his back, keeping his hands around the man's waist as they drift off to sleep. Jayce feels the happiest he's felt in a very long time.

  You know, maybe Shurima wasn't the greatest destination Jayce thought of in the past. Especially during the summer. He feels like death every single day from the heat of the land but, oh well! He doesn't have much of a choice, does he?

The desert is massive and dangerous so they try to mostly stay out of it - going from one city to another, taking a few days in each to enjoy the culture.

They even face monsters from the void once and Viktor's cane reveals itself to be a quite useful weapon if needed. Jayce makes sure to get him a new one the next time he's able to.

The unending market of Bel'zhun proves itself to be incredible each day they spend in the place.

Viktor has 'bought the time' of a certain explorer of the desert passing through for a conversation. They've heard good words about her and her knowledge is supposedly huge of the desert.

"Ah, is that her…?" Jayce looks around the crowd and his eyes stop at the sight of a young woman wearing an Ionian coat.

"I think so, yes." Viktor nods and they wave at Taliyah from a distance.

When she notices them she raises an eyebrow in question at first then makes her way towards the two awkward men.

"Hello…? You must be the two inventors I've heard about!" Taliyah says with a slight accent and smiles at them.

"Yes, yes that is us!" Jayce nods and holds his hand out for Taliyah to take. "I am Jayce and this is my partner, Viktor. It's great to meet you."

  After a brief handshake, Taliyah takes a second to gather her thoughts. "So… you would like to learn about the desert, huh?" She smiles and points to the side, a small street connecting parts of the city, to get moving.

  Their conversation flows easily and Taliyah has a lot of stories to tell about… well, everything. From mythology to history, to her own experiences and stories - she can talk about anything! She mentions her own travels around the world and all the different people she's met. 
 In return, both Jayce and Viktor talk about their original lives and then their shared travels. They talk about spending spring and summer in Ionia and meeting a local artist, the harsh winter even out of the Freljordian mountains, or the massive Great City of Demacia, filled with all kinds of different people.

They truly feel like they've seen the world. She asks them about their next destination and Jayce just shrugs, looking at Viktor with a small smile spread across his lips.

"I think, we will go where our hearts take us," he says and means every word.

  When Jayce wakes, he feels like his entire body is floating but he's just lying in a field of flowers and grass underneath his body. Next to him is Viktor, equally as confused as him when they lock eyes.

"We are back?" Jayce looks up to see the Sun in the middle of the sky with clouds shyly dancing around its crown.

"Huh… I think so. We didn't die though, did we?" Viktor asks, his tone uncertain. "I don't remember dying."

"Maybe the Rune just wanted us back? Or…" Jayce starts thinking out loud. But it can't be! They have all their belongings, everything they collected during their travels.

"Maybe… it missed us. I don't think anyone has ever been inside it before us, just used it."

"That's quite poetic, isn't it?" Jayce turns his body towards Viktor, still lying in the grass.

"Pretty romantic, I would say," and Viktor smiles and Jayce finally understands everything.

The Sun smiles at them and flowers bloom in their direction.

Butterflies rest in their hair and the sweet breeze rests on their eyelashes.

Jayce is happy and the universe smiles with him at the center of it all - Him.

Viktor holds his face in his hands and Jayce melts and melts and melts until they become one with everything.

He kisses Viktor like a dying man and he never wants to stop.

They are home.