Chapter Text
Jayce stared at the door of the cubicle in his lab, hoping the feeling would go away. It was piercing. Everytime he moved he felt the wave of nausea hit him. He hoped if he just sat on the floor beside the toilet it would all go away. It had to. There was no time to fall ill when he had to focus on his work and help Viktor in their success for Hextech.
Viktor…
His mind wandered back to their night together months ago. Viktors arms wrapped around his body, the way he felt inside him, the kisses and the loving movements. Viktor was so careful with him, even if he was bigger than him. He liked it. Enjoyed it, actually. Their relationship itself wasn’t defined properly but it was known they had feelings for one another. Feelings that weren't allowed to get in the way of their research. Even if their partnership was steady and longforth, Jayce was beginning to fall worried.
“Jayce?”
Jayce sucked in a breath. He had been in the bathroom too long. “Yeah?”
“Are you okay?” He could see Viktors boots under the gap of the cubicle. “Do you need me to call someone? If you’re unwell I think you should go home.”
“And leave you here in stress? Never.”
A sigh on the other side. “I’m serious Jayce. I don’t want you to get worse because you have to continue the research. If it’s only a few days sick, that’s normal.”
“It should be fine. I just have a stomach ache. I think it was the crab pot I had with Mel.”
He could hear Viktor laugh, his cane squeaking gently on the floor. Jayce loved Viktors laugh. It was everything to him. Something he adored.
“Okay. I will get some water for you and wait in the lab. Call out if you need help.”
“Thanks.”
Footsteps retreated and Jayce felt he could breathe again. Worry clawed at his chest. What was wrong with him? Why was he so worried? It was just Viktor. The Viktor who saved him; the Viktor who loved him; yet a feeling was telling him that something was up. A small thing that could either destroy or better their relationship. He prayed it was the latter.
Another wave of nausea hit him, holding tightly to his stomach as his head spun circles. He needed to go see a doctor. He didn’t want Viktor to know about his visit. Nothing was to get in the way of their research for Hextech.
❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜
The doctor's visit was a lot smoother than he anticipated. He was afraid he’d have to do a bunch of super exciting stuff. He only had two exciting things and it didn’t even take that long. He bounced his leg worryingly outside of the doctors office, waiting in hopes that Viktor bought the ‘Mum needs me home right now’ act. So stupid. He felt like kicking himself.
But this was his first time seeing this professional doctor. He had never been to a specialist doctor before but for some reason Caitlyn always insisted that he use her. So since dire and desperate times called for desperate measures, he needed to ensure he was well kept for himself.
And Viktor.
“Jayce Talis?”
Jayce looked up, seeing a kind hearted woman. Her smile was soothing and settling, his mind and heart rate slowing.
“That’s me.”
Her laugh was like butter. “I would be surprised if I didn’t know who you were. Step in.” She gestured to her space.
Jayce sat opposite of her in her large room. There were two doors either side of the room, a big window expanding behind her desk with the perfect view of Piltover. He admired every second of it. She opened a filing cabinet, rummaging for what he assumed was his file.
“So, Councillor Talis, I’m Dr Finewood,” she gestured to her nameplate on her table, “but for you, it’s Macey.”
Jayce smiled. “Then call me Jayce.”
Macey plopped a few files on her desk. “I have heard a great deal of you through Caitlyn. She speaks very fondly of you.”
Red hinted on his cheeks from the praise. “She’s always been like that. Nothing special.”
Macey flipped the pages carefully, her eyes skimming quickly through. “Well your medical record is squeaky clean. You don’t go to the doctors as often as most people. So what can I do for you today?”
Jayce felt embarrassed all of a sudden. He held his stomach, choosing his words carefully. “I haven’t been feeling well. It started a few days ago and hasn’t given up. I have these waves of nausea, splitting headaches and sometimes pains in my stomach. I keep telling myself it could be food poisoning but I’m not so sure since it’s been a while.”
Macey jotted everything he said quickly, not even looking at her pen as she wrote. She really was an expert. “Have you had similar symptoms before?”
Jayce thought for a moment. “There was a moment about a month ago but it wasn’t as bad as this. I kicked it for the weather. It only lasted a few days.”
Macey nodded slowly. She was thinking. Really thinking. “Any heartburn?”
Jayce picked his finger. “A bit. Not much. I think it’s due to my work in the forge.”
“Needing to urinate more?”
“Uhm, possibly? I already drink a lot of water due to work.”
Macey gripped her pen tightly, looking into his eyes. “Any… tenderness anywhere?”
Jayce raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think so. I work out a lot regardless.”
Macey nodded. “It could possibly just be from working in the forge then. If it makes you feel any better or more secure about my answer, would you like to take an X-Ray and an Ultrasound?”
Jayce gulped. “Sure.”
It took about thirty minutes for the whole process. Standing there for about fifteen minutes as he had a whole body scan, then laying on the bed with his shirt up as Macey applied cold gel. He was asked if he wanted to see the screen but she refused, not wanting to feel any more anxiety from the process. So she merely applied a tool to his stomach and lower abdomen, focusing intently on the screen for another fifteen minutes.
When the process was over, Jayce nervously waited in the office, awaiting the answers that Macey might bring. As he waited, he watched over Piltover. The country that progressed in ways that filled his heart. He wanted to make a better world. A world where people don’t have to worry about the cruel and harsh realities.
The door suddenly opened, Macey dragging in a board full of his X-Rays. It was a bit overwhelming seeing his skeletal figure plastered everywhere. He laughed when he examined the inside of his body. His spine was straight, his skull was… well a skull but it just felt funky to him.
“Well, Jayce, there seems to be nothing wrong. I also assume it might be a bit of iron deficiency, being stressed in the forge, just work related stuff. I don’t think you need to worry right now.”
Jayce sighed. It felt relieving. “Thank the gods. I thought it was going to be something serious.”
Macey laughed. “That’s quite alright. I will have another examination of these tonight just to double check anything but I’m sure it’s nothing. I will prescribe some medication for you to help relieve the nausea and pain.”
Jayce shook her hand firmly. “Thank you so much Macey.”
Macey nodded. “Anytime. I’ll make sure to contact you if I find something.”
Jayce took the paper, walking down to the pharmacist that was around the corner. He was worried over nothing. He had never felt more okay in his life. A tap on his shoulder brought him back, Mel standing beside him. She was as elegant and gorgeous as ever. Every time he saw her, something inside him felt butterflies but he dared not to show such emotion.
“What is Jayce Talis doing at the pharmacist?”
He waved the paper. “For my mother. She isn’t feeling so well.”
“As are you.”
Jayce raised his eyebrows. “How do you know?”
Mel shrugged. “I might have had a small conversation with Viktor when I went looking for you. He knows you lied, by the way.”
Jayce groaned, rubbing his eyebrows. “I didn’t want him to worry.”
Mel placed a reassuring hand smoothly across his shoulders. “I’m sure everything will be okay. I know how much your work means to you, especially Viktor. So a minor physical setback isn’t going to harm anyone. You have to tell him your worries, no matter what.”
Jayce nodded. She was always right. No matter what situation, she was right. It was a bit annoying but that was the beauty of her; she gave great advice. He collected his medication from the desk, walking out with Mel.
“Why did you come looking for me?”
Mel shook her head. “I just… wanted to see you.”
He couldn’t help but think of the conversation he had with Viktor before their night together…
“I don’t mind if you see Mel.” Viktor suddenly confirmed.
Jayce knitted his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Viktor loosened the tie around his neck as he opened the curtains to Jayce’s room. “I mean just that. If you wish to see Mel, you may. I won’t get angry. We all have our needs.”
Jayce suddenly stood, walking over to Viktor with a worried expression. “I slept with her once. I may have some sort of connection toward her but… I feel more with you.”
Viktor gently smiled, planting a soft kiss on Jayce’s hand. “I’m just telling you.”
Mel’s room was always big and wonderful. But it was better when she was in it. The way her hand smoothed over his sides and her kiss was so fresh. Jayce was entrapped. He held her waist tightly, lifting her up into his embrace as she sat nicely on his hips. He fell with her on the bed, her tongue rounding his.
“Greedy tonight?” Mel licked her lips.
Jayce laughed. “Maybe.”
She took out her hair, pulling her sleeves off and unclasping the back of her dress so only the zipper was needed to reveal herself. Heat boiled in Jayces stomach, feeling the heat bounce off himself and her. She unbuttoned his shirt, suppressing a laugh.
“What?”
Mel smoothed her hand down his stomach. “After one night of crab pot and you gained a small amount of weight.”
Jayce looked down, feeling embarrassed. “I’m bulking. Okay? Is there a problem?”
Mel shook her head. “Not at all. It’s cute.”
As she leaned up to nibble his ear, a voice in the back of his head screamed at him to stop. Screamed at him to run. Telling him that he shouldn’t fall into her love. His love was elsewhere. Even if Viktor said it was okay, it still felt wrong. Nausea hit him again, but it was fainter due to his medication. He slowly pulled her off, trying to catch his breath.
“Is everything alright?”
Jayce shook his head. “I think we should leave it for today. I’m sorry. I’m not as well as I thought.”
Mel had disappointment in her eyes but there was a hint of understanding. Not for his sickness but for something else. It was as if she had already accepted that Jayce will never be hers. She merely kissed his cheek, caressing his hair.
“That’s quite alright. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow at the debriefing.”
Later that night as Macey did her last scans over her patients X-Rays, she landed on Jayce once more. She might’ve said that there was nothing wrong which she still stood by, but something tickled in the back of her mind. When she first looked at it, there was certainly something there. As she scanned through the recording of the ultrasound once more, she couldn’t help but stare at one frame of the video that struck her curiosity and had only been seen once before in her lifetime.
She hoped it wasn’t the case.