creators note: sigh i lowkey made this half awake so i hope this isnt too bad. still, i hope you all enjoy this !!
word count: 2k
warnings: reader is a Zaunite, Piltovans being a bunch of dicks and not proofread.
part one — part two — part three
Work.
His own work haunted him, always chasing him like a shadow; sticking onto him like a curse. He swore to act according to his reputation— the man of progress. But, despite the distractions: the gala, Mel, and Viktor— he can't ignore the people who won't stop breathing down his neck. It was frustrating, to say the least. Even the most sociable creatures get tired of the constant chattering, and today was no different.
Another gala, it was announced. Another, another and another. It’s the same every damn year.
But Jayce never complained. Will he ever? Probably not. He's now apart of the Council, anyway.
The bright lights nearly blinded Jayce upon entering the edifice. The chattering from others became clearly audible now. Jayce adjusted his tie, greeting one person to another as he made his way to the main hall. His legs moved on its own, easily squeezing in and out of the crowds.
“Yep, ah, yeah, sorry there.” He apologized almost awkwardly, stumbling through the horde of people here and there.
The people of Piltover, of course, looked at him with utter respect, having no idea how exhausted he was. His hands constantly trembled from the lack of sleep and his hair had started to be more disheveled by the day. His popularity was something that he’s used to these days, though he did not fully cherish it. On some days he even despise it. Jayce had always wondered how easy it’ll be to disappoint these people if he didn’t live up to their expectations.
“The Golden Boy of Piltover is here!” People whispered to each other with every step they took, gazes locked onto him as if he was some kind of God. They’d blindly worship the ground he stepped on, if they were asked to.
Jayce brushed off the praises and words, trying his hardest to not start another awkward conversation with these Pilties. That was, until he spotted you, in the corner of the room. You were sipping your wine, swirling it in your glass with a carefree look on your face. For you, the room smelled of polished wood and fine wine, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of the Undercity air. Even the way people moved here—graceful, deliberate—seemed like an art form.
Jayce’s heartbeat quickened, his face heating up like some kind of deer caught in headlights. He didn’t want to be seen like this, well, he didn’t have a reason to, did he?
“—Jayce?” A familiar voice called out to him, so sweetly—so soothingly, that he almost fell onto his knees like an idiot.
His head immediately twisted towards the source of the sound, just to find Mel, who’d been staring at him with an almost… confused look. One of her eyebrows raised as she took in the sight of Jayce.
“Ah, Mel, yes. You— you must be here for some kind of political favour?” Jayce asked abruptly, seemingly lost in his own world. That caught Mel’s attention. Political favour? Where'd he get that from?
“No… no, I’m not. I just wanted to converse, that’s all. Though, you seem to be busy at the moment,” she paused. “Whether it’s busy admiring someone from afar or busy with your own work, it doesn’t matter. So, if I may—I’ll bother you next time.”
He cursed himself in the inside, feeling his thoughts turn into a jumbled mess as Mel gave him a small nod of understanding, walking away to talk with other members of the Council. Jayce could’ve sworn that he saw that smirk on her face, and he mentally facepalmed himself. He made himself look like a fool—in front of the Council that he’s most fond of.
A small, defeated sigh left his lips before his gaze returned to you. You didn’t move a single inch from when he’d spotted you. The gears turned in his head slowly but surely, before he made his choice. It’s his chance to finally talk to you, ever since the day of his speech—and he won't waste it.
And like they said, one may die from curiosity.
He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath before striding towards you. His steps were steady and calculated, a stark contrast to his beating heart. You looked… magnificent, though he won't admit it himself.
“Hey there,” he'd greeted you awkwardly, standing by your side with a small smile on his lips. Very out of character for the Man of Progress.
His sudden appearance nearly caught you off guard, causing you to look at him wide eyed. With that look on your face, he could only wish that he didn't give you the worst first impression of him. His shoulders tensed momentarily, taking in every detail of your expression. Was there confusion? Indifference?
“Oh? Council Jayce, fancy seeing you here.” You quipped, your voice nearly coming out as a purr.
“Yes, yes. Missing the gala would be… a very unprofessional move from one of the Council members themselves, no?” He chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing.
You laughed softly, “hm, fair enough.”
A few seconds of silence passed with only the sound of chattering from others present in his conversation with you. Sweat slid down his palm as he thought of a way to create a smooth flow for the interaction.
“And you are…?” He started.
You paused briefly, amused by the sudden question. The Man of Progress himself is right in front of you with the intention of... getting to know you? Surprising. Your gaze fixed on Jayce's, meeting his hypnotizing hazel eyes that nearly got you in trance. A soft smile tugged from the corner of your lips before you gave him your name.
“Great, it's nice meeting you.” He replied, his mind already chanting your name. “Sorry, where are you from?”
A sigh escaped your lips as you pondered about your answer, “the unpleasant Undercity.”
He noticed the shift in your tone as your gaze moved from him to the crowd of people around you. He'd heard about how differently the Pilties had treated the people of Zaun—it was something that's quite hard to go unnoticed, especially for someone like him. His eyes softened at the mention of Zaun. On the contrary, his muscles tensed beneath his suit.
Zaun wasn't a place that everyone was fond of. It was full of crime, very much unhinged people and so, so much controversy. Though ever since Viktor, his view on the Undercity had shifted a little. Just a little. He's no longer so… defensive around Zaunites, though his full trust wasn't fulfilled—yet. In understanding, he pushed the topics away, wishing to create a comfortable atmosphere for both you and him.
On the other hand, the abrupt silence was unnerving for you. In fear of making him perturbed, you quickly thought of a way to ease the sudden tight atmosphere.
“Sorry, I know it's not the best place to reside from.” You blurt out.
“Wait, no, it's alright, really. I know what it's like.” Jayce quickly assured you, “no judgement from me.”
You gave him a nod of appreciation, hoping that you could change the topic as quickly as possible. You raised your glass to your lips, the wine sliding down your throat with a burning sensation.
“So, how do you like the Gala so far?” He (thankfully) asked, pushing the previous topic away.
“... Loud, fancy, cheerful, you know? I feel like I don't belong here as a Zaunite,” you attempted a poorly made joke.
“Hey, don't say that." He jested, though his voice held a serious edge to it. “This Gala is not exclusive for Piltovans—well, it might seem like it, but no, it isn't. I know some Zaunites are... capable and worthy.”
“You really think so?”
“I've seen them with my own eyes,” he paused before leaning in. “You.”
Your heart nearly jumped out of your chest as you watched him, a soft look present in his eyes before he straightened his posture once again. Jayce could feel his own heartbeat quicken, not knowing why he'd made that risky move that could possibly shatter the upcoming bond between the both of you.
“Well, I'm flattered.” You admitted, “though, I'm curious. What makes you think that?”
“Seeing you in the Piltover Academy is enough.”
“Ah, so you saw me during your speech?”
He flashed you a nervous, toothy grin at your reply. He didn't think that you would make a remark about that. He gulped, shaking his head in disbelief as his face heated up.
“It's... It's hard to not notice, especially with unfamiliar faces, y'know?” He countered, his demeanor quickly changing.
A small laugh escaped your lips as you nodded in understanding, placing your empty wine glass aside. His shoulders slumped in an almost defeated way.
“I believe you, don't worry—”
A sudden voice erupted, “Councilor Jayce, tell us more about your upcoming inventions!”
The enjoyment from the conversation was quick to fade away as Piltovans, specifically interviewers, began to approach Jayce, overwhelming him with all kinds of questions about his inventions and the Hextech gemstones.
“What's your most complex invention of all time?”
“Why hasn't the Hextech company created a Hexstrap?”
Jayce was quickly crowded with questions, losing sight of your figure as the amount of interviewers gradually increased by the second.
“This wasn’t what progress was supposed to feel like,” Jayce thought bitterly, his forced smile faltering as the questions bombarded him.
He watched as people brushed you away as if you were nothing. Frustration bubbled up inside of him as his gaze shifted from one person to another. At this point, they were invading his privacy.
“I—uh, sorry, can't you see that I'm busy?” Jayce grunted, the tone of his voice was filled with hidden anger.
His brows furrowed as he made his way out of the crowd, leaving some Piltovans stunned at his small outburst. He'd never been seen like this—all worked up and hot-headed.
“Sorry, excuse me.” He murmured underneath his breath, trying to not bump into another interviewer.
His mood immediately dropped as he watched you from afar, your back turned against him as you walked to the exit. His eyes widened, almost pleading before he quickened his pace. He didn't care about the eyes that stared daggers into his figure. He kept his gaze on you before managing to catch up to you. Softly, he called out your name, causing your movements to halt.
“Jayce?” You called back, your voice softer than before. “You didn't need to chase—”
“Why're you leaving?” He unintentionally cut you off, his voice breathless.
You fully faced him, watching as his chest heaved up and down. Your eyes met his gaze, the confusion and desperation evident in his hazel eyes.
“Figured that I should rest, I have work to do soon, anyway.” You replied casually.
Jayce paused, disappointment seeping in. “I see. Right, right. Get some rest, okay?”
“Of course, you too.”
“If you don't mind, we can... meet up in the Hextech lab tomorrow? I'll—probably be there for the whole day, with my partner, Viktor. He's... he's a Zaunite, too. We can talk more tomorrow, come anytime, will you?”
The mention of another Zaunite working together with him piqued your interest. You took in his words, nodding along before making up your mind.
“Sounds nice, I'll see you there tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow.”
And with that, you withdrew yourself from the conversation. You shot him an appreciative smile, knowing that not all Piltovans were kind enough to even acknowledge the presence of a Zaunite.
His eyes softened, mouth agape as you turned your back on him once again. He didn't know why he felt so... drawn to you. There was something about the way you carried yourself—aloof, yet grounded. You didn't clamor for his attention or approval. You simply existed.
As you disappeared from his sight, he'd noticed the soft look on your face, hiding away the disappointment and hurt from how the Piltovans had pushed you away. His heart was about to burst, the frustration still present inside of him, because deep inside, he understood why the Piltovans had treated you like that—but he wished he hadn't. He shook his head in disbelief, and with a final murmur of your name, he dragged his body back into the Gala.
Can you write about the reader being close friends with Smoke for a long time and both secretly have feelings for each other but could admit it to each other out of fear until one day the reader came back from a mission injured and Smoke freaks out, confesses his love for the reader?
Don’t Go, Please
Prior notes: Oh Tomas, how you make my heart ache. You know what else makes my heart ache, this damn speech!
Pairing: Tomas x Gn reader
Warnings ‼️: This is possibly angst with a happy ending
Born as a hunter, raised to be a Lin Kuei assassin, built the Shirai Ryu with Kuai Liang, yet can’t confess his feelings.
You’re no better.
It’s so painful obvious to everyone that you and Tomas like each other. You two spend so much time together whether that be training, eating, or just hanging out.
To Tomas, he saw you as a great fighter and a good person overall. He never felt scared to talk to you about anything even if it involved his past. He even cried in front of you once when he talked to you about Bi-Han betrayal. He was scared at first since he thought you would find him weak for crying. But he was pleasantly surprised when you held him tight to you and soothed him. Thank goodness you two were alone in your room. Ever since then that’s when he knew he truly was in love with you. He just never said it out loud.
And for you, you knew you liked him the moment he spoke. At first he seemed so scary to you with his big muscles, that mask, and those piercing eyes. But when you heard his voice your heart melted and you realized there’s nothing to be afraid of. On the outside he may look intimidating but you realize how sweet and considerate he is. Your conversations would last for hours. You would be so lost in them you wouldn’t realize that you stopped training.
He’s a good man, a good man!
But confessing your love seems like a hard task. The risk is too high. You’re afraid of getting hurt. You can heal from physical wounds but emotional wounds can take a long time. You can’t afford to have a weakened emotional state and neither can Tomas. So you both force yourself to be happy with what you guys have. A close bond, a friendship.
Now get yourself ready, you have a new mission to get accomplish. Put your best gear on and be prepared. Slow down for a sec, Tomas would like to say something to you.
“You better be careful out there.” He warned.
“You’ve been saying that for so long yet I always come back.” You replied with a big smile.
“I mean without a kunai stuck in your leg or a big rash on your arm from poison ivy.”
“That was one time!”
“Yes, but it happened a month ago.” We all make mistakes.
“Ah whatever. Look, I have to get going. I promise I will return in one piece.”
Before you walked away you felt Tomas grab your hand. You looked back at him with a look of surprise. Even he seemed surprised he did that. There was just one more thing to say to you.
“Promise me that you will come back to me.” Tomas said softly.
“I will, Tomas.”
══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══
Even the best make mistakes.
You and some of the other Shirai Ryu members were ambushed by Lin Kuei assassins. It was double the size of your group. Yet you fought victoriously.
You did your best to protect yourself and the others. At some point, however, you stopped protecting yourself. You protected everyone and made the remaining Lin Kuei assassins flee. But at what cost.
You were down for the count too early in this mission. Pushing forward would only result in further injuries. Your group helped you up and brought you back to the Shirai Ryu temple.
Tomas was the first to see your group return and his heart dropped. Seeing your limp body being carried back was already a bad sign to him. Paying little mind to what he was doing before he ran up to take you into his arms. What a horrific sight it was.
There were so many slashes on your arms and legs. It ripped your sleeves and pants to shreds and soaked them in your blood. He could already see bruises forming on your body which gave him the idea of how hard you were beat. There was already one coming in on your cheek. A cheek he always dreamed of kissing being stained with a nasty red surrounded by purple. It angered him to see someone else he loved get hurt but what could he do now. All he can do is bring you to the infirmary and hope they can patch you up.
Everyone was hustling to get you fixed up and see what they could do for you. Tomas placed you on a bed and let the others take care of you. Yet he couldn’t leave no rip his eyes away from your body. He couldn’t even tell if you were breathing there was little motion in your chest. Kuai Liang had to drag him away as he couldn’t stand to see his brother sad.
The next few hours were rough.
══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══
When Tomas was finally let back in he was somewhat relieved. You looked much better than when he last saw you. There were bandages wrapped around your arms and legs. Seems like no bones were broken which is great. He still can’t get over how they hurt you. He can get over the bruise on your face but when it came to the reason it was even there he can’t.
He pulled up a chair and placed it next to the bed so he could be close. His hand went up to remove any loose hair that was around your face. He knows that can be annoying to you.
Tomas sighed before taking your hand and just holding it. His thumb rubbed over your palm like he was trying to comfort you.
“I understand why you did what you did. You were protecting others as you always did. It’s who you are. Do you even realize how much you’ve scared me? If I lost you too, I don’t know what I’d do.”
He lifts your hand to press it against the side of his face. The thought of you actually holding his face and looking at him with love always brought warmth to his heart. He felt as is started to race as his emotions screamed to be let out. And then a tear dripped onto your hand.
“Do you even realize how much I love you? How I want to hold you and never let you get hurt again. It’s too painful to think about and even worse to witness.”
Tomas started to cry a little harder. The thought was too painful and brought back memories of the past. He can’t lose you. Never.
“I never met someone who I loved this much. I don’t want to find someone else to love, I just want you. I love you. I’ve loved you for so long and I don’t know if I’ll ever be strong enough to tell you. I don’t want us to get hurt over this.” He said before he felt something.
Your thumb rubbed his face gently. Your thumb moved slightly so it could wipe away his tears. Yup, you were awake. And you’ve been awake since he first entered. You were still a bit woozy from the incident you didn’t want to open your eyes. When Tomas touched your hand you immediately knew it was him.
When he started to confess you wondered if this was all a drug-induced dream. That maybe the medics gave you something to help with the pain and it made you imagine things. That’s not how it works over here and his touch felt too real. Your heart flutter when you heard him say the words ‘I love you’. It’s like you always imagined. You felt it was right to now do something since he started to cry hard. Your beautiful eyes were open and looking at him.
“It’s okay, Tomas. I’m fine. I told you I would come back. I always do.” You responded weakly.
“You’re awake! Ah, but how long were you awake and how much did you hear?” He questioned.
“All of it. I thought it was best to stop you now to show that it’s okay. No need to cause anymore pain. And yes, I heard all of it.”
Tomas didn’t know how to feel. It felt good to get that off his chest but he was scared of your reaction. You seemed calm but that could be because you’re exhausted.
“The thing is…I love you too. I have for a long time now.” Your eyes shifted away awkwardly as if you were the one who confessed first.
This was fantastic news for Tomas. His pale skin showed a hint of pink in his cheeks. The person he loves the most loves him too. He was still a little embarrassed that he was caught confessing to you but it all worked out in the end. He went in to hug you lightly, not wanting to hurt your already injured body.
“You have no idea how happy you just made me.”
“I think I actually do. There was always a little sparkle in your eyes when you got happy.”
That only made his cheeks turn from a light pink to a pinkish red. Your hands went up to hold his face, not caring about if it hurt or not to move. You just wanted to look at him and of course kiss him. You brought him close and gave him a gentle kiss. If only you could have seen his eyes it was like fireworks went off in there. He felt like the luckiest man in the world. You pulled back to look at him again before saying something.
“You wouldn’t mind staying here with me, right?”
“Why would I ever mind being with you.” He said lovingly.
He did just that. Tomas stayed with you for hours where you two talked. It almost made you forget you were injured. He brought so much comfort to you. Things died down at some point and the exhaustion of the day’s events hit you both.
Eventually, Kuai Liang came around to try to find Tomas. He knew he was probably in the infirmary with you. When he looked inside he saw Tomas resting his head on the bed with your hand rested on top of it. It looked like you were petting him before you two knocked out. It was an adorable sight and Kuai Liang felt like there was no reason to disturb you two. He silently closed the door and walked off.
You know what they say, love always finds a way. It found its way towards you two, didn’t it.
After notes: So it’s Mavado and Phen-228 who are bringing in the karma for me. Weird combo but they both serve cunt (don’t ask me about Phen or else I’ll laugh). So yeah I wanted to push this out because I’m a people pleaser which means I’m still not done with a lot of my work. But now that I have this out I can focus a little better…hopefully. To the person who requested I hope you are satisfied and if not you can make me watch the boiled one phenomenon at night.
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