I’m starting a series called Orphaned WIPS for all my jayvik WIPs I either have paused or abandoned for a myriad of reasons.
I will do my best to tag all TWs but this is not AO3 and should be read at your own risk.
Party Favors, 2.8k, Unfinished
Rating: Teen
TW: alcohol, kissing
Jayce finally spends time with Viktor at a fundraising party.
Notes: I shelved this one because I wrote it fairly early into my Arcane obsession, but unfortunately a lot of my current HC’s for characters don’t line up with the way this was originally written. Especially Viktor, there are some things I like but it’s really 50/50 with the way I head canon him now, so I don’t know if I’d ever continue this story in particular, but I still like the premise.
The night had been going as well as it could. Jayce had talked to seven investors so far, and as a reward he started up a conversation with someone who didn’t just see him as a walking piece of their financial portfolio.
Mrs. Kiramman was telling him more about her latest holiday, when he felt as though someone was staring at him. As if someone had introduced a magnet to the equation, Jayce’s vision was pulled from Mrs. Kiramman to the door. Viktor was here.
He stood awkwardly in the doorway, looking for someone. Probably someone he knew to stick to for the length of the party. He was wearing a gray suit Jayce was unfamiliar with and had done something to smooth down his hair, or at least a good amount of it. He looked great.
Counselor Kiramman followed his gaze. “Is that your infamous partner? I thought he didn’t do parties.” She asked.
“I’ll have to ask Mel what blackmail she had on him to make it happen.” He winked for good measure, at least so she thought it was a joke. He wouldn’t be surprised though if it ended up true. “If you’ll excuse me.”
The Counselor only nodded her head as he caught eyes with Viktor. Relief crossed his features before turning into a lopsided smile.
Before he could argue, Jayce walked up and caught him in a two armed hug. “Viktor! Good to see you! Never thought you would come!”
He pulled back to see Viktor a bit chagrined. “Yes…well, I can’t let you shoulder the burden all by yourself.” He looked around the room wary, as if he was already second guessing himself.
There were quite a few people looking back at them.
“Let’s get you some champagne, take the edge off yeah?” He slung an arm around his partner's shoulders as he led them away. Maybe he could pair Viktor off with Caitlyn, they had a good enough rapport. He still needed to finish his rounds with the rest of the investors before he could really spend time with the man.
“Oh there’s Caitlyn! Let’s say hi!” and off he steered the two of them.
---
“What is wrong with your partner?” Mel sidled up beside Jayce. Her fingers were a little too tight around the stem of her champagne glass.
“There’s nothing wrong with him.” Jayce countered. He looked over to the other man. Surrounded by patron Wilhelm and his secretaries. His face was a scowl and he was gesturing wildly. Viktor in his natural party habitat. “He hates parties.”
“He’s making a bit of a scene.” She looked sidelong at him. “I want you to do something about it.”
“Me?” Jayce let out a huff of a laugh at the idea, “I can’t control him. That’s why I told you not to insist he attend.”
He tipped a good portion of his champagne back. Viktor was really tearing into the man now, he wasn’t a huge investor but still who knows who would be in the war path next.
“Alright. I’ll never do it again, but please do something now.” She used her free hand to grip the back of his arm.
“Like what?” He looked down at her. He had worked with Viktor for years, relaxing was not a part of his vocabulary.
“Alcohol, hextech talk, you could even play seven minutes in heaven with him for all I care. Just take him down the hall and get him to calm down.” She gave him one last threatening squeeze and pushed him towards the other man.
He shot her one last look, but she was already turning away to shmooze someone else. He downed the last of his champagne hoping his flush would be attributed to the alcohol and not that last thing Mel had said. Sure he heard the rumors about the two of them. But they were just that, rumors, spread by school kids, not something Counselors should be hearing. As always he pushed the thought aside. Viktor was…
The thought dried up as he approached his partner and the now very uncomfortable Wilhelm. “Excuse me, I’m afraid I need to borrow Viktor for a moment.”
Viktor paused mid explanation, the endlessly mind numbing differences between water cooling and fan cooling for the hextech thermal vents, and simply nodded before stepping forward to join Jayce.
Wilhelm seemed relieved to say the least.
Jayce threw an arm around Viktors shoulder and took to steering him towards the hall Mel
pointed out. “You seem to be having a lively conversation…”
Viktor’s sneer picked up in full force, “His assistant suggested gel, gel as a coolant Jayce. I had to tell him how catastrophic that idea would be.” He paused before continuing, “Where are we heading anyway?”
The hallway they ducked into was infinitely quieter. Viktor’s cane tapped quietly against the marbled floors. “Mel…uh asked me to…” the word he didn’t want to say was ‘contain’, “help you relax a bit.”
“Oh did she?” The annoyance was clear in his voice, “well maybe I would be in a better mood if she had one chair set out in that big fancy room of hers…”
Viktor never liked to let on how much pain he was actually in, he was kind of like a cat in that way. But he did have a point, it was pretty inconsiderate to have no chairs in the main room. “Let’s find a place to sit.”
Jayce broke off and started testing door handles, the first two weren’t much of anything but the third. It was a quiet changing room with a daybed, privacy screen, and vanity complete with bench.
“Viktor, in here.” He waved over the other man. The room was dark but the light of the moon cut through the shadows well enough.
Viktor made a beeline for the bench and practically groaned with pleasure as he sat down. “Close that door, will you? I can feel the politics still creeping in.”
Jayce closed the door, and the far sounds of the party disappeared completely. They were alone.
Viktor didn’t seem to mind as he loosened his tie and began to rub at the back of his neck. “How can you stand to do this all the time?”
“Do what, make small talk? Be polite?”
Viktor shot him a look. He was absolutely miserable. He walked over to put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If it’s any consolation I think I talked Mel into never making these parties an obligation for you going forward.”
“Mmm” Viktor gave a hum of approval as he leaned into Jayce’s touch. Jayce continued to rub a small circle with his thumb as Viktor slowly started to close his eyes.
Jayce could feel the tight cords of muscle and knobby collar bone. Viktor had always been thin, between the hugs and helping hands he was familiar with the odd and ends of Viktor’s body. More than once Jayce wondered if he could do more for him. But the problem was Viktor wasn’t very forthcoming, and he couldn’t do any work if he didn’t know what he was working with. He wondered if he could convince Viktor to let him help.
“Jayce?” Jayce snapped out of his revery. Viktor was looking at him through half lidded eyes.“Please move your hand.”
“Oh!”
Like a hot iron, he let go of Viktor’s shoulder. “Sorry.”
“No I-“ Viktor’s mouth twisted “I miss-said it.” He paused for a moment.
He once told Jayce sometimes his mind could bounce between his two languages in rapid fire but it could get stuck on certain words sometimes. Since then Jayce always tried to always give Viktor the time he needed, and would set the example in board meetings not letting people talk over Viktor. The amount of people who thought a pause was an opportunity to talk over him was appalling.
“I would like it if your hand had kept moving. As in, it felt nice, but sticking in one spot, was not nice.”he explained.
“O-oh? Well if your neck is still stiff, I could actually give you a massage.”
Viktor raised an eyebrow. “A massage?” A smirk gently appeared on his lips. His expression playful. “I bet you say this to all the girls…”
Jayce rolled his eyes, “ ‘All the girls’ I don’t know where these rumors come from, when all my time is spent with you.”
Viktor gave a half shrug and began to turn around on the bench, “Rumors spread from fear, jealousy... things they don’t understand.” Now fully turned around, Viktor looked back at him from the dusty mirror in front of him. “Men are afraid to lose their girlfriends to you so they say that you are…a hussy.”
Jayce felt laughter burst from his lips. He gently started to remove Viktor’s jacket acknowledging that Viktor wanted the massage without asking for one. “A hussy huh?”
“Em…that’s not right either. Champagne makes my head too fuzzy...” His expression shifted, thinking. “ A Playboy? Easy? Man whore?” Viktor said, pulling at his tie.
“I think I get it, V.” He took the tie from Viktor and put it aside. He gently reached under Viktor’s collar and placed his thumbs on the back of his neck. He pushed upwards into Viktor’s hairline, it was a little tacky from the sweat and whatever product Viktor had used. It smelled wonderful though. Like smokey wood and tobacco. He could bathe himself in the scent. He dug his thumbs a little harder earning a small grunt from Viktor.
“The point is, I know you’re not this way. Rumors are started by smaller people…people not worth your time.” Viktor said, his eyes fluttering closed, as Jayce continued.
“That’s…some good advice.”
“A lesson I learn everyday.” Viktor said softly. Jayce paused. He tried not to engage in gossip; it made him...heated. One particular piece nearly made him deck another man after he insinuated that Viktor was some sort of lackey or henchman to Jayce. Caitlyn was the only thing that stopped the textile vice president from having a broken jaw.
“Little hard Jayce.” he relaxed his hands. Not realizing he had intensified his grip.
“Sorry...” Jayce doubled his efforts to concentrate on the matters at hand. He spread his hands a little further working out from his spine. The cords were so tight and tense. Dipping the collar down he saw that there was another mole hidden on his upper back. He ran his thumb over it. How many moles did Viktor have?
Working with the man had shown him arms and neck, and once a foot. But surely he must have more peppering his chest, his back. In his mind's eye he could see Victor’s lithe chest with spots, decorating him like constellations. Viktor was skinny, he could probably see his ribs and collar bone everytime he breathed. Moving like a piston underneath his skin. Flush from...
Nope.
He shied away once again from the thought.
He’s your partner. Stop this. Jayve tried to calm himself down. He was lucky he didn’t blush as easily as some people, but his pants were telling a different story.
Jayce let out a sigh, that seemed to be coming more frequently nowadays.
“Something on your mind?” Viktor was looking at him with concern.
“That uh...same old thing...” The problem with working closely with someone you frequently daydreamed about was that they tended to pick up that something was on your mind.
“Jayce this problem of yours-” Without warning Viktor turned to face him. Unfortunately with their height difference he was face to face with the problem of course. His eyes flicked from Jayce’s pants to his face. No judgment, only curiosity. He opened his mouth only to let it hang. Jayce backed up instinctively, trying to put some space between them.
“Jayce...if you were thinking of Counselor Medarda I won't be offended.” He smiled kindly, “I’m a man these things-”
“No.” The word escaped before he could stop himself.
In the moonlight, the shift in expression was stark, good humor changing into curiosity, interest, intensity. A look he had seen on Viktor’s face a thousand times when he was in the lab. He had a distinct feeling this must be how their hextech feels.
“What do you mean...’No’?” The room was quiet enough that his voice carried quite easily despite being softly spoken. His golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
“I-” Jayce looked away, this was not how he wanted this to go, “I was thinking about you.”
The silence was thick, motes of dust floated through moonlight, the daybed had a scattering of pillows and a blanket draped artfully across the back. He chanced a glance at the other man.
His eyes were downcast, his lips were moving with no sound. He was thinking.
“Listen V, you don’t have to-”
Viktor held up a hand, still not looking at him.
Patience. Jayce repeated to himself, have patience.
With a snap Viktor announced he was finished. He sat hands on his knees, with a slight hunch, eyes trained on Jayce.
“You desire me.” Blunt to a T. Viktor was direct to the point as always, “This is why you cannot talk about your problem, and why you’ve been so mopey lately.”
He smiled. The same smile he wears when he solves something tough that they’ve been working on forever, the smile that makes Jayce want to squeeze his friend until he hugs back, the smile that stops him just short of planting a kiss on the side of his head.
But even the expression couldn’t stop the sinking feeling in his stomach. The deception was over, Viktor knew. “You got it V. You figured it out.” He opened up his hands in front of him, he could only surrender.
“Good.” Viktor said decisively, reaching around to grab his cane. “That makes things easier.”
Jayce was in no mood for games, his heart was battered at this point. “What are you talking about?”
Viktor was walking over. “You’re an attractive man Jayce. I would be a fool not to see it.” He stepped into Jayce’s personal space. A reversal from their normal routine. “Does this surprise you?”
Jayce could feel his face heating, his brain tripping over his own thoughts. “You...but-” He had never seen Viktor take an interest in anyone. Viktor put one hand on his chest tracing the lines of his lapels. He caught the hand and removed it. “Viktor you- feel the same?”
“Of course.” He said simply. He seemed extraordinarily calm, his gaze drifted to where Jayce was holding his hand. “What did you say the Counselor wanted us to do? Relax?”
Jayce didn’t know what to do. Here was the man who occupied his thoughts working and at home. Looking at him like he was all he ever wanted. In a dark room, alone. What was he doing?
“Can I...?” he was searching Viktor’s face for any sign of hesitancy, but the other man understood him just like always. Lifting his chin upwards and tilting his head just so to give him access.
With no more hesitancy Jayce leaned in, pressing their lips together. They were warm and dry, and fit his lips perfectly. He moved in closer, feeling his chest press against the other man. He let go of the hand he was holding, opting to cup the back of Viktor’s head. Finally able to twine his fingers through those brunette strands.
Viktor opened his mouth letting out the most heart stopping sigh. He could feel Viktor’s body relax against him. He pressed his nose into Viktor’s cheek, breathing deep. Wanting to fill himself with this scent. Etch this moment into his memory.
“I’ve thought about this for a while.” Jayce murmured into Viktor’s jaw. Nipping and kissing his way back to Viktor’s mouth. He took a chance at opening his mouth and elated to feel Viktor respond in kind.
He tasted like sour champagne. Warm and soft. His tongue was as clever at kissing as it was with languages. Pushing into his, invading his mouth. Viktor’s hands exploring his backside liberally.
“I want more of you.” Viktor breathed. “Now.”
Jayce could only nod. He gently and unwillingly untangled himself from Victor as he walked over to the daybed and began hurriedly tossing aside the pillows and blanket. He tossed his jacket to the side as he felt Viktor walk up behind him.
In a hundred daydreams he imagined Viktor sidling up beside him. Arm wrapping around his waist, planting a kiss on his cheek. But he never imagined this.
Viktor ran his hand from shoulder to shoulder, then across his pecks around the front. Predatory. Hungry.
“You’re beautiful, солнце.” Jayce had been complimented before but hearing it from Viktor sent a thrill straight to his groin.
“Sol-nitz?” Jayce tried to repeat the foreign word.
“Solntse,” he said slower as Jayce watched his mouth curve around the syllables, “It means Little Sun.”
Jayce’s heart clenched, Viktor had never called him anything like that before. He had to kiss this man now.
He recaptured Viktors lips, holding him felt wonderful. “How do you-” he swallowed thickly, as if he wasn’t getting enough air, “How do you want me?”
Viktor seemed to think this over. “Well...first, the door. We’ll need to lock it.”