What actually happened to Jayce and Viktor in the end? And why didn’t Ekko’s Z-drive destroy everything within its blast radius?
TL;DR: the only timeline that could have worked was the one where Viktor gives Jayce the Acceleration rune, where Ekko invents the Z-drive, and where Jayce saves Viktor and gets his partner back.
Something we’ve seen pointed out is that the world rune that worked in this timeline was the Acceleration rune, which has the function of transportation through time and space.
Ekko’s Z-drive was built by inverting Jayce’s Acceleration rune (this is important later).
We know from his experiments that the limit for reversing time is only 4 seconds. Any further back and it causes catastrophic harm to his surroundings. It’s implied that the further he overextends his Z-drive, the more disastrous the damage and radius of effect.
In the final battle against Viktor, we see Ekko overextend his Z-drive far beyond 4 seconds. Then, he yeets it at Viktor, whose mask is shattered from the impact.
We know that turning back time beyond 4 seconds causes catastrophic destruction of the surrounding areas: Jayce and Viktor, and perhaps countless others should have been caught up in the blast. But instead, we see something different:
Time stands still for a moment, courtesy of the boy who shattered time.
Now things happen all in a manner of seconds: In the astral plane, we see Viktor comment on the anomaly that Ekko has created.
It’s something that Viktor as smart as he is, couldn’t have conceived— leave it to Ekko (and lest I forget, Heimerdinger and alt-Jinx) to show them all up.
This is debatable, but I firmly believe that Viktor with his awareness of all time and space, could have escaped or even survived the explosion.
It’s only Jayce, the only person who could show him what he showed him, that gets through to him in the end and convinces him to give up his Glorious Evolution.
"In all timelines, only you can show me this". Ekko is the catalyst but Jayce was the key.
Jayce returns the Acceleration rune to Viktor which kicks off a chain of events. The souls under Viktor’s control are freed from his grasp. Back in the real world, and back to the explosion, we see the following happening almost simultaneously:
The blast from the Z-drive extends from Viktor’s reach to Jayce’s
The Acceleration rune embedded in Jayce’s wrist starts to glow from being activated by Jayce and Viktor in the astral plane
Jayce and Viktor are absorbed into the gem and the gemstone blips out of existence
Recall that the Z-drive was created through an inversion of the Acceleration rune. To multiply something by its inverse, is to divide it by itself. The Acceleration rune multiplied by the Inversed Acceleration rune, cancels out the effect of the other: nullifying both the anomaly from the Z-drive but also the rune.
This explains why there was no larger explosion. Viktor and Jayce (who chose to stay) sacrificed themselves and took themselves out of the equation. Jayce and Viktor were the anomalies— just like the Z-drive should not have existed, neither should have Hextech.
Through all the timelines and permutations of runes that Viktor tried, the only combination that could have worked was in the timeline with the Acceleration rune. It couldn’t have worked if it was any other rune, if Ekko had never invented the Z-drive, or if Jayce had never convinced Viktor to give up his path of destruction, and got his partner back.
Okay but your profile of Viktor as the Coraline dad is KILLING me. Every time I see it oh my god. It's so real. It's too real. Too relatable.
omg @starlightopal i’m so sorry this was lost in my inbox. thank you!! i like to think he’s a mod of a community and having inane arguments with strangers on the internet
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Tag list below the cut! Thank you all so much for the encouragement I've received on this fic; it truly means the world to me.
I'm going to chance asking one small favor. If I tagged you, could you please leave a comment on ao3/a fun bookmark/share with a friend/something else? Doing this tag list was a lot, and I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts on the fic if I tagged you (or if I didn't!)
Okay but your profile of Viktor as the Coraline dad is KILLING me. Every time I see it oh my god. It's so real. It's too real. Too relatable.
omg @starlightopal i’m so sorry this was lost in my inbox. thank you!! i like to think he’s a mod of a community and having inane arguments with strangers on the internet
"I think it is literally the closest bond that two people of whatever gender can have. It's beyond the body. It's kind of soul partners, and it's beyond time and space. It's the biggest kind of stake relationship you can have. Even if they were married and had 4 beautiful adopted children, I don't think it could be the same kind of power of connection and partnership they have. The sacrifice they both made, not just for this relationship but for what this relationship also means. The two halves of the structure that needs to be in place for society to run in the end, and I think they both know that, and I think they've given everything to it. I think to say whether it is or it isn't romantic frankly would belittle it. It doesn't really touch the sides of actually how big a deal it is. Which is why I think the final image of them, kind of beyond time and space, kind of sums it up. Whether they see each other again or whether they live together in a little cottage by the stream doesn't matter. The connection is bigger than I think almost the connection between any other characters in the show or in the world. It's beyond that, it's massive, and those final lines - the journey they've both - men that they've both had to become to keep it there - I find it very moving."
-Harry Lloyd, What are your thoughts on Jayce and Viktor's partnership?
My second humble tiny contribution to jayvik nation!
general audiences! fluff and tension resolved with a hug :')
word count: 1,8K
summary: another one from @mithrava's HCs - Viktor's cane + Jayce's shin = a love story, a little bit tweaked. @mithrava darling this is for u!
Cross-posted on AO3
—
Jayce knows that most things happen for a reason. There are some mild exceptions, maybe, though he doubts it—but he’s willing to accept the possibility. Reluctantly. So when their peaceful coexistence in the lab is interrupted by a painful yet completely accidental snap of Viktor’s cane against his shin, he chalks it up to the law of entropy.
It’s entirely believable that Viktor gets distracted, that sometimes he lacks grace, and that his cane landed on Jayce’s sensitive spot purely by chance. Which it did. Jayce doesn’t know this for sure—only suspects. Or rather, believes, because if there’s one thing he’s certain of, it’s that people start with good intentions. And there is no bad intention in Viktor.
Viktor, on the other hand, knows for sure that it was an accident, for which he apologized almost immediately after noting Jayce’s sharp hiss and the way his face twisted in mild pain. But then, Viktor also noted something else—how Jayce’s face lit up after the apology. And he wasn’t entirely sure whether it was the apology itself or Viktor’s hand on Jayce’s shoulder that made his partner perk up so hopelessly. But in that moment, he decided the matter warranted further research.
And as it was a curious mind above all else that rested between Viktor’s ears, he devised a plan that would allow his research to continue unnoticed. He had to introduce variables—ones that would, undoubtedly, broaden the scope of his results. So at first, he gave the cane a rest. Long enough for Jayce to forget the incident entirely. Instead, he opted for a glass of water accidentally spilled over Jayce’s notes. An over-sweetened coffee placed in Jayce’s hands with a sickeningly innocent, “Forgive me, I must have gotten distracted. Let me get you another one.” And, of course, a hand on Jayce’s shoulder—for good measure.
“Oh no, V, it’s alright. It’s not so bad, I’ll drink it,” Jayce says, his fingers fidgeting with his pen, ready to shoot up and rest on Viktor’s hand. His pupils dilate, his mouth parts before curving into a smile—and Viktor makes a thorough note of it. Mental, of course, as his experiment is still a secret.
And just to push it a little bit further, Viktor holds Jayce’s gaze for a moment too long and gives his shoulder a firm squeeze before saying, “Alright. I will be more careful next time.” Then, he turns before Jayce can say anything else, but he still catches the faint hitch of breath behind him. Noted.
Viktor spaces out his attempts, waiting about three days between each one. Sometimes four, to avoid making Jayce too suspicious—after all, underestimating his partner is the last thing he would do.
The next time, he returns to his original method, using his cane again. But this time, he changes his approach—while walking past Jayce, he presses the bottom of his cane firmly onto his foot. As expected, Jayce winces. This time, a small ow follows.
Jayce’s reaction is immediate—his shoulders tense, his lips part like he’s about to curse, but then he catches himself, eyes flicking up to Viktor instead. Viktor tilts his head, the very picture of mild concern.
“Oh dear,” he says, tone as light as ever. “That was careless of me.”
Jayce exhales through his nose, shaking his head. “It’s fine, V. Just—maybe look where you’re going?”
Viktor hums, nodding agreeably as if he is making a very serious mental note. And then, for good measure, he presses the tip of his cane against the floor just beside Jayce’s boot before shifting his weight off of it. A near miss.
Jayce blinks down at it, then back at Viktor, brow furrowing just slightly. But when Viktor rests a hand on his forearm, thumb tracing a brief, thoughtful arc, the furrow smooths.
“I will,” Viktor assures him, voice quiet. Then, just to push it a little bit further, he lets his fingers linger before pulling away, already turning back to his work.
He doesn’t need to see Jayce’s face to know he’s watching him. Noted.
What Viktor doesn’t take note of is that Jayce is beginning to suspect something. So, as the scientist that he is, Jayce decides to play along. Moreover, he decides to conduct his own research.
The next time Viktor executes one of his unintentionally intentional moves, Jayce is—more or less—ready. This time, it’s an innocent, fairly gentle snap of Viktor’s cane against his ankle, not strong enough to hurt but strong enough to be noticed. So, Jayce climbs the mountain of his never-before-explored acting talent and exclaims with a voice so pathetic that it startles Viktor, his eyes going wide, his measured movements turning instinctive.
“Jayce, are you alright?” he asks, visibly worried that he might have actually hurt Jayce. His hand slides down to Jayce’s shin while the other is already unrolling his sock to assess the damage.
And that’s about as much acting as Jayce can manage, because his breath immediately hitches, his cheeks bloom in a burning blush, and his voice hiccups in his throat.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he says weakly, pulling Viktor’s hand off him. And now, somehow, they’re holding hands—awkwardly—Viktor staring at Jayce, Jayce staring anywhere but Viktor.
“You just… hit a spot, that’s all. I’m fine,” Jayce mutters, letting go of Viktor’s hand, which remains suspended in midair where Jayce held it a second ago.
Viktor clears his throat. “I am very sorry. I will be more careful.”
“It’s fine, V, really. I’m fine,” Jayce says, sounding utterly unconvincing. And of that, Viktor makes the most thorough note and decides to put his research into a halt. Or rather, change the nature of it.
Instead of the initial brutality, which in the long run, Viktor decides was rather cruel, he opts for a more gentle method. So, from now on, he gets Jayce’s attention with delicate nudges, rather than accidental snaps. He makes them look as unbothered as he can, but there is a certain difference between an accidental hit and intentional nudge, no matter how absent-minded it is made to look.
And Jayce’s reaction is remarkable. He starts touching Viktor more often—absently, deliberately, effortlessly. Instead of answering his taunts with words, he rests a warm hand on the nape of Viktor’s neck, humming out a low “hmm?” rather than asking outright. It derails Viktor’s thoughts completely, making him forget what he wanted in the first place.
Worse still, Jayce stays unbearably close, lingering in his space with an ease that Viktor finds both infuriating and intriguing. His arm hooks around the loop of Viktor’s cane, anchoring himself there like it’s the most natural thing in the world. And it makes Viktor feel… nice. Strange, too. An unfamiliar warmth coils low in his stomach, something he can’t quite place.
But being the man he is, he decides—begrudgingly—that his own experiment has turned against him. And so, in a rare act of surrender, Viktor deems it a failure and abandons it completely.
Until one day, Viktor is so exhausted—his mind fogged from yet another night of criminally little sleep—that he actually, truly accidentally clips Jayce’s shin again.
And that does it. Jayce, equally sleep-deprived and running low on patience, snaps. “V, what is wrong with you?”
Viktor, caught off guard, blinks at him, entirely confused. But then he sees the way Jayce grips his leg, and panic sets in. He rushes to check the damage, mumbling frantic apologies. “I am so sorry—I truly did not mean it—let me see—”
Jayce just sighs, watching Viktor fuss over him, hands warm and careful as he rubs at the spot, trying to soothe the bruise before it even blooms. And then, in a tone so exasperated it borders on fond, Jayce mutters, “You’re so smart. I thought you’d already figured out it’s better to pet me than hit me.”
“W-What?” Viktor stutters. Outright stutters, as if caught in the act—except the act itself is now far removed from its original intention. If there had even been an intention at all. So he just stares at Jayce, stupidly, cold sweat dampening the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“I prefer the other method, if I have the right to decide at all,” Jayce says quietly, offering Viktor a weak smile. “It was nice.”
And Viktor has no idea what comes over him when his chair rolls closer to Jayce’s and his hand cups Jayce’s cheek. Barely—there’s still just enough space for a few atoms to squeeze between his fingers and Jayce’s skin. But the warmth is there, and Jayce exhales—a sigh that is almost relieved, as if that simple touch fixes the pain in his leg and everywhere else.
“Like this?” Viktor asks quietly, eyes fixed on Jayce’s lips as they curve into a shy smile.
“Yeah, like this,” Jayce murmurs, his voice softer than before, almost dazed.
Viktor swallows, his own breath slightly unsteady. “And what about this?” His hand drifts to the nape of Jayce’s neck, fingers threading through his hair, dragging slowly. The strands are warm beneath his fingertips, soft in contrast to the faint prickle of Jayce’s skin where his touch lingers.
Jayce hums—a low, pleased sound—and a barely perceptible shiver runs down his spine. “This is nice too,” he admits, his eyes fluttering shut as he tilts his head into Viktor’s touch. His breathing slows, his shoulders slacken, and for a moment, he looks so content that Viktor forgets himself, forgets why he started this in the first place.
He lingers, watching how Jayce reacts, how the faintest tinge of pink dusts his cheeks, how his fingers twitch slightly on the armrest as if debating whether to reach out. The warmth of Jayce’s skin seeps into his palm, settling somewhere deeper in his chest than he cares to acknowledge.
And then, before he can let himself sink any further, Viktor pulls back. The absence of his touch makes Jayce’s eyes blink open, hazy with something unreadable.
Viktor leans back in his chair, adopting a contemplative tone as if the past few seconds hadn’t altered something between them. “Alright,” he muses, a teasing lilt creeping back into his voice, “I might be willing to change my methods then.”
And then, Jayce does something unexpected. He leans over his chair, arms wrapping around Viktor’s frame, pulling him flush against his chest. Viktor’s breath catches, startled, but before he can react, Jayce presses his nose into Viktor’s neck, nuzzling gently, ignoring the faint protest that escapes Viktor’s lips.
It’s completely surprising for Viktor, this boldness, but he doesn’t pull away. He stays there, frozen for a moment, feeling the warmth of Jayce’s embrace, the steady beat of his heart against his chest. Jayce hums softly into Viktor’s hair, a sound that vibrates against Viktor’s skin. “That would be nice,” he murmurs quietly, his voice muffled but undeniably content. “Thank you.”
i can't believe i had to witness the arcane sextech scene happen again right in front of my eyes on this of all shows. heterosexual couple fucking with artfully blended shots over a gay man almost dying because he was trying to discover something at the cost of his life
producers stop being like this about gay men challenge
