Up until that moment, the whole evening seemed like a badly planned ruse.
No one could do a complete 180 in their personality, seemingly within a few hours. If it had been another night, a more stressful one, or one right after a terrible round in the Rift, he would have laughed at Jayce's sudden apology. But no, tonight was a good night.
There were very few things that managed to noticeably brighten the Machine Herald's mood for he went out of his way to appear composed and mature at the Institute of War (one never knew when a chance to recruit a new acolyte would pop up and in such circumstances it was always best that they at least held some respect for Viktor) But one of those things were the few times he found time to return to Zaun. He wasn't sentimental, not at all, but being surrounded by loud and often uncultured primitive swines day in and out at the Institute was draining and he was rarely allowed to leave due to his representative duties and matches.
Needless to say, he was looking forwards to going home. So when the man whom Viktor was almost entirely certain despised the Zaunite with every single fiber of his being knocked on his lab door dressed in clothes that, while still being tacky, were far less obnoxious than his typical overly elaborate coat, and thus quite presentable and demanding a chance to properly amend their relationship, or lack-there-of, Viktor decided to play along.
After all, what was the worse that could happen?
But despite being confident in the fact that Jayce was too smart to do anything to hurt him and too stupid to find a way how to without being caught, Viktor was still uncertain and anxious. There wasn't anything blatantly wrong or disconcerting about being asked to give critique on some blueprints, but the atmosphere was still very tense. The Piltoveran's overly casual and friendly behaviour only added to Viktor's suspicions, it was impossible for someone who hated him so much for so long to suddenly act like they were old friends with hardly any prompt.
Jayce turned to Viktor and smiled warmly. The expression made Viktor feel oddly relaxed, like he had just been praised for doing something. That only served to make him more anxious, he couldn't let himself forget that Jayce had managed to manipulate Piltover's government against him.
"I hope you're fine with the long trek, Ezreal started complaining about the noise so the Summoners forced me to rent a place pretty far out," Viktor heard him mutter something about the explorer under his breath. He nodded, still feeling uncomfortable even most of his anxiety had left. Out of his enhanced peripheral vision, he noticed a momentary twitch of anger in response to his silence from the inventor, but it vanished almost instantly. It was slight enough that anyone else would have dismissed it as a shadow from one of the trees surrounding the tiny dirt path they walked on, but he was certain of what he saw.
"It's just past this turn, I appreciate you agreeing to see what I've done so far," Jayce's voice remained in a friendly tone, "Things are always better when you have an audience who'll appreciate them."
"That's true," said Viktor, the first thing he said since he agreed to the other's offer.
Jayce looked at him somewhat surprised and once again smiled in that particular reassuring way. Like a reward, Viktor realized, and the thought of using one of his many rays hosted within his third hand as punishment for the degrading action crossed his mind. But he stopped his extra appendage from acting on it, he had his manners after all, and only the most neanderthalic brat would respond to intended kindness with violence.
Just as the Defender said, the path winded to the left and ended at a brick and metal shed. The angled tin roof was covered in patches of various shades of green and brown, and the faded puce-colored walls were in no better condition. Viktor half-expected him to apologize for the condition of his residence, but then remembered that Jayce never apologized for anything and probably expected Viktor to thank him for even granting him permission to enter. Or not. He wasn't sure what to think of Jayce anymore.
After pulling out a key and unlocking the steel door which seemed to be the only part of the small house not partially eaten up by the forest, his host wordlessly entered, leaving the door open for Viktor to follow. He entered without hesitation, seeing there no reason to doubt the other's friendly intentions. There was nothing wrong with wanting to repent for one's past sins, and he of all people was fully aware of the evolution a man could undergo, so-
He stopped, realizing his mistake as he stepped in past the door frame and heard the sound of electricity behind him. He whipped around, raising his left arm to deflect and opening his third to counter, neither of which proved to be of any use when the voltage hit him.