After Jayce followed him into his room, Viktor immediately took off his tie and unfastened his top button. Then he sat down on his bed and bent over to untie his shoes. He had not expected to get so far through this process without Jayce pulling him into his arms. He looked up. Jayce was still standing by the door, looking uncomfortable. Was he waiting to be invited to sit? No matter how long Viktor was here in Piltover, he did not think he would ever get used to some of their customs.
"Jayce, are you not joining me?" he said.
Jayce looked at him, and Viktor thought he saw his bottom lip tremble. Stepping closer to him, Jayce sank to his knees and wrapped his arms around Viktor's legs and laid his head on his lap.
Viktor was forced to stop trying to take off his shoes. He stroked his hand over Jayce's hair, which was somehow still largely in place after a long day of hard work. Viktor felt Jayce's body shake and he hugged his legs even tighter.
"I don't want to lose you, Viktor," Jayce choked out.
"Oh, Jayce," Viktor said, wrapping his arms around Jayce's shoulders as he sobbed. "What makes you think you might lose me?"
Jayce finally lifted his head and wiped his eyes on the back of his hand. "Isn't it obvious?" he said. "I'd rather we go back to just being lab partners than lose you entirely."
Viktor frowned, and was lost for words for a few moments. "Is that what you want?" he asked eventually.
Jayce shook his head. "No, but If we're thrown out of the academy, we might never see each other again."
"Jayce, we'll think of something. Don't worry," Viktor said, taking Jayce's face in his hands and leaning down to kiss him softly.
Jayce uncurled his arms from around Viktor's legs, and moved to sit beside him on the bed. He kissed Viktor again, and slowly they began to help each other out of their clothes. It was so different from the frenzied way they had undressed each other yesterday. Viktor felt the ache of desire inside of him, but the situation was tinged with sadness. Maybe this would be their last night together. Their brief closeness just an anomaly on the graph of the ups and downs of their life together. He should make the most of it in that case.
Viktor recalled the last time Jayce had been in his room, the night he had fallen asleep in the lab and Jayce had carried him to bed. Back then, he hadn't held more than the vaguest of hope that he and Jayce would be together outside of his imagination. His enjoyment of Jayce lying next to him had been overshadowed by the anguish that it would not happen again.
Jayce waited for Viktor to get under the bedclothes and get comfortable – as much as he could – before turning out the light and slipping in beside him. Jayce lay on his back, and Viktor could see the profile of his face illuminated only by the moonlight that crept in through the gap in the curtains. Viktor had felt tired as they were leaving the lab, but now he felt anything but relaxed and he found his heart was beating way faster than it should.
Viktor shuffled over a little towards him so their bodies were close together, and put his arm over Jayce's broad chest. He heard the breath hitch in Jayce's throat and saw him blink a few times, but otherwise he didn't react. It already felt like it was too late. It seemed like they were both unconsciously withdrawing from each other.
Jayce shifted, and Viktor thought he was pushing him away, but then he felt Jayce's strong arm wrap around his shoulders, pulling him closer. Viktor let out the breath he had been holding, and rested his head on Jayce's chest, listening to his heart beat. He wanted to say something, but words failed him for a long time. They lay there together, and Viktor knew that they both needed to sleep, but part of him wanted to stay awake and fully commit to memory how it felt to hold Jayce and be held by him.
"I love you. No matter what happens, that won't change," Viktor said at last.
"I love you too, Viktor," Jayce said, his voice thick with emotion. He squeezed him tighter, and kissed him on the top of his head. "People can do what they will to control what we do, but they can't change the way we feel."
"Hmm. And right now, nobody can tell us what we can and can't do," Viktor said, slinging his leg over Jayce's and laying partly on top of him. Jayce gasped as Viktor's leg slid between his. Viktor kissed him passionately. The soft warmth of Jayce's lips moving against his own and the bulge he felt between Jayce's legs caused his own underwear to tighten. He moved his hips slightly, rubbing himself against Jayce's thigh and brushing his own thigh against Jayce's hardening bulge.
Jayce let out a shuddering sigh and his eyelids fluttered closed. "Oh, Viktor," he murmured.
Viktor brushed his lips against the stubble along Jayce's jawline, and began to kiss his neck as he continued to move his hips. Jayce smoothed his hands down Viktor's back and settled on his waist, pressing them closer together and encouraging his movement. A moan escaped Viktor's mouth and he started to move faster. Jayce tensed his thighs around Viktor's as he grinded his hips into him.
They found themselves struggling out of their underwear, and Viktor climbed fully on top of Jayce, who was breathing hard and looking into Viktor's eyes. Viktor felt Jayce's throbbing need pressed against his own, and he began to rub together slowly. Jayce let out a groan, and placed his hands on Viktor's buttocks, moving him faster. Viktor gasped, the anticipation becoming almost unbearable. Jayce was breathing hard, his face contorted in pleasure. Viktor held him tightly and buried his head in Jayce's shoulder as they felt the last few throbs of urgency before being cast into oblivion.
Viktor lay on top of Jayce, enjoying the pleasant shudders that ran through his whole body. Jayce sighed in pleasure and wrapped his arms around Viktor. Eventually, they tore themselves away from each other and freshened up before settling down in bed together again. Their shared pleasure had calmed their nerves and took their minds away from their worries, and they both settled into a peaceful sleep.
Jayce woke in the morning with his body curled around Viktor's. Not secretly and shamefully as he had the first time he had slept in Viktor's bed. And this time he didn't even consider slipping quietly away. He buried his face in Viktor's hair and held him tighter, enjoying the warmth of being together. Maybe they could stay here forever in their private universe, free from the judgements of others.
Even though Viktor had said that they should both carefully consider if they should tell Professor Heimerdinger about their relationship, Jayce knew that Viktor would not change his mind. Viktor was not one to suggest such a thing unless he had already contemplated the thought at length. Jayce didn't want to be the one to force them to continue lying to everyone and hiding the true nature of their relationship. Viktor deserved better than that. And Jayce had enjoyed their trip into the city for their first date, allowing people to see them together as a couple. He didn't want to go back into hiding.
Jayce trailed his fingers along Viktor's arm, revelling in the soft warmth of his skin. Viktor made a noise and moved a little, stirring from his sleep. Jayce nestled his chin on Viktor's shoulder and kissed his ear.
"Mmm, Jayce," Viktor murmured.
Jayce smiled. "Good morning, Viktor," he said.
Viktor shifted and rolled over to face him. "Good morning, Jayce," he said, wrapping his hand around the back of Jayce's neck and kissing him. Jayce closed his eyes and kissed him back, wrapping his arms around Viktor protectively.
Viktor placed his hands on Jayce's chest, and pushed himself away from him. "The sun is already risen. Duty calls," he said.
"Oh, but…" Jayce said, trying to kiss Viktor again, but Viktor raised his hand between them and Jayce ended up kissing Viktor's palm. Jayce caught his wrist and started to press soft kisses along Viktor's arm.
Viktor's eyes fell shut and he let out a sigh. "Oh Jayce," he said. "You do know how to distract me."
Jayce chuckled. "It's not my fault you're so easily distracted," he said, looking up at Viktor. His pupils were dilated.
"It is your fault when you're doing it deliberately," Viktor said with a smirk.
"How can I help it when you invited me into your bed?" Jayce said, pulling Viktor into his arms.
"No Jayce, we need to get up," Viktor said, trying to struggle out of Jayce's grip, but he did not put up enough resistance to avoid ending up nestled against Jayce's chest.
"A few more minutes won't hurt," Jayce said, holding Viktor tightly. He felt Viktor sigh in his arms, and Viktor's arms snaked around him. They lay like that for more than a few minutes.
"I think we should tell Professor Heimerdinger about us," Jayce said, as they finished getting dressed a little while later.
Viktor raised his eyebrows, seemingly caught unawares. He looked away and stared into space for a moment. "So, we are in agreement," he said.
Jayce looked at Viktor. He was tempted to ask if Viktor was really sure, but he imagined how much that would annoy Viktor and stopped himself. "It's the right thing to do. And we will have to face the consequences eventually," he said, although his heart raced in trepidation.
Viktor nodded solemnly.
Professor Heimerdinger was sitting behind his desk, with his poro companion was curled up snoozing on the desk, snoring quietly. "Ah, chaps, what can I do for you?" he asked.
Viktor glanced at Jayce, who looked just as tense as he was feeling.
"Is this about these inventions that I have been hearing so much about?"
"No Professor, we came here to inform you about, ah, something else," Viktor said. His heart was racing and his palms were sweating. Why was this so hard? They had already decided that it must be done, yet the difficulty remained.
"Yes?" Professor Heimerdinger raised his eyebrows.
Jayce cleared his throat. "Professor, we wanted to let you know that Viktor and I are partners," he said, and when the Professor did not immediately react, he added, "That is to say, we are a couple." He put his arm around Viktor to illustrate his point.
Professor Heimerdinger smiled widely. "Ah, well let me extend my congratulations, chaps. If I may say so, you make quite the striking couple."
"Thank you," Jayce said.
"Yes, thank you Professor," Viktor said, feeling breathless. He was waiting for the Professor to continue with a but. But what happened was that the three of them stood there for a long moment staring at each other. The poro awoke and opened one eye.
"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" Professor Heimerdinger asked.
Jayce shook his head.
"No, professor, that is all for now," Viktor said.
Viktor was still feeling shocked as they walked down the corridor away from the professor's office. He looked at Jayce and they both breathed a sigh of relief. Then Viktor found himself starting to laugh, and so did Jayce, and soon they were both doubled up in hysterics. A couple of other students heading down the corridor towards them suddenly realised they did not really need to go that way, and turned around.
With the weight of the secret off their shoulders, they found it easier to concentrate on their work. Viktor tinkered with the Hexclaw while Jayce completed his prototype gauntlets. As promised, Viktor took Jayce out to dinner to celebrate. They went back to the same restaurant they had visited on their first date and were once again served by Miriam, who was less nervous this time and excited to tell them that she had applied to the academy.
In the months that followed, Viktor helped Sky with her inventions. Mostly he helped with advice on how to present herself and get the recognition she deserved, she barely needed any help with her actual work. When the time was right, the three of them demonstrated their prototypes to Professor Heimerdinger, who was impressed if a little befuddled by how new and strange they appeared to his traditional sensibilities. After some discussion, he agreed that they would explore how they could be used to benefit all of Piltover – and, Viktor reminded him, the Undercity.