A/N:

Sorry for delay, my computer fucked up and I was forced to reinstall Windows. Microsoft Word also fucked up my other story, "Of Shadows and Lights" (AC-III), so it disappeared permanently ;_; After deciding that I couldn't put together 37K words and about 70 full pages, editing, fixing, copy-pasting from FF to Word in my preferable Times New Roman, I got my husband to fix it all ^^ And yesterday I was busy updating all these Windows components and blabla D:

The extra email y'all got was for me putting up a small note from my phone, but now my pc is alive again so no worry!

So… I've been bitching enough. But atm, my internet is fucking up so here's for you the next chapter!

Later added A/N:

WTF, my pc is fucked up. I can't play! ;_;

CHAPTER 1:3

He met Viktor five years ago, on a convention in Zaun, where the latter was holding a lecture for his robotics. Many were there, but most of them only wanted to see the freak who had made himself into a cyborg. Jayce had decided to travel there because he was curious about the man as well as for that he couldn't deny the brilliancy – to strengthen a normal human being with techmaturgy. He was himself trying to come up with a prototype; robotics weren't really his thing but he had this idea to instead of replacing his organs with synthetic parts, he would make a suit, something he could take on and off at will. Whenever he came close to a result, the project failed, and he wanted to ask Viktor how he had succeeded with his own transformation.

It was a cloudy day in Zaun – not that it always were – and it was about to rain. Jayce was late as usual, and he hurried to the gigantic College of Techmaturgy. The building was massive, maybe twice as large as the Yordle Academy of Science and Progress, and he saw it from far away. He managed to get in before getting completely soaked and found his way to Viktor's reading. During the day, several famous scientists had already been there, one of them Professor Stanwick who had revived a Noxian soldier and constructed Blitzcrank. He was a very intelligent man but Jayce had read the man's two bestsellers, "How to be a genius" and "Between Techmaturgy and Death", both of them revealing the professor's narcissism and confidence. No doubt that he was smart, but he was an asshole, and Jayce would never pay to hear someone brag.

He found an empty place to sit amongst other excited people and he overheard a couple in front of him.

"Isn't he crazy? Why did we stay for this?" wondered the woman, clearly exhausted of listening to Professor Stanwick for three hours. "Let's go home."

The man hushed at his partner and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I went to school with him, the least I can do for his many troubles is to hear him out. It's only twenty minutes, Ceil."

What troubles? Jayce shook the water out of his hair and an old lady to his right glared at him. He quickly muttered an apology and inched closer to the couple in front of him since the man had lowered his voice.

"…not tell anyone. Alright?"

The woman nodded eagerly.

"Okay, it wasn't really Stanwick who led the project of Blitzcrank; it was Viktor," said the man and Jayce suddenly recognized him. He was one of the members in the team who built the intelligent golem, and had been in the newspapers of Piltover. "I guess I can say the same with Urgot; it was all Viktor."

His girlfriend – or wife – gasped and her eyes widened.

"But how did Professor Stanwick… he stole it?"

The man shrugged and he caught Jayce's attentive expression in the corner of his left eye. He gave the Piltoveran a little scoff before whispering something inaudible to his partner. They quieted down and nothing more was heard.

Strange, thought Jayce and leaned back into his chair, crossing his legs and arms. But how could the professor have gotten away? And why didn't Viktor do anything about it? He tried to imagine how it would feel if someone stole his project and became world famous because if his own work. Furious would be an understatement.

"Welcome, to the College of Techmaturgy, ladies and gentlemen, humans and others. Here comes the last lecture for today. Thank you all for coming and have a continued good day!"

The host was a gorgeous-looking brunette with long, curly hair and sparkling green eyes. She dazzled even the jealous women – obviously the men as well – staring at her and Jayce felt the same attraction, until he watched her more closely. As he eyed the beauty up and down, he saw that she was wearing a wig and that a small bump was visible at the waistband of her black jeans. Jayce couldn't help but smiling when he realized that it was a man and someone he knew very well. It was his old roommate at the academy in Piltover and they had gone through hell together. His name was Kevin Millar, a year older than him, and was the happiest soul Jayce had ever met. Kevin always used to drag out his friend to find a nightclub and end up drinking too much; though never enough to do something stupid as this. He was infamous for having a thing for tricking people to see what was not true.

I'm happy you ended up here, at least. Jayce grinned as Kevin took extra care to swing his hips from side to side when exiting the scene. So you actually succeeded as a teacher here. Impressive, I must say.

The audience waited a couple of awkward minutes before a tall, skinny man found his way from backstage, probably the same age as Jayce. His hair was black as well as his eyes, and he accidently dropped something on the floor. It started rolling away and fell down the edge of the stage. The man cursed something under his breath and laughter voiced the large hall.

"E-excuse me," he said and his voice broke. "I'm just a bit nervous, that's all. Welcome to Zaun and the College of Techmaturgy—"

"We already know!"

Another burst of laughter filled the room and embarrassment consumed the black-haired man's countenance.

"M-my name is Viktor and I-I was called here to explain cyborgtronics. Is there a-anyone here who knows a thing or two about it...?"

Nobody answered and Viktor staggered forward to the podium. He was obviously in pain and struggled to not fall. Jayce tried to catch a glimpse underneath the man's blue cape that covered his whole body but saw nothing of the man's infamous experiments of himself.

"Ahm, anyone?" he asked once again and put his papers on the wood, terrified if someone would laugh. "N-nothing?"

"I do."

Jayce held up his hand and Viktor's pale face got back some color.

"So," started Viktor and pulled his scarf closer to his face, muffling his voice as he continued and their eyes locked. "What do you know about components and circuits?"

"Not much, I admit," replied Jayce and shrugged. "But I would prefer detachable components. If you're infusing skin and metal, your body will react on the alien object as something hostile and damage it from within. Circuits are not preferable in a cyborg as it is impossible to connect something with your brain."

"Good," answered Viktor and nodded appreciative. He wasn't stammering anymore and Jayce saw how confident the man was in his profession. "But wouldn't something detachable be easier for your opponent to remove? I agree with you about the circuits though; I've actually tried it and no, it doesn't work."

Jayce tried not to feel sick when his mind imagined how it looked when Viktor tried to get something in his brain and shook his head.

"Yes, but only if we're talking about a human with a robot foot," said Jayce and pointed at his feet. "If a man would put on a full armor, head to toe, it would be impossible for someone to disassemble him except himself and those who knew the trick. A man made of iron and steel, equipped with the power of techmaturgy. Wouldn't he be the perfect cyborg?"

Victor listened very attentive to what he had to say but then looked confused.

"It sounds like you're meaning that a man can take on this suit and be invincible," replied Viktor and took forth a pen, scribbling down what he was saying. "But he would still be a mere human without this suit, as well as the fact that anyone could steal it, right? Aren't those two the big issues with this? That's not a cyborg but a very, very rich man. And what about if someone has to amputate their legs due to a disease? This 'suit' won't help them; they only want new legs."

"I agree, but that's a whole 'nother discussion." Jayce straightened in his seat. "How could a man make this 'suit'?

Viktor's eyes suddenly glimmered with amusement and Jayce smirked. Finally, he understood what I meant.

"If you have any other direct questions to me, I'll be glad to handle them later on; for now I actually have a reading," said the black-haired man and rolled with his eyes. "Okay, to start off with cyborgtronics – who here have seen the Aker's movie 'I wish I had a friend'?"

Viktor had now settled and Jayce saw nothing of the previous shown nervousness. The rest of the lecture went smoothly without any more laughing and someone even picked up what had fallen of the scene earlier. Jayce memorized everything Viktor said about AI's, especially keeping in mind that a female voice was preferable, since it was easier to manipulate a woman's pitch and make her sound more real. The twenty minutes Viktor had received passed in an instant and Jayce was not alone to be disappointed in how short the reading was. Sure, they had laughed at the nervous figure at first, but nobody could deny the man's brilliancy. He could explain in such detail, that when he finished, Jayce was surprised that he hadn't thought about it himself. As Viktor's lecture was the last for the day, people hurried home to eat their late dinner and amidst the minor chaos that erupted at the exit, Jayce had seen the blackness of the cyborg's hair.

"Jayce," greeted Jayce and offered his hand.

Viktor seemed to hesitate before taking it.

"You already know me", he replied and they shook hands. "Thanks… for earlier I mean. I was just so nervous and—"

"It's fine, really," said Jayce and smiled reassuringly. "Though I'm surprised that an intelligent person like you didn't understand what I meant at first."

Black eyes pierced through bright blue, but the Zaunite surprised Jayce by laughing.

"Ah, I guess I lagged."

He has humor.

"Perhaps," he answered and Jayce pointed towards the main entrance of the building. "It looks like it is still raining; perhaps you would like to accompany a lonely Piltoveran to a nearby restaurant? I still have some questions to ask."

"You trying to build an army?" wondered Viktor and even though Jayce couldn't see the man's lips, he knew that he was smiling. "But sure, I'll show you somewhere. Though I hope you pay."

"Me? I travelled all the way here to ask you a couple of questions, not to let u leech off of me."

Viktor adjusted his coat as they reached the exit and Jayce buttoned his jacket. It was still pouring outside but at least they escaped the stench rising from the sewers of Zaun.

"Okay, half-half. Is that alright?"

Jayce chuckled as he pulled up his collar.

"Now we're talking."

A/E.N:

So, this is how I'm picturing Viktor and Jayce, first getting to know each other. I hope you like it!