Chapter 1: The Arcane Will Set You Free, Jayce
Summary:
Jayce tries to reach Viktor before the latter has the chance to roll out his plans. However... Viktor captures Jayce before he's even able to take him out.
Notes:
Important note: Anything related to this fanfiction (chapters, parts, or the fanfiction as a whole) is created by The Silent Scribbler. I kindly remind you to not copy/paste (parts of) my fanfic without permission. If you want to refer to this fanfiction crediting the author, that's of course no problem (sharing the URL).
Important second note: Everything related to the Arcane fandom, its characters etc. is property of Riot/Fortiche/the writers of Arcane, so of course I don't own anything Arcane related. I feel blessed I am able to write a story with two of the most fascinating characters, Viktor and Jayce Talis. All rights reserved by Riot Games etc. etc.
Dear reader: I translate to English without a beta reader, so forgive me if it is not always as accurate as you're used to. (Do you want to help me out as a beta reader? Let me know, send me a message or review and let's get in touch!)
Writing is my passion: I want to update this fanfic weekly if possible. It's my first fanfiction, I welcome all your feedback/reviews! I will definitely improve my English writing along the way.
This fanfic is centered around the bond between Jayce Talis and Viktor (Arcane). After the end of the second season, I wondered how things could have possibly turned out differently if Viktor found Jayce first. This fic is the first I'm writing for the beloved Arcane fandom and takes place at the moment Jayce walks towards the commune (S2E6) and encounters the new Viktor. Well…. Viktor encounters him and he captures Jayce. But Jayce fights back to stop the Glorious Evolution from happening. And Viktor, since he has become a Healer better knowns as "the Herald", tries all he can to get his friend back, fully convinced his friend has lost his mind and needs his treatment. A mental chess game unfolds.
Themes: Hurt & Comfort, Drama/Angst, Friendship, Mind Manipulation & Captivity
Preview: 'Tsk, tsk, Jayce...,' the hidden voice continued. 'Probably related to that feral appearance of yours Jayce, I can tell you've finally left your manners far behind. The golden boy of Piltover, member of the council, everything you have sacrificed for, your status, and now your self-control as well, all reduced to dust.'
"VIKTOR!" Jayce roared in response.
(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)
Chapter Text
Chapter 1.
The Arcane Will Set You Free, Jayce
Jayce's P.O.V.
Viktor.
His former colleague, both of them researching Hextech day and night.
Viktor.
His old friend who stopped him before he would have jumped into the depths.
Viktor.
His partner…
Why did you decide to follow this path, Viktor? This horrifying, empty and soulless world? Why?
Jayce's long wet hair stuck to his forehead and almost hung in his eyes during his run. In one swift motion, Jayce stroked it out of his face, his gaze fixed tightly on the tent camp. Viktor's base loomed slowly in the distance. All Jayce needed to do, is to reach his basecamp and to confront Viktor. Showing him the rune. Convincing him to stop and see the error of his ways. And eventually…. If needed…. Jayce didn't want to even reach that conclusion. He moved forward.
I will stop you Viktor. I must stop you...
Raindrops mixed with sweat deprived Jayce of his sight. Pausing under a lone tree trying to catch his breath momentarily, Jayce glanced at the valley underneath. He gasped.
Before him lays not only a vast tent camp, stretching far and wide. Despite dark ominous clouds and continuous downpour, something unusually bright stood out against the gloomy gray sky. A bright white beam it seemed, even though Jayce could not yet make much sense of it. 'A lightning bolt? No... usually those don't last that long,' the young Talis muttered to himself. And thunder would at least coincide with lightning. This cant be. Confused, he observed the spectacle for a little while.
Some unknown source seemed to generate a bright beam of light constantly. But what or…. who would be responsible? The beam seemed to pulsate, that much was clear from this distance.Jayce held a hand over his eyes and peered into the distance, partly to block out the rain, partly because he just couldn't comprehend this peculiar phenomenon. Could this perhaps indicate the Arcane, the anomaly, has spread thìs far outside of the Hexgates?
Whatever stunt you pulled, Viktor; mind your step, because you are not the only one who owns Hextech.
Jayce subconsciously clamped his Hextech-fulled Mercury Hammer as tightly as if it were his lifeline. Well actually….It was.With clenched teeth he continued setting one foot in front of the other. He started his walk downhill, descending towards his ... nemesis. Deep down in the valley, towards him. Viktor. His heart rattling in his chest, his breath quickening with each step the Councilor took. He knew what he had to accomplish. Jayce remembered his need to focus, to shift his attention from his bodily sensations towards his surroundings. He needed to defend Piltover. To defend everyone.
Defender of Tomorrow. He had a name to live up to.
Your mission is to control others, Viktor. Mine is to break yours. I won't rest before your arrest.
'Is that so, Jayce? Am I interrupting?" Words spoken by this familiar, soothing voice. That silky voice treacherously soft and in contrast with the roaring thunder coming from a decreasing distance. A storm was brewing, indeed. He'd just imagined things... Might be a some ghost of the past plaguing him. Jayce shivered. This voice... did he imagine this voice too?
Wait a minute, how come Jayce didn't notice and …. Wait, didViktorjust react to histrain of thought?
In an instant everything started crumbling down: before Jayce could fully process what was going on, he was swinging his Hammer frantically from side to side. Trying to hit what seemed like some sort of a shadow flashing by, a few fingers touching his head lightly. Like a cat and mouse game. A chuckle carried in the wind after he missed.
'Jayce…. Finally, you have returned to me at last.'
Jayce's pulse quickened, his adrenaline kicking in, his mind and body all set on an all-out fight. Jayce's eyes widened, but he couldn't catch sight of this phantom again, lurking in the darkness. Constantly scanning, he observed his surroundings, fully focused, watching his flanks from left to right, his weapon the Mercury Hammer at the ready.
"Come forward, show yourself you coward!" Jayce shouted, taking a few steps backward. In just a haunting split-second, he realized he made a grave mistake, not checking his backside, not looking over his shoulder. All his senses attuned to this voice, his only goal to discern its location.
The fool I am...
Before Jayce could react, two metallic robotic arms were gripping him from behind. One across his torso, the right one around his throat. Squeezing to force Jayce to give up. Metal defeating flesh with ease. No match.
No...
'Tsk, tsk, Jayce...,' the hidden voice continued. 'Probably related to that feral appearance of yours Jayce, I can tell you've finally left your manners far behind. The golden boy of Piltover, member of the council, everything you have sacrificed for, your status, and now your self-control as well, all reduced to dust.'
"VIKTOR!" Jayce roared in response, struggling against these metallic arms that pressed him ever more firmly against its unrelenting solid torso. If only he hadn't screamed. His lungs were no longer able to expand with the air they needed because of the firm ironclad grip. Panic set in. He tried to push himself off with his feet, to lift the Hammer one more time, but in vain. His hammer, by far one of the most powerful Hextech weapons he and Viktor had designed together back in the days of their collaboration... A weapon of stature...To fear... To respect... He could not wield it whilst the robot squeezed him just like that, both preventing him from moving ánd cutting of his air supply. Weirdly colored spots and flashes of light shot past his field of vision. Would the robot, this ungodly humanoid, or whatever that thing was, actually strangle him? 'Viktor, you bastard,' Jayce growled. 'So this is it, then? Youmurderer.'
'Ah, is that how you greet an old friend? Your former partner on top of that.' Viktor's voice seemed to circle around Jayce. No, it can't be, Jayce thought. Could lack of oxygen lead to hallucinations so incredibly fast? Jayce tried to squirm, to move around, but knowing he couldn't win out over pure mechanics, he estimated he had way more of a fighting chance to attack or escape if he first and foremost focused on the location of the voice and tried to bargain with it.
Could he reach him in any way, shape or form? Viktor seemed to be moving in the dark, like a feline stalking its prey, taking its time deliberately. Jayce didn't like this at all. Viktor seemed unfaced by Jayce's arrival, like he had prior knowledge about Jayce approaching his whereabouts. Knowing his former partner well, Viktor probably calculated every move and planned ahead, like the chess player he is. Well… if he's still the same after the anomaly took over, fused with him…. Jayce immediately realized he needed to distract Victor as long as possible, to come up with an escape plan. He probably didn't stand a chance anyways.
'Those times are over Viktor,' Jayce tried, his voice strained, still lacking enough oxygen to finish his sentence in one breath, 'you left Piltover, the council, everyone...' A pause, and a little softer: 'Me.'You don't know how much you hurt me that day. You will never fully understand.
'I chose healing Jayce. In the first place, to heal myself... The moment the Arcane took over my bodily functions, I have been in a dreamless sleep, Jayce. At peace. Resting. I felt safe. Calm. I finally healed, the Arcane not only saved my life, this force expanded my life. I belief you could benefit from her effects as well, Jayce. But you must not fight it. You must learn how to collaborate with her, how to delegate, how to letherin.'
'You speak of the same force, this uncontrollable Arcane, that showed me the future we are heading towards, Viktor, a future anything but peaceful and calm.' Jayce spat out. His breathing ever so shallow, his words carefully chosen. 'A future in which your precious Arcane takes over everything and everyone and humanity, Viktor, ceases to exist. And it probably started with you anyways, since you so willingly volunteered. The course of our world is impacted because of your transformation... You fused with this powerful force, listen-'
'And whóse fault was that, exactly, Jayce?' Viktor reminded Jayce, cutting him short. 'Yóú couldn't accept losing me, Jayce. You…. Actually you created this outcome.' Viktor paused. 'Perhaps you... wanted this to happen... You did great, Jayce. Your decision already shaped the future. You brought this on yourself, me, the world. Let's collaborate again, as partners. Let's find out how many more people we might be able to save, Jayce.'
Jayce could no longer stand this bullshit. His annoyance soared, anger taking over. The tone in which Viktor spoke, so controlled. So neat...So normal. Almost hopeful, as if all would be well. As if there was nothing to worry about. Quite the contrary, literally nothing about this situation was normal to Jayce. Nothing about this was justifiable. How dare Viktor lie to him? The whole world he'd seen in this corrupted state and everyone turned into soulless bodies... That should never and could never happen. That's everything bút salvation.
Viktor didn't react; he didn't allow himself to respond to any of Jayces provocations . 'Jayce,' Viktor tried again, his voice softer, no tone of argument left whatsoever. 'You seem very confused, my friend, your mind has been failing you for a long time. Not only your vision is clouded. Your spirit has suffered exceptionally. That's what the Arcane communicates to me about your state of mind. Let me help you, Jayce. As partners.'
'Stay away from me and stay away from the Hexgates. I will never participate in any of this, Viktor, forget it-'
'Actually, forgive me, you don't have a choice or say in the matter, my dear friend. I won't allow you to fall apart. Let me help you and take care of you.'
'Release me at once!' Jayce cried, his voice getting hoarse. 'I will néver allow you to take over! You-' he hissed, 'whatever you've bcome... you can't be serious Viktor, we have been partners, friends, the Viktor I knew would never threaten me this way, sacrificing me so the Arcane would take over and I would turn into its puppet. I won't repeat and say this one last time. Let. Me. Go.'
'Jayce...', the voice replied, the sound now coming from Jayce's left. The moment Jayce tried to turn his head (as far as he could, with his movements restricted by the robot arms), he realized his right hand was taken into Viktor's hand. The latter's skin hot to the touch. With horror, Jayce realised Viktor was trying to reach and take hold of his right hand to seize his Hammer.
'Stop this unnecessary fighting, Jayce. For now, I ask you to surrender, give up your weapon and speak to me. You've been through a lot, Jayce, I don't know exactly what happened, but your energy is pulsating in all directions…. You'll lose your self-control if you persist to argue and fight me, and you will waste the little remaining energy you have left. You've lost your way in life, Jayce. Accept you need help now, right now as it is. Let me help you.' Viktor concluded firmly. His words whispered in Jayce's ear, two lips almost touching his skin. On his cheek, Jayce felt every breath Viktor took and realized somehow Viktors humanity hasn't been erased entirely with him breathing like that and his skin hot to the touch. That didn't change the fact Jayce experienced chills running down his spine. Making the hair stand up on the back of his neck.
Those words. Almost….affectionate. Worried.Was Viktor still somewhere… in there? Or was Jayce's own imagination running wild? Or... did Viktor's mask temporarily slip?
No. It can't be. I only feel... Frightend. Pure fear.His adrenaline spiked again, Viktor's lullaby broken. The chills and goosebumps spread across his body: his body signalling now's the time to run. To escape, to retreat.
Jayce's body felt like it was chilled down to the last bone. As if he had returned to that fateful day with his mom, walking and falling in the snow. The agony, the despair. His mom's fingers already sacrificed to frostbite. Almost freezing to death.
'No... Viktor-' Jayce refuted, even more confused and startled by Viktors tone of voice. Still soft? Kind? Gentle?
What's happening from now on? What will Viktor do to me?
'Calm yourself, hush now...Jayce, calm down.'
'Viktor, you can't do this, turn me into another soulless, lifeless body, Viktor, I... I beg you... listen to me first, please!'
'The Arcane will set you free, Jay-'
'No, don't do this, no no no-'
'You make this harder than this has to be, Jayce. Your negative thoughts contribute to your suffering greatly. You need to heal… to return to a blissful state, this dreamless sleep.'
Field of dreamless solitude... No... It can't be, just as I've witnessed in the other timeline... It's happening here, again!
'You evil bastard-'
And finally Viktor stepped forward, his right hand still folded on Jayce's, without attempting to take the Hammer, seemingly concerned with something else. His left hand, the fingers of his left hand, lifting toward Jayce's forehead. Unrelenting. Calculating.
"Viktor, please, listen to me, stop this.' Jayce felt disgusted by his pleading tone. He had tried to convince, to argue, to rage and for now, begging seems almost a natural course of action. Saying he felt terrified would be an understatement. Jayce had seen what Viktor could do, what he was capable of. His fingers positioned on the foreheads of his soon-to-be following, his use of the Arcane to dominate. To conquer... minds. Everyone's final checkmate, whether they struggled or yielded, nothing would make any difference to the inevitable outcome which awaited his victims. And Jayce couldn't escape the same happening to him, still struggling against the restraining arms. Even though, as Viktor explained, resistance-
'Resistance is futile indeed, my dear Jayce.'
Damn, reading minds is no longer a theory it seems. The Arcane changed you, Viktor. And not for the better.
'You have changed Viktor. I don't recognize you anymore. Are you still in there, somewhere, deep inside that body of yours, Viktor?' Jayce asked him, trying to buy some time. Trying to stall in any way possible.
There has to be solution I didn't come up with... Please, let me think.
'The Arcane augmented me, nothing more, nothing less. You are-' Viktor waited, 'indeed frightened by it…' He raised one eyebrow, his gaze still trained on Jayce's face, studying him for a second. Viktor's amber eyes bore into his. Like poison. Like a mind-altering drug. Like the Arcane already affected him.
'Oh but Jayce, your mathematical equation is not correct in this case, about what I'm intending to do with you.. I'm not that interested in taking over your body and turning you into a mere subordinate, Jayce. Though, some augmentation would probably support you in self-regulating, nonetheless.'
'Ah, you are one to talk about self-regulation. I will compare yours when I'm about to blast your insides out.' Jayce retorted, his voice confirming what Viktor said, about him losing control of the situation. 'Let's find out now, shall we? In a fair fight!'
In a final effort, Jayce struggled to get out of the iron grip, his physical strength temporarily increased by the sheer panic taking hold of his body, like electricity cursing through his veins. Viktor would possess him, take over if he didn't act quick. So whatever happens, Jayce decided he wouldn't back down and fight with everything he got. Viktor's fingers were already touching him softly, caressing him seemingly sadistically like the devil torturing his victims, before corrupting Jayce's soul. He clawed with his hands, trying to push the metallic arms away, but it only tightened its grip more and more, squeezing his windpipe shut.
His windpipe… Would Viktor actually kill him in the end? Had he had enough of Jayce's resistant spirit?
Jayce only briefly noticed the hammer slipping away, even though no sound followed of his weapon hitting the ground. He heard Viktor muttering something. Jayce averted his gaze, afraid of what would come next. He couldn't take this any longer, his anger and anxiety almost shutting him down entirely. Someone or... something had taken over the Hammer, but that no longer mattered to Jayce. This unfortunately, would be his end. He'd better start taking in his final moments before he wouldn't be able to, as he would be turned into one of Viktor's "dolls". The spots and flashes of light grew bigger and bigger, his mouth making no sounds due to this chokehold. He approximately had one minute left before blacking out. The final countdown. He gasped for air, pushing and fighting as much as he could muster until spots colored his entire image…. black. Ringing in his ears, his hearing still intact, blood rushing through his veins, his heart hammering in his chest. His muscles no longer working properly.
Jayce couldnt stand upright anymore, he felt his knees giving out. The robot choking him holding him upright the only thing standing in between him remaining vertical or collapsing into the dirt. To make matters worse, Viktor continued his incoherent talk about Jayce's health whilst the robot kept on squeezing the living hell out of him.So much for consistency, I suppose.
'However, I am interested in speeding up your recovery, Jayce. I will make sure you rest as long as you need to and that you actually take time to recover fully, Jayce. No more distractions, no more council obligations. Not feeling pressured to do your duty.' Viktor concluded, his fingers touching Jayce's jaw, and working up from his jaw to his cheek, to his forehead. Jayce felt like losing his mind was preferable to keeping his sanity right now.
'Only four words….' Viktor chanted, 'Peaceful, rested, secure, calm... Peace, rest, secure, calm...' Four words, repeated like a mantra. Like a spell casted.
Like a mage.
In spite of him starting to feel sick, Jayce tried to stay conscious at all costs. His windpipe was on fire. His lungs were on fire. His body would shut down soon, the ringing in his ears getting louder. The words almost indistinguishable.
'You will feel at peace, you feel rested, so very secure and entirely calm…..'
Jayce eventually slumped down, any fighting spirit or remaining resistance vanished. Realising his body gave out, Jayce didn't want to fight any longer. He could not fight anymore.
I am done fighting.
'….At peace, you are safe, you can let go,'
Strangely enough, he could breathe again. Jayce greedily sucked in more air and felt some energy returning by taking in more oxygen. He gasped for air, but his own muscles still refused working regardless. His body was gradually lowered to the ground. Hm, no more metallic arms, the two arms holding him in a tight embrace gone. He succumbed, still gasping. Everything seemed to slow down... involuntarily. Spinning nonetheless, but slowing down more and more with every breath he took. And as he couldn't see and hear properly anymore, his senses dulled, he smelled a scent, very familiar, and unmistakably Viktor's.
Viktor…. I am so sorry I couldn't safe you too. I failed the both of us.
'... you feel secure and calm.'
Viktor started humming, his voice almost…. Pleasant to his ears?
The humming continued some time. Jayce's breathing slowed down even more, him resting in the arms of what was left of his best friend before the Arcane took over. In Jayce's exhausted state, he could almost imagine the old Viktor being there. Like nothing happened.
I am so, so sorry, Viktor.
Until five fingers touched his forehead.
'Sleep. You will sleep now, dear Jayce. Know I will protect you from any harm.'
'Your self-inflicted harm included, Jayce.'
And Jayce finally descended into the realm of sleep and knew no more.
TO BE CONTINUED
Notes:
NB: you will notice, both Viktor's and Jayce's P.O.V. will be used.
Hi reader, thank you for reading this first chapter. Sooo, do you want me to continue? Let me know in the comments what you think. Of course I like to interact with my readers.
And…. Next time, Viktor's P.O.V.