Viktor sits on his cozy knit couch in his living room, watching, studying the man presenting his latest invention—correction, their latest invention—at the Hextech Convention that is currently being televised. Golden eyes with specks of coral green look directly into the camera, piercing as ever. Sharp jaw line, strong and well defined, littered with salt and pepper hair. Hair slicked back and neatly cut in a high fade with a side part. A confident and bright smile that could rival the sun's shine.

Everything in life has a price, whether it's a transaction of goods or services, or even people. It's hard to admit the last part, but even people can be bought. Jayce Talis, in all his righteous glory, was no different. He waves to the audience, rehearsed smile in place. To anyone who didn't know the man, he'd look happy, in his element as the perfect poster boy. Viktor knew how much he hated those events, though. The uproar it garners from the audience has Viktor turning down the volume with a roll of his eyes, despondent disappointment pulling in his furrowed brows, but still watching.

Pompous bastard.

The idea to have these plasma devices made, intricate little things, had been Jayce's, yes, but it had been Viktor who had helped him perfect it. Quick to correct the other's work at the Academy, solving equations the other had a hard time with. Pointing out errors in his calculations, circling problem areas, fixing the wiring for the exhaust function of the device. Making it work so it would send electromagnetic signals into the air to dispel toxic particles successfully.

Viktor had not been in it for the fame or the credit. He had not been in it for the money or the prestige. He had been in it because his own city state was in a disarray, a dump for Piltover to throw all their shit into and reap its benefits from the mines that were buried deep underground. Fog so thick you could barely see on bad days. Needing a mask on most good days in order to be able to breathe a teensy-weensy bit of clean air.

No, he had been in it because he wanted to distribute these devices to the less fortunate, at no cost, except his own blood, sweat and tears. They could mass produce it, work with a non-profit organization to distribute. Made money, if Jayce wanted, off sponsorships or marketing. Instead, Jayce had gone behind his back and paired up with Noxus Incorporated, effectively ending their friendship and partnership—and whatever the fuck else had been brewing between them. Like a stab wound to the back, the knife was still lodged in there, open and aching and bleeding.

It was still odd seeing the device on actual display, though. The glass sphere, clear as day, sat a top a square container. Its insides filled with gases that, when coaxed by the current being produced below in the box by the turbines and generator, emit electrically charged tendrils that reach out all over the room in different arrays of vibrant, lively colors, bathing the Man of Progress in shades of pinks and blues that only served to make his tan skin glow in an appealing way. The crowd oohs and aahs as Jayce places a large, rough hand on the sphere without being shocked. A feat that Viktor himself had achieved. At that moment he hated the man. Their invention was not supposed to go public—ever. Seeing it from afar, almost a world's away at this point, left an uncomfortable feeling on his chest, empty and aching.

Yet… yet that inner part of him still craved his company. Could still smell the earthy fire that lingered in his apartment whenever he'd come and scent the place with the excuse of 'wanting to make it feel like the lab' for Viktor. Viktor always wanted to snort, dismiss the Alpha with his lofty ideals of courting—as if Viktor didn't know the attraction Jayce held for him. His instincts preened and purred whenever he'd remember the way Jayce always had a hand on him. It didn't matter what they were discussing or doing, Jayce always had a damn hand or kept himself pressed to his side, present and attentive, protective even. That instinctual part of Viktor was always something he wanted to be rid of, an inconvenience.

A flick of his wrist later, a press on the remote, and the TV is off, the afterimage of a grinning man he no longer knew etched for the briefest second on the screen.

He sighs, lips pursing. Images, memories, begin to flood his head. Of better times, of better moments, of better days when what he felt for Jayce was affection in its purest form instead of the disdain he now held for the man.

-ღ-

"—and if we add this function to the end of it, it could work. Like, really work, V!" Jayce jumps in excitement, grabbing a hold of Viktor's arms before bringing him into a crushing hug. His pheromones fill the lab. The smoky scent invading his nostrils, rich and sweet.

They were currently working on a side project. A sort of device that allowed for medical professionals to see the veins with a flash—a vein finder to be exact. At the moment, the main issue had been finding the correct type of light that would work with it. They had landed on near-infrared. When used, it would interpret the light the tissue reflects back, projecting an image on the skin in real time. Viktor had suggested it, Jayce ran along with it, and now here they were.

It wouldn't be an issue if the beast of a man's light stubble wasn't digging into his fucking scent gland, sensitive and exposed. He clears his throat, low and professional, "Jayce, must you insist on always hugging me at every minor break through?"

Jayce pulls back, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile, "oh, right. Sorry." The fiery scent shifts to something more subtle, but still imposing. It wasn't a bad scent, not at all, but it still had its, uh, effects on Viktor, whose inner Omega had him shifting, baring his neck the slightest bit. He quickly masked it by fixing his waist coat and dusting his shoulders as if Jayce had dirtied him, getting the scent off his clothes as if he was immune to it or as if it would actually come off, an impossibility. He always ended up smelling of water lilies mixed with crackling camp fires.

"'S okay. We have to get the prototype out. I need my soldering kit and goggl—"

Jayce huffs, "Viiiiiiiik, we have been going at it the whole day. It is eight at night. We got here at six in the morning." Viktor doesn't say how he got here before the sun even bathed the morning with its yellows and oranges, choosing to keep his face controlled as Jayce kept speaking. "I wanna take you somewhere."

Viktor raises an eyebrow at this, "since when do you want to take me places?"

Jayce falters, "I-uhm-well, why not? We're partners. Why wouldn't we be able to hang out?"

Viktor hums, considering it, "what's in it for me?"

"My company duh," the Alpha huffs up his chest, tall and proud. Viktor rolls his eyes playfully.

"So humble, Jayce," he muses, "but I see you every day. Even I need a rest from you."

He pouts, "so you hate me."

"I didn't say that."

"Could have as well said it."

Viktor has to keep his face controlled around this man. They were officially not working anymore apparently, so the air felt less focused, more light and free of responsibilities. He decided to entertain the tall man.

"Very well," he does a motion with his hand for him to direct them. Jayce beams that smile that Viktor was trying to get accustomed to. Always directed at him, so genuine and elated, Always so touchy, too. As if Viktor was an extension of him.

"Okayokay."

Jayce hands him his cane, then grabs his free hand—so freaking touchy—and begins to lead them outside their lab. His long legs take large strides, making it hard for Viktor to keep up. He tugs on his hand, insistent. "Jayce, slow down. We have all night."

"Sorry, it's the first time you say yes to me."

Viktor's eyes widen in question, "oh, is it now?"

But Jayce just shrugs and continues to direct them down the hall, to the left. They pass large wooden picture frames of past esteemed professors, large Roman columns, up a set of winding stairs. He's never been this far up in the building, usually confined to the four walls of the lab with Jayce. They go through a door that leads into a long corridor with motion detection lamps set every few feet, and before Viktor knows it more steps.

He groans, "you're going to carry me back, Talis."

Jayce perks up, "on my back if necessary. We're almost there, I promise."

Just as they near the end of the stairs, his knee complaining already, Viktor sees the heavy oak door. Its frame weathered and cracked but still sturdy and durable. "We're here," Jayce smiles, pulling the bar up that held the door closed from the inside, its creaking complain echoing in the silence. He opens it, the cool Piltover breeze hitting his face. There's a few more steps but after climbing those, what he sees is breathtaking. The horizon, in its vast dark canvas, littered with beautiful twinkling stars that elicit the inspiration for myths and legends. The pregnant moon is the brightest of them all, like a glimmering pendant decorating the night sky, pretty and shining.

Viktor's awe struck. Not only that, but his water lily scent had sweetened considerably, limpid and dewy. Jayce takes pause at this, fist tightening on his side, tense for the briefest second, but nothing else is said. His fiery scent grows thicker, heavy with tones of charred sandalwood. Viktor shakes his head, his body reacting unwillingly, "we need to invent something to block out these damn scents. You reek." He didn't want to admit it was more for him than anything. That he rather liked knowing the Alpha was sensitive to him, even if just because of their instinctual dynamics.

Jayce chuckles, but it's small and shy, "sorry. I can already tell you like it, though." He seems to think on what Vik said as they start walking further into the rooftop, moving to the ledge. There's a bench there. Probably built with this very purpose, to admire and contemplate. "I don't know about that. I'd hate to not be able to smell you." It's said almost as if he's thinking out loud.

Viktor smiles, sitting down next to Jayce, "you only say it because Omegas are so rare."

"Ah, perhaps. I dunno. I've met maybe three Omegas in my life, yet—" he stops himself, staring into Viktor's eyes as if suddenly realizing who he's speaking to. "Never mind, it's silly."

"We listen and we don't judge, Talis, or whatever they say nowadays," Viktor quips, leaning back, eyes taking their fill of the beautiful canvas above that Mother Nature painted for them tonight. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is," he whispers. Jayce's scent grows heavier at that, which has Viktor's eyes flitting to him. Jayce quickly averts his gaze. Viktor doesn't think much of it. He wasn't always like that, odd and insecure around him, but he drummed it up to it being the first time they hung out outside of work, nerves heightened and on edge.

"We won't get in trouble, will we?" Viktor asks, changing the subject. "I'd love to stay here a while."

"No…" Jayce mumbles almost guilty, which has Viktor turning back to him but before he can glare daggers at him, he puts his hands up defensively, "I'm not telling, are you telling?"

"Jayce Talis. The first time I hang out with you outside of work and you're trying to get me kicked out of the Academy?" His tone sours slightly, not really opposed to breaking the rules but not if it means getting kicked out.

"So you're a snitch, Viktor?"

"That's not what I said."

"That's what I got from that. You know what they say about snitches," he responds, giving him a pointed look, playful and light.

Viktor rolls his eyes, "If we get caught I'll tell them you kidnapped me."

"They won't ever believe you."

"Who has the cane, Jayce?"

Jayce's shoulders drop, admitting defeat. The air between them is familiar, scents mingling perfectly together to create a zesty fire, like slow burning incense. Viktor tries to repress a grin, but is unable to. This back and forth is new, but the familiarity of them is not. It had been a few months now of getting to know Jayce. The Jayce inside the lab was not messy with his notes but his diagrams and equations were all over the place. Like the bright man he is, he works in the chaos of it all. Viktor understood that pretty quick. It took him by surprise when he was able to fall into rhythm with him. Like a well oiled cog machine, working in tandem with Jayce was easy, secure. They relied on each other a lot to make sure their projects came to fruition.

The Jayce before him right now he had to wait and formulate his opinion on. So far, though, he liked what he saw. His inner omega liked him, too. Like a cat rubbing against its owner's leg, something inside of him purred every time Jayce would touch his arm, his thigh, or even his neck every now and then as they kept talking into the night. Yeah, Jayce Talis was alright in his book.

-ღ-

Viktor snapped away from the memory. That night had left him with a good impression of the man. Not only had he been a good scholar, but he had been a great addition to his friend's list that consisted of a whopping two people at the time, Jayce included. Now it was a little longer by three people, but Jayce's name had been strike-over many, many, many times. Ripped to shreds and burnt along with the vestigial remains of their friendship, now nonexistent.

He closes his eyes, lying on the comfort of his too large bed, feeling empty and cold. He had a long day tomorrow at the lab. An important meeting to attend to. He couldn't waste his time thinking back, reminiscing on how things had been. It's for fools who didn't know what they wanted. Viktor knew what he wanted, and it was definitely not Jayce Talis anymore.

Not. At. All.