Chapter Text
The clapping lasts for a solid two minutes before it dies down. There are smiles on the crew’s faces. A few tears here and there. The sense of accomplishment is palpable as the cast concludes it’s final day of filming.
And like that, Jayce’s first real project comes to an end.
jaycetalistoothgap [18:09 PM]: I’m going to be sick, I’ve cried for the last hour *dies*
h3ldbi@ffection [18:12 PM]: dfljgbdflweoprfj I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY DIED. DID THEY DIE??
fujo4lyfe [18:24 PM]: at least they KISSED. THEY KISSED RIGHT?!! If that wasn’t a kiss I’m literally going to find the writers’ addresses jfc IT LOOKED LIKE A KISS BUT THERE WAS ALL THIS SMOKE AND SHIT LIKE WTF???
yuriduty69 [19:05 PM]: ….idk what I’m going to do with my life after this….
jaycetalistoothgap replying to yuriduty69 [19:09 PM]: sister that’s why AO3 exists
yuriduty69 replying to jaycetalistoothgap [19:10 PM]: I lay down my life for someone to make them fuck frrrr 10k of them in that lab exploring each other’s bodies like the only discovery they care about is how many holes they can fill at once
jaycetalistoothgap replying to yuriduty69 [19:10 PM]: your digital footprint is insane. I’m here for it. (DMs you a link)
ekkoplsmarryme [19:33 PM]: I think Ekko should marry me
highjinx1000 replying to ekkoplsmarryme [19:34 PM]: careful OP his gf is going to kill you
ekkoplsmarryme replying to highjinx1000 [19:35 PM]: & WHAT A HAPPY DEATH IT’D BE
MHJG00069 [20:07 PM]: I’ll miss the cast!! Series legit got so much better because of them, even when the writing was kind of shit (lbffr) they were so good. I can’t wait for season 2, but also I’m watching everything they’re in cause I love them. *cries in a corner*
***
The surprise success of the season finale is far greater than anything Jayce might’ve expected. There are articles written about its execution. Some critics are still not satisfied, but the fans more generally seem happy with it. Especially with the story of the two scientists, and their heartbreaking ending. It’s a lot to process at first. The week prior to the episode’s release, the magazine articles are published. It adds to the buzz surrounding the cast, and before long Jayce finds his email and phone being bombarded with reporters and industry professionals alike.
It should be an exciting moment in his life, but he would be lying if there wasn’t a bit of mourning involved too. The role had taken a lot out of him, particularly the last three episodes. He had thrown himself into the role, and came out on the other end feeling like perhaps he had given a bit too much in the process.
“What are you thinking about?” Viktor nuzzles his neck. Buried beneath the covers, hands wrapped around Jayce’s waist, he looks warm and cozy. He’s starting to slowly drift into sleep, so Jayce brings him further into his arms.
“How I’ll miss the show,” he admits.
Viktor hums.
“It wasn’t perfect, but I guess I managed to make friends here. And,” he kisses the top of Viktor’s head, “I met you, of course. It’s bittersweet.”
Viktor yawns. “There will be other great projects. Even better ones. But me too. I’ll miss it.”
“Our little shared dressing room.”
“And the stale bread.”
Jayce laughs.
“One hell of a souvenir though,” Viktor says as he hugs Jayce tighter. Like he’s being asked to let go but he refuses to.
Jayce finally closes his eyes. “I can’t believe you kept that.”
Viktor snorts. “They told me I could.”
“You definitely stole it.”
“They said they were going to throw away the mask anyway. I’m doing them a favor.”
“If they come knocking on our door, I’m going to give you in.”
“Would you really?” Viktor pushes away to look at him. Amused.
Jayce chuckles. “No. I’d tell them someone from the crew must have thrown it away. They should really be more careful about these things.”
Viktor smirks.
The offer comes in less than a month later. He’s at the gym, working out because now that he has more time he needs to idle himself with something. Viktor doesn’t join him, still, despite Jayce having laid out a very convincing plan he’s thoroughly researched to help further strengthen his leg. Instead he does the exercises at homes on a yoga mat, largely because Jayce was annoying enough about it and because, as he begrudgingly admitted, it actually does seem to be helping.
Sky calls him. Sky Young is their new manager. Hired to represent them both, and she’s damn good doing it.
“Jayce!” Her obvious excitement rings as a good sign.
“Hey Sky, good news I hope?” He wipes sweat from his brow and finds a quiet corner to hold the conversation.
“Yes! Remember that audition tape you sent last month?”
How could he forget. He’d done ten takes because none prior had felt right, much to Viktor’s exasperation. “That was great, Jayce,” he’d said for the hundredth time, but it wasn’t perfect and anything short of that was trash. He needed his best if he was to land a role in a film led by legendary director, Grayson, and really wanted the role. Not just because he was already itching to work (and could ride the height of the show’s success and his increased fame) but because the script had be interesting. Had depth and required more than just special effects to be worthwhile. When he finally responds to Sky, he hopes his tone doesn’t betray how hopeful he feels. “I remember.”
Sky doesn’t feel the need to delay the news. “You got the part! Jayce, you got it!”
He gapes for what feels like an eternity. “I-I got the part,” he repeats dumbly.
“Yes!”
“YES!” He exclaims loudly. A few other gym-goers eye him wearily, but Jayce doesn’t care. “Sky this is amazing!”
“Right?! I’ll come over tomorrow to go over the contracts, but this is a really good contract, Jayce. We’re talking A-list paycheck and actual benefits. There’d be filming on location for about half a year, give or take, and then post-production before it releases maybe the year after just in time for award season.”
Filming on location. “Wait what?”
“Hm? What’s wrong?” She sounds like she’s doing something around her apartment. Shuffling around papers and a kettle boils somewhere in the background.
“On location. Where?”
“Somewhere in Runeterra. I need to look at the directions, exactly. A small city, since they’re going for authenticity, of course.” The kettle’s shrill comes to a slow death. Sky suddenly pauses mid-sentence (she was explaining something about why the city was chosen). “Oh,” she says quietly.
Neither of them need to say why the pause. Sky, as their manager and friend, already knows about him and Viktor. “Listen, it’s okay. I don’t think it’s far enough that he wouldn’t be able to come visit. Hell, I bet he could stay with you for a month, too. While he auditions for roles.”
“I know, I…” he trails off.
“This is a great opportunity, Jayce.” Sky reminds him quietly.
“It is. And I want it, I do.” He sighs. “We’ll talk more tomorrow?”
“Yeah! I’ll come over at around noon.”
“Thanks Sky, you’re the best.”
That evening he goes to Viktor’s apartment. He promised to help him put together a bookshelf. He’d finally gotten tired of having to bend down to grab books from piles on the floor. They work mostly quietly, Jayce too tense still to broach the subject of Sky’s news. But of course, it doesn’t take much for Viktor to pick up on something being wrong. Jayce isn’t a particularly great liar, and with emotions painted on his face, he’s far too easy to read.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Viktor finally asks.
“What? N-nothing’s wrong.” Jayce doesn’t sound convincing even to himself. Viktor levels him a look that says stop bullshitting me, I know you’re lying. And Jayce can do nothing but relent. He sighs. Drags a hand across his face and stares pointedly at the screw he’d been holding. “I got news from Sky. I got the part for Grayson’s film.” He chances a glance at Viktor, who goes from serious to blatantly overjoyed.
“Jayce, that’s amazing! Why the hell are you sulking then? Did you not get the part that you auditioned for?” Viktor steps closer. He props his cane beside the nearly built shelf so he can grab Jayce’s face in both hands and force the latter to look at him. “Jayce, look at me. Why aren’t you jumping for joy?”
Jayce sulks. He’s being childish, really. Unprofessional and spoiled because he got too comfortable. It was easy when the two were on set together, and he’d even told Viktor when they decided to go independent that they didn’t have to work together. But here he was, acting ungrateful. He wraps his arms around Viktor’s waist. “We’re filming on location for about four months.”
Viktor processes the information before he says a quiet oh.
“Yeah. I know, I’m happy. Really! I just,” he buries his nose in Viktor’s hair, “I got so used to us being together all the time.”
Viktor remains oddly quiet for a moment. No immediate quips and teasing remarks. But eventually he pats Jayce’s shoulder soothing. “It’s fine, Jayce.”
“You can come visit me. While, uh, you’re auditioning. Sky thinks it wouldn’t be a problem. I know families visit on set all the time, almost half a year is a long time, after all.” He rambles. Tries not to think about the fact that he implied Viktor is family, which he is, but does Viktor think that too? He hasn’t asked him to move in together because he’s pretty sure he’s being overly enthusiastic. Fears spooking Viktor by being too eager and needy.
“That’s right,” Viktor chuckles, “I can come visit. So it’s not really a problem, is it?”
Jayce pulls away and looks at him. Tries to see any doubt or concern, but as always Viktor is the epitome of calm and collected. The corner of his mouth slightly curls with the hint of a smile, and Jayce finally thinks that maybe it won’t be so bad. They can make it work.
“No, it’s not.”
He tries not to think about how many actors’ relationships fizzle out because of busy schedules and months spent apart. Tells himself they’ll be fine, and tries to focus instead on the excitement of the news and the fact that he has a new project.
“So, I take it things are going well with you and Vi.” Jayce comments as Cait smiles like an idiot at her phone for the tenth time. She has enough sense of shame to shove her phone back into her pocket.
“Sorry,” she laughs awkwardly.
Jayce shakes his head. “Are you happy, Cait? Really, truly happy?”
Cait makes a face. Like he’s being overly protective. “Yes, Jayce. I am.”
They’re at a clothing store, and Jayce is there, against his wishes, because he was asked to help Cait pick a dress for an event. She’s bringing Vi along, and, per her words, wants to look elegant and slutty. Jayce has a very narrow understanding of what that even means, so he’s forced to watch as Cait scans racks of dresses. The shop assistant tries to help, but Cait is stubborn and knows what she likes. It’s easier if she does things herself, and too soon gets annoyed with the choices brought to her (too long, too short, too wrong).
“Let me try this one on,” she grabs a blue dress and waltz towards the dressing room.
Jayce perches himself on one of the chairs and sighs. He should be packing, probably. Or at least thinking about what he should pack. He’s been told he’ll likely have a couple weekends where he can come back home, but he’s never taken a trip away for so long and has no sense of what is and isn’t worth taking with him. By nature he’s an over-packer and doesn’t want to mess things up.
“Excuse me,” he’s interrupted from his spiraling thoughts by a young woman.
He looks up, slightly confused at first. Unsure whether she was talking to him or not. “Me?”
She nods. “You’re Jayce Talis, right?”
Jayce feels himself blush. The young woman, sporting a short bob and round glasses, looks at him with shining eyes and a nervous smile. “Yes, I am.”
The girl half squeals, which draws the attention from a few other shoppers in the store. “Can I have your autograph?!” She shoves a notebook towards him, along with glittery pink pen.
“Uh,” he laughs nervously, “sure?” This is new to him. He’s been recognized in public before, but no one has really bothered him. Sure, he knows people snap pictures and whatnot, and Sky has told him and Viktor that they’re higher profile now, which means they need to be a bit more discrete if they want their relationship to at least maintain some form of privacy. So he feels stiff when he signs his name onto that sheet of paper, and even more so when the girl, and a few others who, seeing her, feel more emboldened to approach him, start asking him questions.
Jayce backs away nervously.
“I loved you in the show!” She shrills. “You were my favorite character!”
He bows his head sheepishly. “Thank you so much. I’m glad.” If Viktor were here he would give Jayce so much shit for this. You love the attention, huh, golden boy?
“Is, um, are you and Viktor still in touch?” She whispers quietly.
“Uhh…everyone from the cast is still in touch.” He replies. It’s not that Jayce minds telling people, it’s just that he would prefer not to decide on such an official statement without first knowing if Viktor is okay with everyone finally knowing.
She pouts at the non-answer. But before she can badger him for something more concrete, Cait walks out of the dressing room and glares at the crowd. She looks pointedly at one of the assistants. “I thought I was told I could have a peaceful shopping experience.”
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Kiramman,” the assistant shoos the crowd away.
“Thanks, Cait.”
“You’re gonna have to work on that. It’s gonna get worse, Mr Movie Star.”
“I know…”
“So? What do you think?”
Jayce assess the dress in question. It’s a silky dark blue dress that clings to her waist perfect, and drapes around her frame like it was tailored to her body. The neckline plunges inappropriately low, and when she turns around he realizes the back is even lower. Held together by a criss-cross of thin straps, the dress looks like it might blow off of her with a gust of wind.
“It’s nice.”
Cait rolls her eyes. “Jayce. Is this the kind of dress Vi will want to rip off of me?”
Jayce grimaces at the thought. He’d really prefer not to think about Cait’s sex life. “Cait, I’m pretty sure the dress could be ripped off just by looking at it.”
She grins.
“Which is too say,” he says more seriously, “isn’t it kind of revealing?”
She deadpans a more annoyed glare. “Jayce you’re such a prude.”
“I’m not! I’m just saying, it’s, it’s very booby.”
Cait cups her breast and Jayce winces. “I know. That’s the whole point. Vi is always looking at them, I want her to look harder and finally make a fucking move.”
Someone, probably another customer or maybe an assistant, giggle. The fact that Cait has no problem having this conversation in front of others is beyond him. “Yeah, well, I’m sure she won’t be able to hold back.”
“Good. Maybe I should get her drunk like you and Vik-“
“Okay! Let’s go, please.” Jayce groans.
She sticks her tongue out at him and darts back into the dressing room.
“Speaking of,” Jayce fiddles with his phone outside her dressing room.
“Hm?”
“I was thinking of cooking dinner at my place next weekend. Might be nice to catch up with friends before I leave. Would you and Vi join?”
She peeks her head out with an amused expression. “Double-date at your place?”
Jayce huffs in exasperation. “Something like that.”
“Yeah, I think that’d be fun. At least you’re a good cook.”
“Haha, glad I’m good for something.”
“Glad we’re in agreement, then.”
Jayce spends much of that Saturday cleaning up his apartment, and when Viktor arrives in the late afternoon he finally starts preparing for dinner. Viktor, less familiar with cooking than Jayce, mostly hovers in the periphery, trying to figure out what he can help with without the risk of ruining the dish or, worse, cutting his finger. Jayce is glad he has at least this as an advantage. Something he can tease Viktor about and know no matter how much Viktor can argue, Jayce is right. Even greater a pleasure of being able to do something for him, like preparing meals Viktor will actually enjoy. A picky eater whose tastes Jayce has slowly come to figure out. Viktor likes warm foods, especially soups and porridges, even in the heat of summer. Prefers sweets above of all else, especially sweet milk which Jayce had no clue what it was until Viktor mentioned, off hand, that it was his favorite and Jayce proceeded to track down the recipe and memorized it.
“You’re quiet,” he observes as he sears the lamb on the cast-iron skillet.
Viktor fiddles with an olive. “Just thinking.”
“Nothing new there,” Jayce chuckles. “About?” He glances up at Viktor, who only shrugs.
“Nothing important. Probably that I’m getting hungry.” He smirks. In the back of Jayce’s mind, he knows Viktor’s evading the subject. Viktor’s a much better liar than Jayce is, but even he can’t always manage to get away with it. Maybe in part because Jayce likes to spend their time unearthing every quirk of Viktor’s expressions, and committing them to memory. A slight downturn of his lips, a furrow of his brow, a sigh, etc.. Before he can say anything, there’s a knock at his door.
“I’ll get it,” Viktor makes his escape.
“Hey Vik!” Vi’s voice comes from the hallway.
“Hi Vi, Cait, come in.”
“We brought some wine,” Jayce hears Cait. “Where’s Jayce?”
“I’m in the kitchen!” He calls out.
“Smells delicious, pretty boy!”
He turns to greet them. “I hope you like lamb.”
“Not sure I’ve had it, but I’m sure I will.” Vi sniffs the air and nods in approval.
“What?” Jayce asks Cait when she gives him an amused look.
“You look like the perfect housewife.”
Viktor snorts.
Jayce grumbles. “You just got here and already giving me shit.”
“It’s true, isn’t it, Viktor? He’d make a great husband.”
Viktor’s cheeks blush slightly. His eyes dart to Jayce before he looks away and ignores Cait entirely. “Let me get you something to drink.”
Dinner, Jayce would like to think, is a success. He’d prepared roasted vegetables to go along with the lamb, as well as a creamy polenta. The red wine Cait and Vi brought flows easily, and the conversation between the four flickers between topics about Cait’s upcoming book, Vi’s recent stunt work and the shitty conditions some sets have, and so on. It’s easy, and Jayce looks between his friends, admiring the way Viktor actually laughs at something Cait says, and how simple things are now, he realizes all of this is going to change. If his career takes off in the way it appears to be headed, it might be harder to find times like these when they can gather together. When he can go to grocery store and worry only about glances and very few people coming up to him.
It’s all going well, until the topic of his upcoming project is broached.
“You ready for the long-distance relationship?” Vi asks point blank.
Jayce squirms uncomfortably in his seat. “It’ll be temporary. We’ll make it work.”
Viktor stares pointedly at his plate. Pushes an asparagus around like it’s offended him.
“Besides, Viktor’s going to visit the set. Stay for a while. At least while he waits to hear back from other auditions. He’s sent a few recordings the last month, too.” Jayce knows he sounds on edge, and the pitying look Cait gives him makes him wince.
Vi’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean? Waiting for other projects?”
Viktor tenses beside him. His head shoots up and he stares at Vi with a concerned expression. Jayce, unsure why the change, looks between them.
“Uh, that he’s waiting to hear back?” It comes out more as a question than a statement.
“Vi-“
“I thought he got an offer, though? That’s what Jinx said. Sevika was pissed one of her actors lost on the role. They’re filming in this really cool seaport for like half a fucking year.”
“…” Viktor’s mouth opens and closes, but in the end he doesn’t say anything and just returns to staring at his plate.
Jayce looks at him. “What?”
“Oh,” it finally dawns on Vi that maybe she’s spilled something Jayce, based on Viktor’s expression, should have never known about. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” She trails off with a nervous laugh.
“I was going to mention it later,” Viktor mumbles.
That, Jayce realizes, is what Viktor had been quiet about. That he didn’t tell Jayce about it right away in excitement means something about it is wrong. He frowns. “You should take it, of course.” He says seriously.
“Not now, Jayce.”
“What do you mean? Viktor you’ve worked so hard, of course you should take it.”
“Not now, Jayce!” Viktor snaps. The table goes still, and belatedly Viktor seems to recall that they’re not alone. “Sorry,” he looks apologetically at Cait and Vi, “I was just still thinking about. No big deal. I was going to bring it up tonight, anyway.”
Vi and Cait glance at each other.
Jayce feels out of his depth. Like they know something he’s not privy to and it’s starting to annoy him. Because why on earth didn’t Viktor tell him? If enough time has passed for Vi to hear about it from Jinx, who heard it from Sevika, surely there was enough time for Jayce to know. And why the hell didn’t Sky tell him?
The rest of dinner passes with a strange tension. Vi and Cait try alleviating the atmosphere with their banter, but eventually they call it a night and Jayce doesn’t miss the “sorry” Vi mouths at Viktor. When Viktor is slowly clearing out a plate, Jayce finally can’t take it anymore.
“You didn’t tell me,” Jayce’s hurt is obvious.
Viktor wrings his hands. “I wasn’t sure it was worth mentioning.” He stares at the table instead of looking at Jayce.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know! I-I don’t know if I want to do it yet.” He finally glances at Jayce.
Jayce suddenly understands. “You have to take it.”
Viktor doesn’t answer.
“You have to take it. Otherwise you’re going to hate me and yourself.” Jayce says resolutely.
“And what about you? Doesn’t it bother you?” Viktor retorts stubbornly. Like he’s picking a fight with Jayce for no reason other than because he hates to be wrong and knows that he is.
“Of course it bothers me!” Jayce snaps. “It bothers me that you think I’m pathetic enough to not be able to handle six months. I’m too fucking competitive to win just because you didn’t even try, and you are too and you know it! Did you think about how that’d make me feel??” He yells more than he intends to. He’s not sure if he’s angry at Viktor for thinking so little of him, or if he’s pissed at himself for giving the impression that he’s too weak to take it.
Viktor’s eyes flash with anger. He takes a tenuous step towards Jayce. “That’s your problem, Jayce! Thinking only about yourself! You don’t realize the extent of which people love you. You think you love the most because you’re open about it. A bleeding heart. But some of us don’t know how to be so obvious. How to say the things we feel, but it doesn’t mean we love any less.” He groans in frustration and throws his hand up in the air. The fingers wrapped around the handle of his cane are stark white.
Jayce, completely unprepared for that response, only gawks in confusion. The anger fizzles out like a smothered candle flame.
“What the hell am I supposed to do six months without you?” Viktor suddenly asks. All the stubborn anger ceding way to genuine anxiety. It’s a side of Viktor that Jayce hasn’t seen before, and why would he? They’ve been mostly together every day for half a year. Now their respective projects are taking them in opposite directions, and Viktor isn’t one to sulk and ask for things. He’s independent and endlessly stubborn. Except maybe less so than Jayce was led to believe. And the whole time Jayce thought he was the reason Viktor was holding back, and it turns out maybe it was Viktor’s own fear.
Jayce crosses the room and wraps Viktor in his arms and draws him close. Buries his nose in Viktor’s hair and smells the soft floral of the shampoo they share. The way Viktor in many ways now smells a bit like Jayce, and Jayce smells of him. In six months that smell will be gone. Viktor’s hands fist in Jayce’s shirt.
“I’m going to call you every day, you’re going to get sick of my voice.”
“That could never happen,” Viktor buries his face in Jayce’s chest.
“The moment I’m done filming I’ll go to you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
They’re at the supermarket like any other Saturday. Mundane routine that feels like it’s as fragile as fine porcelain. They avoid talking about everything, and instead try to go about their days as normally as possible. Viktor’s contract has been signed. Jayce leaves soon, himself. But they’re actors, so that Saturday they pretend that there’s nothing to concern themselves with except which tomatoes are the ripest and whether they should have spaghetti for dinner or tacos. Jayce promises to make potato pancakes for lunch.
A woman at the store is giving samples of berries they got in from a local farm. Jayce grabs a plump raspberry and without thinking offers it to Viktor wordlessly. Instead of grabbing it with his hand, Viktor takes it in his mouth.
Jayce’s grip on the pencil he’d been using to tick off items on their shopping list is so strong the pencil snaps.
Something catches at the base of Viktor’s throat. Raw and undignified. There’s a errant strand of hair draped across his forehead, and it sticks to sweat-dampened skin. The blush on his cheeks reminds Jayce of the strawberries they’d seen at the supermarket. His kiss-bitten lips as swollen as the raspberry Jayce had deposited into Viktor’s mouth. Who knew fruit could so easily unravel his train of thought? It’d taken everything in him not to do something that would likely earn him a charge for public indecency. Maybe he’s strung-out (too taut, too fragile), and maybe so is Viktor with the way he’d also fallen into Jayce the moment the apartment door was closed. Was it his, or Viktor’s? He can’t remember anything except driving to whichever was closest.
He’s aware, only partly, that he’s saying something. A semi-coherent babble of out-pouring feelings. Gods he’s so fucking chatty. So equally untethered to reality and anchored in the physicality of the sex itself; he knows this makes no sense, but nothing ever does when it comes to him and Viktor, anyway.
“Jayce,” Viktor gasps. His hands dig into Jayce’s back for purchase. Nails carve jagged scratches that sear pain and pleasure in equal parts. Jayce’s response is to kiss him. Wet tongue, hot mouth. The scrape of teeth and an exchange of body fluids. Throaty moans swallowed out of desperation.
He registers the groaning of the bed. How it creaks with every thrust. Quivers and shakes as Jayce fucks into Viktor harder. Hips angled just right, driving his cock to Viktor’s prostrate like he’ll get some sort of award for the performance. Not officially, but the reward is even sweeter. Viktor’s moans get louder. Loud enough that Jayce knows someone will complain. Beasts fucking at two in the afternoon, as if there weren’t other, more responsible, things to do; like put away groceries and cook lunch.
“Viktor, ah, fuck, I—“ Jayce’s hips stutter. Pace thrown off kilter by the strain of muscles about to snap. The looming orgasm he tries to stave off just a bit longer. Not yet. Not yet, please. More time. And maybe he’s no longer talking about the orgasm anymore. Viktor clings harder, breaths coming out as harsh pants. Back arched so beautifully Jayce wonders if he could make it snap.
“Harder,” Viktor demands. Hooks his leg around Jayce’s hip to push him closer.
The tension leading up to this was bound to break eventually. Only so much pressure a valve can take before the pipes burst. An impending parting. A pause in the mundane routine they built for themselves. All because they chose career paths that aren’t stationary. No desk job or shared cubicle. He leaves to be on location in two days, and this is how he’s coping. How they’re coping.
“I love you so much, Viktor,” Jayce buries his face in the crook of Viktor’s shoulder. Soft throat giving way to bony clavicle.
Viktor moans in response. They’re ripping apart at the seams now. Splitting ribcages open and letting the fleshy bits be exposed. He’d be scared of the intensity of the feeling if it wasn’t Viktor that cradles his beating heart.
When the orgasm finally rips through him, he has the mind to think it still isn’t enough. But the failed experiment of tethering himself permanently to Viktor at least gives fruit to a memory he imprints immediately on: Viktor splayed beneath him, chest heaving and stomach painted in white. He’ll use the memory for as long as it keeps him warm at night, all those months filming on location. Will masturbate to the sound of Viktor’s moans, conjure by imagination alone.
2 Years Later
There’s buzzing all around him as people weave in and out of the room. Someone is shining a pair of leather shoes in the corner, and another is carefully styling Viktor’s long hair. He’s growing it out for a role and it’s annoying how well it suits him. Gives him an air of elegance and refinement that’s actually quite unlike how rough Viktor can really be.
Jayce stares at him and in return gets and amused quirk of lips. “Focus, Jayce.”
Jayce’s knee bounces, and he struggles to sit still in his chair. “I’m focused.” He’s definitely thinking about the awards ceremony they’re going to, and not the fact that the stylist Sky hired decided to put Viktor in an outfit Jayce very much would like to rip off of him. The dark blue suit alone would’ve been enough to make Jayce’s head spin, but the detail at the waist, where it’s synched by an intricate gold belt, makes it even harder for him to not stare. It’s tailored to perfection, and goes nicely with his long hair. They’d even brought him a cane to match. The etchings of gold and azure glittered like a gem.
“Could have fooled me,” Viktor smirks, and Jayce realizes he’s been staring again. The girl doing his hair chuckles.
“Do we really have to go to this?” Jayce groans in frustration. The award ceremony promises to last for several godforsaken hours, and while sure it’ll be nice to see friends like Mel again, Jayce very much would prefer to go home and watch a movie. Or tear Viktor’s clothes off, actually. That would be the better option.
Viktor, despite teasing Jayce, also looks like he’d rather not go. But before he can say as much, Sky walks into the hotel room. “Of course you do. You’re both up for awards as best actors.”
Jayce clicks his tongue. This was some sort of sick joke, putting the two up for the award at the same time. The success of their respective films had been unprecedented. Viktor’s role as doctor investigating a recent plague garnered so much acclaim that the small budget film more than successfully recuperated its original budget. And Jayce’s period film had successfully catapulted him into a more serious actor after portraying a man grieving the loss of his daughter. He’d gotten to work with a young actress named Isha, and learned sign language not just for the role, but the be able to properly communicate with her on set. It had made him think about his time on set with Viktor, or on the day of the shoot with Gert.
“Sorry boys, but don’t forget that your stardom is going to help fund the academy. Best stay in the public eye for a while.”
“Now that’s an event I’m actually excited to go to.” In two weeks the Zaun Academy for the Arts is finally breaking ground. It’d taken two years not just to secure funding (largely made up of the money Jayce and Viktor made from their film) but building permits, as well. All the legal red tape that makes it difficult for anything to get done because no one in Piltover is eager to do anything that benefits Zaun without some sort of benefit on their end. The fact that Viktor and Jayce had been adamant that the academy, for obvious reasons, be built in Zaun district, was unsavory for many investors. Still, they managed to make it work and now, two years later, construction is about to begin. Jayce and Viktor are going there in a few days to talk to some locals about what they hope to get from the academy, and how it can become a vital part of their community.
Jayce smiles at Viktor. It’d been hard work, but it was worthwhile work. Viktor smiles back.
“Well, in due time. Do both of you have your speeches ready?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t prepare one.”
Jayce and Sky glare at Viktor, who shrugs.
“No, that’s bullshit you don’t get to pretend you have no chance of winning.” Jayce, much to the hairstylists dismay, stands abruptly.
Viktor gives him an once-over. Standing, the dark brown suit is easier to admire. Hugs around his muscles in a way he’s actually comfortable with, and the dark emerald shirt underneath is unbuttoned enough to show some of his chest. Just like he knows Viktor likes it. Jayce too was preparing for another role, which in fact had not only required him to bulk up considerably more, but had also forced him to grow a beard. He’d been surprised to find Viktor actually really liked it.
Jayce’s brow quirks in amusement. Now it’s Viktor who is caught staring, and he coughs into his fist and looks away. “I have no need for speeches, there are few people I need to thank, anyway.”
“Oh really? And who would that be?” Jayce challenges. He wants to see if Viktor can name the director of the film, or his coworkers and other producers, without fumbling to remember them.
“You.”
Jayce’s teasing dies immediately. The pit of his stomach flutters like a damn schoolboy, and he knows he’s probably blushing. Now with the beard at least he can hide it somewhat.
“And Ms Young, of course.” Viktor adds nonchalantly.
“Y-you’re impossible,” Jayce grumbles. He turns away and plops back onto the chair.
Behind him, Viktor chuckles.
Outside the venue, cameras will be flashing noisily. Photographers shouting actors’ names like they’re some sort of bidding war, and behind them fans that show up to glimpse their favorite stars shrieking with excitement. But for now they’re in the limousine, stuck in traffic.
“Ready?” Jayce squeezes Viktor’s hand. He knows Viktor, despite his cool exterior, gets nervous in front of crowds. Particularly chaotic ones with eyes trained especially on him.
Viktor grunts noncommittally. “Whether I like it or not.”
Jayce watches him fidget nervously with his cane. An idea strikes him and he leans close enough to whisper in Viktor’s ear. “I want to tear this suit off of you.”
Viktor shivers pleasantly. He turns towards Jayce and smirks. “I know. You make it very obvious.” He releases Jayce’s hand and places it on Jayce’s thigh. Slowly, it trails up. “I will need help getting out of it.”
Jayce inhales slowly. Viktor’s hand is dangerously close to Jayce’s crotch. “I’m always happy to assist.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You know,” Jayce shifts in his seat. Eyes the privacy partition that separates them from the driver. “It’s a forty minute drive to the venue.”
“Oh really?”
“Mm, yeah. I checked.” He leans to kiss Viktor’s neck. The heady smell of his cologne makes Jayce’s gut coil.
Viktor sighs and tips his head to the side. “I can’t come in these pants, Jayce.” Jayce nips his throat and enjoys the aborted moan Viktor is forced to swallow down. “Jayce!” He hisses.
“You could in my mouth, though.” Thanks to the spacious car that was rented for them, Jayce is able to slide off his seat and kneel in front of Viktor. The man looks torn between following Sky’s instruction (“Behave! Don’t get these suits dirty!”) and his baser instinctual desire to get his cock sucked. He struggles for what feels like a second before he nods.
Jayce smirks. “If I win, do I get a congratulatory gift?” Jayce unzips Viktor’s pants. His palm teases the hardened bulge.
“And if you lose?” Viktor’s hips involuntarily buck.
“I get a consolation gift,” Jayce kisses his neck while taking Viktor’s cock in hand. Stroking him to full hardness before he’s ready to put a mouth to it.
Viktor bites his lip to prevent himself from moaning loudly. “Why do you, ah, get something in both scenarios?” He tugs Jayce’s hair. “Are you greedy?”
Jayce grunts. “Is that a no?”
Viktor smirks. He leans down and bites Jayce’s bottom lip. “If I win, then, you have to do anything I want.”
Jayce smirks. “Deal.” He doesn’t tell Viktor that he doesn’t need to win any awards for that. Jayce already would.