Jayce Tallis x M!Reader

6.

"Excuse me for a moment.", you whispered to your father as the gaunt man who had been sitting next to the new council member Talis rose to leave.

The chamber was now buzzing with activity, several people rushing in to shower the new member with handshakes and documents. With a lot of responsibility came a lot of bureaucracy.

The wonder boy would be busy for the next few hours. He would have to change his place of residence, hire trustworthy people for his security and his influence had to be negotiated.

There was a lot to do.

Which in turn gave you time to spin your web in a different direction. For now, it would be better to let Medarda believe that she could have him all to herself.

You knew where you had to go to win progress for yourself. It had been Jayce Talis who had laid the foundations for the Hexgates, but someone else had tamed the arcane so that he could build them in turn.

And that someone stumbled out of the hall with sunken cheeks and deep circles under his eyes.

Branching out, you hurriedly catch up with the man who could not be more dead or alive.

"Pardon me.", you called out.

Without listening to your voice, he shuffled on. The sound of his metal cane hitting the marble floor echoed off the walls. The corridors of the council building were empty and cold. Apart from paintings of the council members, there was nothing to see but lifeless stone and gold.

Magnificent but dead, like the eyes of a woman who realised that her husband would never love her as she wished, no matter how hard she tried to be worthy.

For a moment you just followed him, your hands clasped behind your back and your (E/C) gaze rested on him. Either he was completely absent and didn't notice anything around him or he ignored you.

It was only when the evening light shone through the large windows in the entrance hall that his eyes wandered to the floor and he noticed the second shadow next to him on the marble.

Still not a word left your lips. He did not turn round.

"Jayce?", a strong accent mingled in the man's soft voice.

From his appearance, you could have sworn his voice would be like dry sandpaper. Instead, it was polite, educated and as soft as that of a long-time friend.

"Not quite.", you allowed yourself to step to his side and nodded your head in greeting.

Eyes of liquid gold wandered over your face before narrow eyebrows furrowed together. He had hair the colour of old walnut trees.

Your father had once told you something like that. But you had grown up in Piltover and in this place hardly anything grew naturally. Most of the forests were cultivated and barren, and if they couldn't be shaped, they were ripped out root and branch.

There were no wild flowers or free-growing bushes. Like Piltover and its inhabitants, nature was expected to be immaculate.

You despised it, because only fools believed that blemishes were a bad thing. A tree whose trunk grew crooked was not a disgrace but a work of art by Mother Nature herself.

Who were the people of Piltover to think they knew better how everything should grow?

"I saw you.", whenever the man spoke words vibrated on his tongue.

A beauty mark adorned his pale skin, just above his left lip. You bowed your head slightly again.

"If I may introduce myself.", you gave him one of your charming smiles, but he seemed less than impressed. "I am from the House of Hoskel."

"A member of the council."

"Not quite. My father still holds the office, but one day I am destined to follow in his footsteps."

With slight confusion, the man only nodded. He remained silent at your questioning look. It was obvious that he was not used to company like yours, or any company at all.

"May I ask your name, sir?", you asked instead to break the uncomfortable silence.

The corner of your lip twitched up slightly before he frowned and turned away.

"Jayce is still in the hall.", he said and limped away. "Talk to him."

Unimpressed, you followed him.

"My interest does not lie with the father of Hextech.", he suddenly froze at your words.

When he looked at you again, there was a dark shadow in his eyes.

"We discovered Hextech together.", a low growl sounding in his throat.

You smiled.

"Oh, I know. But does the rest of the world know?"

He turned round to you. Now you had his attention. All that was missing was his interest.

"I don't want fame.", he insisted.

"Would it be crazy if I said I actually believed that?"

He frowned in offence.

"Pardon?"

You let out a soft sigh.

"You don't look like someone who craves applause and words of encouragement.", you looked him up and down. "You're from the Undercity, I heard."

His eyes darkened.

"Is that a problem?"

You smiled.

"Not at all.", you shrugged. "Whether from the Undercity or the finest house in Piltover, a genius remains just that: a genius."

Now he had to squint his eyes sceptically.

"What do you want from me?", with his shoulders hunched, he tried to read your face, but all that was there was the charming smile that you wore like a mask.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot. That was my mistake.", you held out your hand to greet him, as was customary.

He briefly looked at the outstretched fingers, which were concealed in a glove made of the finest red velvet. Nevertheless, he accepted the gesture and shook it.

"Viktor.", he introduced himself briefly.

"Viktor.", you repeated with an approving nod. "If I may? As a former apprentice of the great Heimerdinger, you certainly must have even greater ambitions. And you don't just discover the powers of the arcane for yourself and then use them as if they were just a tool."

"We worked a lot.", he agreed. "But that doesn't answer my question."

Oh, how sweet his scepticism tasted. It was like honey melting in your mouth. Finally someone who wanted to be convinced and wasn't just waiting like a dog to be thrown the biggest bone as a bribe.

"I would like to discuss the matter...", you looked around. "... without an uninvited audience if that's alright with you. Tea tonight? My doors are always open for change."

And with that, you had him.