idk bro gimme a break

Do you ever dream of a better tomorrow?

Jayce once told himself that he would create a new tomorrow. A new beginning for Piltover, revolutionizing their current status quo with his invention.

However, it was foolish, ambitious, grand. No one believed in him, he even started to not believe in himself.

Even further when he saw his room exploded, his whole mind has gone disarray and messy.

So, how else would a man- full of failures ever be the same man who will be the inspiration of many? The answer is, it's impossible.

He will never achieve such greatness, such honor.

Spiriling down to the abyss, his mind never stopped going deeper. He felt incredibly useless and stupid- not until... he arrived.

The catalyst of his future, the very man who believed in Jayce Talis when no one ever did.

Viktor.

Born and raised in Zaun, he was lanky, thin, frail, pale. He uses a cane due to his bad knee. Smart, witty, his comebacks were always something to look forward to. A man of science like Jayce, but different in anyway.

To Jayce, Viktor was an integral part of his life. He would never find anyone else like him. A rare gem among the many, a special ore crafted to fit into Jayce's core.

He complimented Jayce in every way, it was... amazing. He was perfect. An incredible partner, friend- Jayce wouldn't trade him for the world because Jayce owed everything to Viktor. His life, his dreams, his... whole existence.

If it wasn't for Viktor, there wouldn't be hextech, no Jayce Talis.

"I.. I really wish to extend our help to Zaun" Hearing Viktor say a wish of his own, of course Jayce wanted it to happen. He needed to push what Viktor strives for. He wanted to give it to Viktor.

Hence, the council.. Medarda... Salo... Heimerdinger- like a domino, everything fell into place. The line of obstacles grew immensely, it became unreachable. At some point, the clear water turned murky, their goals vanished from Jayce's mind.

He forgot what he was supposed to do.

With that, the final piece fell into his hands. He heard Viktor being hospitalized while he was with Counselor Medarda seeking comfort. He immediately ran to the hospital as soon as he heard the news without a single hesitation.

The amount of guilt mixed with care, the what if scenarios running through his head.

And the question: Why did he let this happen? Was something he pursued. How blind was he for him to let this happen?

The worst thing? All he could do was mutter apologies while holding Viktor's hand.

"You don't have to apologize, Jayce... it wasn't your fault." Or was it? Jayce wanted to believe Viktor's words. But he knew, he fucking knew it was really his fault Viktor ended up here.

If only he monitored Viktor, if only he saw his condition, if only he was by his side working on the hextech like he was supposed to, if only... he was there everything could have been... avoided.

Viktor would definitely call him egotistical, but Jayce neglected the very essence of everything he was doing. How stupid he was. He shouldn't have let himself stream to the flow, he should have just been there... for Viktor.

He sighs.

He returned to his place. Back to the laboratory, back to Viktor's side, back to where he is supposed to be.

He watched Viktor, he saw him cough- nothing new. Jayce was always ready to lend his handkerchief. Water? Medicine? Jayce had it all. And when Viktor disappeared for a moment, he searched all Piltover- anything would be damned. It is a good thing Viktor returned early, telling him he only visited an old friend.

Jayce was satisfied with it. He didn't question any further.

He talked to Mel about Zaun, he was ready to take the deal Silco said. Perhaps there's merits despite the fact they wouldn't be able to have Jinx in their jail cell.

Just a little push.. just a little more and they can achieve peace. Then, Jayce could finally give Viktor what they wanted to achieve.

But, just like before, everything exploded right infront of his eyes.

The last thing he remembered was carrying Viktor's lifeless body to their lab, frantically searching for something- anything.

The hexcore.

Viktor needed to live... He needed to stay alive- he did what he had to do. He gambles his chances. He didn't care about the consequences- he didn't care about anything.

Just... please, let him live.

He stumbled back, he slammed his hands on the desk- his head laid low. He rakes his hair out of frustration. As he sees the hexcore reacting violently, his eyes dilated, he looks around and finds himself scraping off the chalk- writing every detail he could as he watches Viktor once again breathe.

Days turned to weeks, he waited. He watched the progression, he recorded Viktor's pulse. He was alive but in a dormat state.

His mother called in, Mel also did- but no one could make him leave the laboratory. He couldn't leave Viktor. Not again.

A month, a random afternoon.

Jayce heard a lengthy gasp. He woke up from the desk, his eyes quickly adverted towards the cube that had been manifesting around Viktor's body, Jayce called it an incubator or some sort.

When he saw Viktor emerging out of it, walking out of the- whatever that is. His arms worked fast, hugging Viktor into a tight embrace. Thanking gods as Viktor live.

He was overjoyed- he couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe hexcore did this-but something was different.

The way Viktor drifted away from his embrace? The way his eyes flicked away from Jayce? The words he spoke as if nothing mattered? As if Jayce no longer mattered?

Jayce was confused.

Viktor left the laboratory, the sound of the door being shut echoed in his mind. It gave shivers down in his spine. Jayce