Chapter Text
His eyes look up as a strange golden rain begins. In this apocalyptic future, he has observed too many strange things to be surprised that the rain is yellow.
Jayce, feel the golden raindrops falling on him. His eyes blinking slowly, watching as the hard-working fire is destroyed by a couple of raindrops.
He looks until it is completely out. The darkness fills the cliff. Jayce no longer sees anything.
Jayce, feel the tears begin to sting in his eyes. A laugh springs from deep within his desolate being.
He had worked so hard to build that damn fire. He crawled, forced himself up, even though his ill-healed leg was screaming in pain. Likewise, he walked as far as he could through the cave, until he found something that could use fuel. Furthermore, he crawled back, his sighs and noises of pain were all he heard.
Human sounds that reminded him of his human frailty.
All the hard work he put into the fire was destroyed by the yellow rain in a matter of seconds.
"Yellow..."
Jayce began to laugh more and more hysterically. As his brain connected the colour with Viktor’s eyes.
Thinking of Viktor stopped being sad. What it could have been, how badly he had acted in the past. What his friend became after his desperate attempt to save his life after the explosion.
Those thoughts stopped being in his mind. Giving way to new ones, the kind that Jayce Talis thought he would have.
The feelings of sadness that there were turned, slowly frustration, passing to pain and pain to hatred.
Jayce started thinking differently about Viktor.
Wanted to see the blood drip from Viktor’s lips.
See his leg in the same condition as Jayce’s.
Hear their constant cries, sighs, and groans of pain followed by tears of despair.
Jayce smiles slightly at the mental image.
Jayce’s hammer patiently waits by his side to fulfil his new purpose.
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After being in complete darkness who knows how much. Jayce, he knows that he fell asleep.
Jayce blinked slowly and opened his eyes.
It was not on the cliff.
He was not lying on the floor flooded by the darkness of the cave. He was standing in the middle of a fancy street and felt familiar.
Jayce blinked a couple of times, looking confused, and turned to look at the place.
It was already night and the streets were deserted. Jayce’s eyes stopped at anything that could provide information about his whereabouts.
Until his eyes were set symbol that he knew very well.
"The logo of the Kiramman house...?"
Jayce’s breath became heavier. He not only recognizes the logo, but also the house in front of him.
The Kiramman House...
Caitlyn’s house...
Jayce stood staring at the elegant entrance. Totally adrift.
A strong wind blew, moving his hair and ragged clothes. Bringing with it a newspaper that fell in front of him.
Jayce, he slowly looked down and saw the newspaper cover.
There was a picture of him. He looked young and well-shaved, wearing perfectly good councilman clothes. Jayce unlike that image of himself was unrecognizable.
He knows it well, since he hasn’t seen himself in a mirror for so long
"Hextech is moving ever further! Jayce Talis, the man of progress and his iconic speech."
"Speech...?"
He still remembers how nervous he was that day. How everyone expected him to give a perfect speech.
The reality of where he is and when he finds it falls on Jayce like a bucket of ice water.
"Eight months to the council explodes..."
That was his first coherent thought in a long time.
Eight months to the disaster that ruined his life and Vik-
The thought about Viktor is instantly interrupted.
Jayce squeezes the newspaper hard.
A light rain is beginning to fall on Pilthover.
"Viktor... is here"
It's not a question. It's a fact. He's here.
Jayce turned around. Turning her back on the Kiramman house. Starting to walk as best he can with his broken leg.
The rain soaks up his clothes, wetting his hair. Cleaning a little of the dirt that was all over his body.
Limping, he heads to his new destination.
It’s a shame he didn’t bring his hammer to this timeline.
_______________________________________________
He snapped his tongue hard and, angry, erased what he had written over and over again. Let out a trembling sigh, careful not to provoke a coughing fit.
Viktor sat back. Looking at his notes with tired eyes. He had been trying to decipher the runes all day and still not succeeding. It’s getting less and less.
And without Jayce less and less in the lab. All the research practically fell on Viktor. Who, being one alone, is having less progress in Hextech.
Viktor took a quick look at the clock on the wall. He was not surprised to see that more than nine hours have passed since he is working in the laboratory.
The pain in his head, his body, and his eyes was proof of it.
Viktor looked at his notes again.
"One more hour... I’ll try an hour-"
A loud thunder interrupted his drowsy thoughts. Viktor looked away and looked at the small window of the laboratory that was starting to get wet from the rain.
"Great... This gets better."
Viktor runs a hand over his face. Trying to remove the constant tiredness he has been feeling in the last month.
He slept less and less, his braces started to hurt when he took them off leaving a persistent pain and could barely stand for long time.
Not to mention the blood that has started to flow from his nose sometimes when he coughs.
Viktor sighed. Knowing his illness was getting worse, it was useless to keep thinking about him. The more time him spent thinking about useless things, the less time him will to work at Hextech.
_______________________________________________
As time passed, the rain became more and more intense. Viktor finished writing another formula he had come up with.
Feeling a little better about this one. He believes he has found a better solution to deciphering the runes. He raised his pencil and wanted to give some final details.
"Maybe Jayce will like this formula-"
Viktor paused as he wrote the formula. Staring at the paper in his thoughts.
He just started thinking about how little time his partner had. He only stepped foot in the lab once. Furthermore, he had only once set foot in a laboratory. The man apologized to Viktor saying that there were important council parties and he, as the newest member, couldn’t miss it.
Viktor, keep looking at his notes. No writing.
He should not feel abandoned by Jayce. The man was now part of the council and that meant a lot of time.
The time he now spends in the council was spent working and spending time with Viktor in the laboratory.
A fleeting thought passed through Viktor’s mind.
"And our dream what, Jayce?"
Viktor has no time to feel bad about it. When he heard steps heading for his lab. The scientist blinked a couple of times. Recognizing the steps after having heard them for more than a decade.
"Speaking of the devil..."
Viktor, upset that now Jayce decides to show up. He refocuses on his notes by grabbing his pencil again.
Hear the door open. The rain is getting stronger.
Viktor, smiles sideways. Staring at the window. He lets out a sarcastic comment about it:
"You don’t even come when it’s sunny. But now that it’s raining heavily, do you come. Seriously, Jayce?"
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It didn’t take him long to get there. He didn’t have much trouble avoiding the only people he saw and entering the place. Jayce knew that no one could get in the way of his plans.
He knew his past self is still and a fool and right now would be cornered by people from the council, Mel would be there with him, holding him.
Once there, Jayce looked at the door. That old door he has walked through so many times in his life.
Behind him was a younger version of the man who has awakened his darkest thoughts, all the rage and violence hidden inside Jayce Talis.
Viktor was the reason and cause of everything.
Jayce slowly opened the door. How he used to do so not to interrupt Viktor at work.
And he watched the man.
That brown hair and wavy. That thin back always curled. Wearing what he always wore when he worked and how to forget his time, the crutch that Jayce himself had made for him.
Jayce, stood still and quietly absorbing the silhouette of that man. That man, whose version of the past at that party forced to be right now would be thinking and missing.
The rain is getting heavier.
"You don’t even come when it’s sunny. But now that it’s raining, do you really come, Jayce?"
Viktor’s heavy voice resounded in the silence of the laboratory with its characteristic accent. Full of irony. Jayce, he felt that voice pressing against him.
How after so long hearing the voice of another human being. A momentary relief felt.
This relief was overshadowed by the anger that began to erupt inside Jayce. This man continues to ruin everything.
Viktor keeps ruining his life.
Jayce took confident steps, forgetting the pain in his leg. And he approached Viktor.
"This time I can. I am no longer helpless before you No... This time it is you who will be. This version of you will..."
_______________________________________________
Viktor does not turn around. Listening as Jayce approaches him. Viktor stops his writing. He has a bad feeling, something strange is going on.
Before Viktor could turn around, a firm grip on the back of his vest knocked him to the ground. Viktor lets out a scream, his bad leg palpitating with pain from the sudden impact.
His braces are firmly stuck into his weak skin, increasing the pain.
Viktor’s breathing was agitated, the pain in his leg getting worse. He raised his head to scream, asking Jayce for an explanation of why he did it.
But he was out of breath and his eyes opened with surprise.
Who stands before him is not Jayce. The man is dirty, his hair greasy and long sticks to his forehead, with a careless beard. His clothes are dirty, and broken. The man stands before him, looking down on him with deep, piercing eyes full of anger.
Viktor has an open mouth. He thought this guy was Jayce. His steps are the same-
Viktor’s eyes opened even more when he saw the man’s wrist. This is the rune that Jayce wears on his bracelet. The air left his lungs when he realized everything.
"J-Jayce...?!"
_______________________________________________
Those yellow eyes stared at him in surprise and there was something that Jayce could not understand. His name on Viktor’s lips sounded nervous, fearful, and confused. Jayce remained silent, staring at the man lying on the ground.
Jayce is silent watching the man lying on the ground.
His face was slender and dark. His fine lips opened with surprise and slowly shook. Golden eyes looked at him as if he had seen a ghost.
His two moles. Right where they need to be.
"J-Jayce...? Is that you?"
Viktor’s voice sounds low.
Jayce returns to the present. His eyes are focused on all of Viktor’s presence. Inspected as if he were a laboratory rat.
"That’s not a bad description for you."
Jayce reached out and grabbed Viktor’s hair tightly. The shorter man makes a noise of pain, not only because his hair is being pulled painfully but because his leg is forced to acquire a new position.
"Yes, I am."
Viktor opened an eye to look at him. The man’s eyes looked at him with horror. Viktor’s hand grabbed Jayce’s wrist, trying to escape the strong grip.
Jayce smiled at himself. A dark satisfaction filled his chest. His grip became stronger. Viktor let out a choppy gasp, squeezing his eyes hard.
"You know... we really screwed up. We ruined everything good that we wanted to build for people, the Hextech just brought misfortune. The professor was right about that, but he was wrong about one thing."
Jayce’s voice was hoarse and deep. He looked at Viktor with quiet eyes.
A thunder sounds from afar
These words followed. Jayce let go of Viktor’s hair and kicked him with his good leg. Causing him to fall back to the ground.
"He thought I would destroy everything. But, in the end, it was you who destroyed our dreams, Viktor".
_______________________________________________
Viktor falls back. His eyes looked with horror at this version of Jayce’s future. This older and violent version is completely different from that of his brilliant and naive companion.
Jayce straddled him. Viktor felt his breathing accelerate, his heart beating hard. His hands slide off the ground, seeking escape.
How badly he fucked up in the future so that Jayce is hurting him?
His thoughts are interrupted. Viktor gasped in pain when Jayce grabbed his bad leg, hard. There is no delicacy that once existed when Jayce helped him with his brace.
No. This grip is rough. It seeks to hurt.
Jayce, speak. While looking and passing his hand over Viktor’s leg. A meticulous touch, analyzer.
Viktor swallows. He can barely move his leg a little. He cannot get away from the touch.
"You start here first. You find a way to prolong your life and you inject yourself with Shimmer."
Jayce flexed his fingers, emphasizing his words. Viktor reached out his hand, wanting to push away Jayce’s. The pain was getting worse. The strongest man simply does not care and continues with his monologue.
"You felt powerful for sure. You walked with both legs for the first time in your life. You kept on, experimenting with the Hextech and the shimmer."
Jayce remains silent. Viktor looks at the man, his expression changed as he focused on Viktor’s brace.
Jayce remained silent. Observing Viktor’s leg. In a quick and unexpected movement. He bent Viktor’s leg, breaking the fragile bone.
The color wanes from Viktor’s face and a cry of pain escapes his lips. His back is slightly arched. Viktor stands on his side, in a fetal position, covering his face with his hands. Breathing briskly and felt his heart beating stronger against his chest.
"You experimented so much with the Hextech that Sky was killed by it. Because of you."
Pain is left behind. His heart falls to his feet. Viktor looks at Jayce from the future. Pure horror in his eyes.
"S... She w...what-.?"
His hands, slightly covering his face, split apart and his wrists joined together. Jayce leaned towards him, cornering him. He seems to be enjoying this because of the deep look that he has on Viktor. As if he wanted to record every detail of the man’s expression down.
"You killed her."
Viktor, start breathing harder. He tries to release his weak arms but can’t. Hot tears appear in Viktor’s eyes. Weak words escaped from his lips.
"No... no. I wouldn’t hurt her- it’s impossible."
Jayce lets out a laugh. The man’s eyes look at Viktor as if Viktor is lying to his face.
"You’re horrible, Viktor. You’ll do worse things. One of those was that even though I helped you when the congress was blown up in eight months. You’ll be seriously wounded, and I’ll save your life with the Hextech. And, how do you pay me? Sending me to the end of the world and smashing my fucking leg!"
Jayce practically screams in his face. Viktor just drops tears. Trembling and panicked.
He can’t understand the horrors that this version of his best friend is claiming.
_______________________________________________
Jayce breathes briskly. He has headaches in his temples and chest. He feels wild, more euphoric than ever. Pulling out from inside what he always wanted to claim from his Viktor.
This Viktor who did nothing (yet).
Who has not yet experimented with the Hextech and the Shimmer (Still).
When Sky is still alive (for now).
And the other Jayce can still walk well and did not suffer in that dimension (for now).
Jayce takes a deep breath. Watching from above as the man below him is crying. It’s the first time he sees Viktor cry. When his leg was broken. Jayce, he saw fear in his eyes for the first time.
He made Viktor cry.
He made Viktor afraid of him.
He hurt Viktor.
Deep down, Jayce knew that this Viktor did not deserve the hatred he poured out on him.
This Viktor can change his destiny. Build a better future.
Him can stay away from the Hextech and never use the shimmer.
Have a good life with his Jayce.
But Jayce doesn’t care about that.
All the time he was trapped down there, he made every good thing he felt for Viktor. All those warm feelings of affection, brotherhood, care and (love). They were overshadowed by hatred. His time there made him hate the one who was once his best friend and potential love interest.
Jayce clenches his teeth. He grabs Viktor’s jaw hard. Viktor still tries to walk away scared.
Viktor had never been away from his touch.
"You will make countless mistakes, Viktor. You will ruin the lives of many people, controlling people thinking that you are the right answer to their misfortunes. You’ll never be a good answer, Viktor. You’ll end up dead, killed for all the shit you did. Do you understand? Vitya-"
A dull noise. And Jayce feels pain in his cheek.
Jayce turns his face again, looking at Viktor, somewhat surprised.
_______________________________________________
He had never beaten Jayce in his life. He never thought that he would, much less to a future version of his partner who spits out every future mistake of Viktor.
Viktor, look at Jayce. Breathing agitated and nervous. Clenching his teeth so he can talk without shaking.
"You can't tell me that, you are not him..."
The future he does not know. The mistakes he does not know, the sins he has not yet committed and that both to speak this man who sees himself with the right to punish him as a God, and affirming he is Jayce Talis.
Nothing this man said or did hurt him so much. Until he referred to him by that nickname.
It was something only his Jayce was allowed to say. No one else should say it, let alone like that.
He was not going to let this guy. He smeared the thing that he most appreciates about his Jayce. The affection that the man has for him.
Even if everything this man from the future has said is true. And Viktor deserves to be punished, to die for everything he did.
Viktor watches as the guy turns his head slowly. His eyes cross with Viktor’s eyes. Those eyes that are full of violence and hatred.
"You are not him. You are no longer him..."
Next thing Viktor sees is Jayce coming up against him.
_______________________________________________
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five, six..
Ten.
And Viktor’s hand falls to his side. Inert.
Jayce watches. His eyes look down, his hand. To the object in his hands and then to the person below him.
In his right hand he has a screwdriver.
Below him. The lifeless body of his lab partner.
Viktor was stabbed a total of ten times.
Although Jayce does not know if they were more. He counted only ten in his moment of anger.
After hearing what Viktor said. Denying now his identity, believing it is right to do so. Telling him that it can or cannot be Jayce. Jayce turned, saw Viktor’s desk and grabbed whatever he saw.
And he stabbed him.
First stabbed him in the left eye. He hated that yellow colour. His eyes always looked like Jayce was a good thing. Jayce hated it. (Loved that yellow colour. Liked Viktor’s look on him...)
The second and third stab wounds were to his healthy leg. Viktor must not have had the right to walk well. (He would have liked to see him run free. He would have liked to chase him.)
The fourth, fifth, and sixth stab wounds were in his abdomen, near his waist. Viktor always complained that he hurt, it was annoying to hear him always complaining that he hurt (Jayce would have liked to hug Viktor’s waist. Feel its warmth).
That heart so cold and hidden. (Jayce could never get to him).
Hypocritical
Jayce breathed briskly. Staring at Viktor’s dead body. The screwdriver slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
The memory of Viktor’s voice filled his head.
Viktor gasped in pain. A deep scream came out of his mouth as his eye was stabbed. His body began to move under Jayce.
Trying to grab Jayce’s hand. The taller man takes the screwdriver out of Viktor’s eye and sticks it into his healthy leg.
Viktor began to beg and cry when the screwdriver was driven into his abdomen.
Jayce’s name, which he kept saying was cut off when his throat was stabbed.
The blood gushing from his lips. Drowning in his own blood.
By the time his heart was stabbed, he was barely unconscious. His hand fell when it went through his heart.
He never in his life do he hopes to see that kind of expression on Viktor’s face. One of horror. Tears smearing his now bloody face.
The rain continued. This time it was getting thinner.
"Okay... I should have... I should have... save the Jayce from this timeline..."
He closed his eyes for a moment. When the sight of Viktor’s corpse overwhelmed him.
"You’re not him".
Said Viktor minutes earlier. The last thing he really said to Jayce.
"JAYCE! Please!"
He had begged for his life. And Jayce had taken it away from him like nothing.
This version of Viktor who knew nothing of what he was blamed. He did not understand the hatred that Jayce had directed at him, hate in words and in the physical.
Jayce’s breath trembling. Letting the air out, his eyes still closed. All he heard was the rain.
_______________________________________________
His eyes opened.
His breath was agitated, and his chest did not stop rising and falling.
His eyes looking up. There was light in the sky, he was lying on the ground and...
"Viktor!"
Jayce sat down. His eyes were staring everywhere. He saw no trace of his best friend’s corpse.
All he saw was the stupid cave he’s been trapped in for a long time.
Jayce let out a trembling sigh. And closed his eyes again.
The golden rain stopped... Everything else didn’t happen.
"Just a nightmare..."
He wouldn’t be able to do that to Viktor.
No matter how much damage he does to Jayce...
_______________________________________________
A laboratory door is opened slowly.
A confusion is evident.
Only two steps are heard. Until a scream of horror is uttered and a tall man falls to the ground on his knees.
Tears fall from his eyes, in front of the horrible scene before him.
On the floor of his lab.
A lab partner lies on the floor in a puddle of his own almost dried blood. Several wounds on the body of the deceased.
An unfinished notebook.
A pull-out seat.
And a crutch abandoned.
The rain had also ceased.