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Chapter Text

“I did not agree to be offered up as some kind of bargaining chip.” 

“I know, Viktor,” Silco sighed, lowering the papers he’d been reading over. “But we have little choice.” 

Viktor sank down lower in his chair, feeling somewhat petulant and on the verge of a tantrum. “This is ridiculous. For the so-called ‘City of Progress,’ they spend an awful lot of time on tradition.” 

“Viktor,” Silco said sternly. “In times of war we all must make sacrifices. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. We need this if we are to finally make peace with Piltover.” 

“I thought peace with Piltover wasn’t what we wanted,” Viktor stood up, pacing back and forth in front of Silco’s desk, his cane hitting the ground with a little too much force each step. 

“If the fighting continues, Zaun will be wiped off the map completely. Even with your creations, Piltover still has more resources than we do,” Silco extended his arm, holding the papers out to Viktor. “Now will you please look these over? We cannot afford for this wedding to go wrong.” 

Grumbling under his breath, Viktor snatched up the papers and limped out of the office. Unsurprisingly, his sisters had both been outside the office door, failing to appear nonchalant. They followed him as he made his way back to his room. 

“So, what’s going on?” Jinx asked, walking beside him and eyeing the crumpled papers in his hand. 

“I am to be wed in a week,” Viktor replied, pushing his room door open with his hip. 

“Congrats,” Vi said, her voice flat. “To who?” 

“Piltover’s Golden Defender, Mr. Hextech himself,” he dropped his cane on the floor and fell backwards onto the mattress, letting out a sigh. “Apparently, weddings between two warring states to achieve peace is some tradition of theirs.” 

Viktor sat himself up so Jinx and Vi could join him sitting on the bed, and he finally took a look at the papers he’d been handed. 

“And Vander agreed to that?” Vi asked. 

“Why does it have to be you?” Jinx added on. 

“Well, since Piltover doesn’t have a royal family anymore, I guess they picked the Defender since he’s the head of the council,” Viktor replied. “And he’s an Alpha, so tradition dictates that the other family offers up an Omega. Silco is already married, so it moved on to me.”

“Well…at least the Defender’s kinda pretty?” Jinx offered. “I mean, not my type, but like objectively.” 

“If you say so,” Viktor sighed, flipping to the next page of the lengthy document in his hands. “Can’t say I’ve ever really seen him.” 

Being Omegas, Viktor and Jinx weren’t officially allowed to join the battlefield, per Vander’s instructions. Vi, being an Alpha, had more ground to stand on when arguing about her usefulness as a soldier. Viktor instead spent a lot of time with Silco, creating new weapons based on whatever Piltovan technology they could get their hands on, and if Jinx wasn’t helping, she was sneaking out to fight. 

Viktor had never been on the battlefield, and had never seen the Defender of Piltover, whose designs and Hextech weaponry he was kind-of sort-of stealing. 

There were far too many rules and regulations for a wedding, Viktor thought as he read through the Piltovan stamped papers. 

“The Omega’s face is to be concealed during the ceremony. The Omega’s guardian Alpha will place the covering over the Omega’s face prior to the ceremony,” he read out to Vi and Jinx. “After the rings are exchanged, the Omega will be taken to the Alpha’s chambers to await their arrival. The Omega will not be present at the feast or the party that follows the ceremony.” 

“Blergh,” Jinx stuck her tongue out. 

“The Omega cannot remove their own face covering or wedding outfit while awaiting their Alpha,” he continued. “They must wait for their Alpha to do so. The Omega may select their own attire and is encouraged to wear an outfit that reflects their homeland.” 

“How generous,” Vi rolled her eyes. 

“The ceremony is to occur on neutral land, however the Omega will then live with their Alpha in the Alpha’s homeland–-” 

“What?” Vi interrupted. “You have to move to Piltover?” 

“Apparently,” Viktor sank further down against his pillows. He flipped to the next page, scanning through the text. 

“Uh-oh,” Jinx said, noticing how Viktor’s expression shifted. “What now?”

“One week before the wedding, the Omega and the Alpha must both be presented to the appropriate governing body of the opposing party for…inspection,” Viktor read. “The Omega and the Alpha may not meet or otherwise communicate until the ceremony.” 

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Vi commented. 

“If the Omega and the Alpha are deemed suitable, the ceremony will commence,” Viktor continued. “Otherwise, further discussions will be necessary to determine an alternative.

“Hm,” he put the papers down, resting them in his lap. “So I may be rejected if not deemed suitable.” 

“How fucking barbaric,” Jinx huffed, moving to sit next to Viktor and cuddle up against him. “City of Progress, yeah right.” 

“I wonder if they will accept a crippled Omega,” he wondered aloud. 

“What happens if they reject you?” Vi came to sit on the other side of Viktor, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. 

“Maybe they move on to the next Omega.” 

“So this sucks all around,” Jinx huffed. “If they accept you, you’re forced to marry this guy. If they reject you, I’m forced to marry this guy.” 

The three of them fell silent, Viktor scanning through the rest of the document. Nowhere in the various blocks of text did it define or explain what it meant by inspection, and from the date of the wedding he’d been given by Silco, one week out would be tomorrow. 

At some point, Jinx had fallen asleep with her head on Viktor’s shoulder, and he followed not too long after. When he awoke, Vi had left, but his leg brace had been removed and the papers carefully placed on the bedside table. 

Jinx was still sleeping, now with her arms around Viktor; she was always a clingy sleeper. He watched her as she slept, trying to calm the absolute storm that was stirring in his mind. 

Viktor didn’t want to be forced into this wedding, he didn’t want to be used as some offering or bargaining chip, he didn’t want to be reduced to his status as an Omega for some knotheaded Piltie Alpha. 

But if he didn’t do it, it would fall on Jinx, and he didn’t want that for his sister. If he didn’t do it, Zaun would be destroyed until there was nothing left but ash and blood. 

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Viktor sighed, curling closer to Jinx and closing his eyes, trying to get at least a few hours of sleep. 

—

Viktor leaned with his hands against the footboard of his bed as Silco tightened the lacing of his waistcoat. It wasn’t the most comfortable piece of clothing, but the boning helped to keep his back straight in the absence of his back brace. 

The waistcoat was a deep red with black filigree detailing. He wore it over a black, high-necked shirt with loose sleeves that gathered around his wrists; black trousers hugged his legs, tight enough that his leg brace didn’t crease the fabric too much. 

It was all dark colours and elegance that was traditional to Zaunite clothing. Gold rings, earrings, and a dainty chain around his neck added a little brightness. 

Finally finished with the lacing, Viktor stood straight and turned to face his father. Silco looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and Viktor felt some guilt about his initial, angry reaction to the news of the arranged marriage. 

“I don’t want this any more than you do, Viki,” Silco sighed, adjusting Viktor’s clothing just for something to do. Silco, being both Viktor’s father and another Omega, was the only one allowed to accompany him out of Zaun and to the Piltovan Council for this inspection. 

“I know,” Viktor replied. 

Viktor was sure if he’d eaten anything that morning, he would have thrown it up by now. 

There was a carriage awaiting Viktor and Silco, and the ride was mostly quiet, apart from the sounds of the wheels over uneven roads and cobblestones. As they made their way to Piltover, Viktor knew that the Defender would be on his way to Zaun for his own inspection. 

“Have you thought about the wedding attire at all?” Silco asked eventually. 

“I didn’t want to put any thought into it until after this inspection,” Viktor replied. “I might yet be rejected. How am I supposed to act in front of these Piltovan bastards?” 

Silco sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. When he looked back up at Viktor, he was frowning, and the disgust in his voice was apparent. “Like an obedient, docile Omega.” 

“Great.” 

The carriage rumbled to a stop much too soon for Viktor’s liking. Silco climbed out first, and then helped Viktor out and handed him his cane. They followed a guide into the building, and Viktor knew the council chamber was at the very top of this tower; fortunately, there was an elevator. 

Viktor was tapping his fingers against the handle of his cane anxiously, trying to not pick at his nailbeds or chew at his lips. Silco fussed over him a little bit more, probably his own version of controlling his anxiety, making sure Viktor’s hair was staying neat and adjusting the gold chain around his neck. 

When they entered the council chamber, said councilors were all sitting around a circular table. The largest chair, one that was directly opposite the break in the circle for folks to stand during an audience, was noticeably empty. It was red and gold, with a large “T” emblazoned in the expensive looking plush fabric. 

Viktor figured that was probably where his intended usually sat. He didn’t even know the damn Alpha’s name, he’d only ever heard of him referred to by his titles. 

Golden Boy. Man of Progress. Defender of Piltover. 

“Welcome,” a woman sitting to the right of the empty seat sat up. She was a pretty Alpha, wearing a white dress and adorned with glittering, gold jewelry. “It is good to see you again, Silco.” 

His father inclined his head in a polite nod. “Councilor Medarda.” 

“In Councilor Talis’ absence, I will be acting head of the Council,” Medarda continued. “Please present your offered Omega.” 

Silco turned to face Viktor, taking his hands and squeezing them gently, meeting his eyes. Viktor nodded. 

Silco turned away again and led Viktor to stand in the centre of the room with a gentle hand on his back. He then stepped back, leaving Viktor in the middle of that circular table, all eyes on him.

He stood as straight as he could, keeping his chin up and his eyes glued to that empty seat in front of him. 

He heard footsteps, and then Councilor Medarda was standing before him, on his side of the table. “Thank you, Silco. Please exit the chamber, we will collect you once the inspection is over.” 

As much as Viktor wanted to turn around to see his father, he stayed still. Medarda waited until the council door had opened and closed once more before she spoke again. 

“Viktor,” she said, looking over a folder she held open in her hands. “My name is Mel Medarda. Now, I don’t know how familiar you are with how these inspections used to be conducted, but I can assure you, things have changed.” 

Viktor wasn’t entirely sure if he was allowed to speak, so he stayed quiet. 

“I will be recording the results of this inspection to present to Councilor Talis,” Mel continued. “It is mostly non-invasive, but there will be a blood test.” 

“A blood test?” He asked, unable to stop himself. 

“Hold your tongue, Omega,” a councilor somewhere to his left snapped. 

Mel held up her hand to silence the councilor. “Councilor Hoskel,” she turned her piercing gaze to the councilor. “Viktor is free to ask whatever questions he feels necessary.”

Viktor felt himself relax a little; Mel was much nicer than he’d expected from whoever he’d imagined would be doing this process. 

“The blood test is to confirm you have not been previously claimed by an Alpha,” Mel responded to his question. “We will also be inspecting your throat, but as you know, sometimes the bond forms before a bite formalises it. Aside from that, it’s mostly just questions. As I said, you are free to ask any questions you want to. Do you understand?” 

“Yes,” Viktor nodded. 

“Are you ready to proceed?” 

Viktor hesitated for a fraction of a second; his leg was starting to hurt and he really didn’t want to stay standing for this whole process. “Would it be possible for me to sit?” 

“Of course,” Mel motioned to someone behind Viktor, and a chair was pushed up behind him. 

He settled down, laying his cane over his lap. “Okay, I’m ready.” 

The blood sample was taken first, by a man in a lab coat who rolled Viktor’s sleeve up with cold, latex-covered hands. Once the blood sample was handed off to someone else, the man then pushed down Viktor’s shirt collar to inspect his throat. 

Viktor’s head was moved from side to side, the sterile fingers pressing against various spots along his neck. The sensation of someone pressing and poking his scent glands was uncomfortable, but he remained silent. 

The man turned to face Councilor Medarda and murmured something to her, before he walked away. 

“While we await the test results and the doctor’s write up, we will continue,” Mel looked at the folder in her hands, flipping a page over. 

“Can you confirm your age?” 

“Twenty-three.” 

“Obviously we will see this from the test results, but to ask you more directly, are you bonded to an Alpha?” 

“No, I am not.” 

“Have you ever laid with an Alpha?” 

“No.” 

“Have you ever laid with a Beta or an Omega?” 

“No.” 

Mel wrote something down in the file, and Viktor kept his eyes on her, his grip around the cane tight. He could feel the eyes of the other councilors burning into him from all angles. 

“Do you have any illnesses or diseases?”

“I have a limited lung capacity due to the pollution surrounding where I grew up,” Viktor answered, trying to keep the bitterness out of his tone. Pollution caused by you Pilties. He heard some murmuring from the other Councilors. “However it is not genetic, nor is it life threatening.” 

“What about the cane?” A smooth voice came from Viktor’s right. 

“Councilor Salo, if you have a question, raise your hand and do not interrupt,” Mel replied without taking her eyes off her note taking. 

“I was born with a physical disability that affects my right leg,” Viktor looked down at his hands; this is where he could be rejected, he thought. That thought bothered him more than it should have. “It causes a weakness there, and strains my hip and my spine, but it is manageable.” 

“Thank you for your honesty, Viktor,” Mel said, still writing down her notes. “Next question, do you have regular heat cycles?” 

“Yes, though I take suppressants.” 

“Are you fertile?” 

“Um–,” Viktor paused. “I have no reason to think I wouldn’t be.” 

The thought that Viktor, as an Omega, would be expected to produce pups for this Piltie Alpha hadn’t crossed his mind until that very moment. He’d never considered himself parent material, had never really thought about the idea of having a family at all. 

After several more questions-–that Viktor found irrelevant, things like if he had siblings or what sort of food he liked-–the doctor came back and handed a report to Councilor Medarda. She scanned through it before tucking it into the back of his file. 

“The tests came back clean,” she announced, more to the other councilors than to Viktor himself. She looked at someone behind Viktor; one of the staff, he assumed. “Please bring Viktor’s father back in.” 

She turned back to Viktor, a friendly smile on her face. “Thank you for your time, Viktor. We need to discuss our findings as a Council, and we will reach out with our decision this evening.” 

Chapter Text

Silco did not stop fussing over Viktor the entire carriage ride back to Zaun. 

“How did it go? Did any of it hurt? What sorts of things did they ask? I noticed a doctor at one point, why was he there?” 

“Táta, please,” Viktor was exhausted, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. He knew, though, that once they arrived home, he was expected to read over the results of the Alpha’s own inspection, carried out by Vander and his right-hand-Alpha, Sevika. “I am fine.” 

Once they finally arrived home, Viktor was desperate to get out of the damned waistcoat he was wearing, but he was led directly to the main audience chamber instead. Vander rose to greet him and Silco, smiling warmly. 

“How did it go?” 

“Swimmingly,” Viktor replied dryly. In all honesty, he was pretty sure it went fine, but he was crabby and uncomfortable and needed a nap. “I’m exhausted, can’t this wait?” 

“Sorry, Viki, just a little bit longer, okay?” 

Viktor was handed a file that looked almost identical to the one Councilor Medarda had been looking over. Flipping it open, he noticed that while it was full of information about the Piltovan Alpha, there was no photo of him. 

Tradition was serious about this whole “not seeing one another before the ceremony” thing. 

“His name is Jayce Talis,” Vander started after Viktor had settled into one of the audience chairs. Sevika was standing beside where Silco was seated, silent but no doubt taking in everything that was being said. Viktor wondered if the Piltie Alpha had been intimidated by her, and a small, vengeful part of him really hoped he had. “House Talis isn’t as old or storied as many of the other Houses in Piltover, but he’s made a name for himself since before the war began.” 

Viktor scanned through the information in the file as Vander continued. 

“House Talis is behind many of the technological advancements that Piltover experienced over the last decade,” his father said. “He’s intellectually brilliant, which really goes without saying considering the success of Hextech. Sort of reminded me of you, in that way.”

“Should that make me feel better?” Viktor asked without looking up from the paper. 

“Talis was respectful and polite during our discussion, despite the nature of our last few meetings,” Vander continued. “Remember, he’s been thrown into this just as much as you have.”

Viktor knew that Vander and Silco had to have met this Jayce Talis before, since he was the head of Piltover’s Council and all. Those meetings never happened there, at their home, though; they usually happened on the battlefield. 

“It sounds like you are approving of him,” Viktor commented. 

“I am,” Vander said. 

“Sevika, what were your thoughts?” Silco asked, looking up at the Alpha. 

“I think he is an arrogant, stuck-up rich boy,” she replied. “But Vander is right. He made a worthy opponent and I think he would be a worthy mate, given that we have such little choice.” 

“Well, with Vander and Sevika’s approval, I agree,” Silco said. 

“And I do not get an opinion,” Viktor closed the file with a snap. “May I please be excused?” 

Vander sighed, his eyebrows furrowed together as he fixed Viktor with a look. None of them wanted this, Viktor knew that, but it wasn’t about to stop him from being grumpy about it. 

“Yes, you may,” he assented. “We will let you know once we hear Piltover’s decision.” 

—

No-one had stopped Viktor when he’d taken Talis’ folder with him back to his room. Once he’d taken off the uncomfortable waistcoat, struggling with the lacing for far too long, he pushed his pillows up against the wall so he could prop himself up against them as he continued to read through the papers. 

House Talis, Jayce. Twenty-nine years. Male. 

Unbonded Alpha – Confirmed. 

Previous partners – Yes. 

No illnesses or diseases. Old injury to left leg, occasional need for brace to assist walking. 

Regular heat cycles. 

188cm tall. 

It all felt so…clinical. Viktor could only imagine what his own file looked like, and briefly wondered if Talis was doing the same thing he was and reading through the Omega’s information. Everything in the file made Talis sound like some sort of perfect Alpha, straight out of a fairytale. 

Viktor was pretty sure his own wouldn’t be so impressive. 

Viktor, No House. Twenty-three years. Male (Born biologically female). 

Unbonded Omega – Confirmed. 

Previous partners – No. 

Reduced lung capacity, not genetic. Crippled, could be genetic. Unable to walk for long without mobility aids. 

Regular heat cycles. On suppressants. 

172cm tall. 

Viktor was pretty certain that in any other circumstance, he wouldn’t be selected as a mate for this particular Alpha. He wasn’t exactly the picture of a perfect little Omega that the Piltie Alpha would probably prefer to drool over. 

Leg and lungs aside, Viktor was taller than the average Omega. He wasn’t as…cute and soft as the stereotypical Omega was supposed to be. He also had been told he was foul tempered and argumentative, stubborn, hardheaded, all those wonderful phrases that shouldn’t be pinned onto a docile, demure little Omega. 

Given the circumstances, though, Piltover didn’t have much of a choice. Sure, they could reject him and go for Jinx, but she had an Alpha-–though her and Ekko weren’t officially bonded-–and if they thought Viktor was argumentative…well, at least he didn’t immediately resort to biting people to get his way. 

The rest of the file included things like Talis’ military record and his various awards and accolades, which Viktor was happy to completely skip over until something caught his eye. 

Young Innovator’s Competition, age 13. First place. 

Young Innovator’s Competition, age 14. First place. 

Future Inventor’s Competition, age 15. First place. 

Founded Hextech, age 16. 

Known for the invention of: 

• Atlas Gauntlets. 

• Hextech rifle. 

• Talis Acceleration Gate.

• Mercury Hammer. 

The list went on and on, and Viktor recognised the names and descriptions of most of the weapons; weapons that had been used against Zaun. Weapons that had been brought back to Vander and Silco, that Viktor reverse-engineered to throw right back at Piltover. The gauntlets he’d altered for Vi to use, the various guns he’d recreated for Zaun’s military as a whole. 

The technology Viktor had taken, altered, and improved upon, in his opinion.

The only thing he wasn’t familiar with was the Mercury Hammer, though according to the description it seemed only one was ever made. 

Viktor fished out his journal from the mess of tomes and papers scattered over his floor and started to copy down everything this file said about all of the inventions. 

Maybe, at the very least, Viktor would be allowed access to those labs he knew Piltover had. 

He’d lost track of time trying to decipher what a Mercury Hammer might be, when he was interrupted by a knock on the door. 

“Come in.” 

Silco opened the door, closing it softly behind him. For a moment he just stood by the doorway, eyes scanning over the mess of papers on the floor and the mess of ink that was all over Viktor’s hands. Eventually, his eyes landed on the Talis file that lay open on Viktor’s bed, the papers in just as much disarray as the rest of his room. 

“How you manage to make sense of this mess will always be a mystery to me,” Silco sighed, carefully making his way over to Viktor. He settled on the edge of the mattress. “What are you working on?” 

“The Talis file lists all of his inventions,” Viktor replied. “I’ve been comparing them to my own notes to figure out what they’re actually called, like Fishbones is actually a Hextech cannon, how original-–and there’s this thing called the Mercury Hammer, but there isn’t much information on it.” 

“That would be Talis’ weapon,” Silco said. “It’s very destructive.” 

“But…it’s a hammer, yes? So limited range?” 

“It has a projectile mode as well,” he said. “But–-the fighting’s over, Viki, please don’t reverse engineer the hammer.” 

“Pssh, hammers are bulky and inaccurate,” Viktor replied. “The Hex Claw is so much more precise and elegant.” 

“But it is unfinished and will remain that way.” 

Viktor looked up at Silco, his tone making Viktor uneasy. 

“We received a response from Piltover,” his father said. Viktor lowered his journal into his lap, barely breathing. “You will be wed to Jayce Talis in a week.” 

He felt numb. There was relief that a peace was finally going to be achieved, relief that Jinx wouldn’t be forced into this mockery of a union, and even relief that he had been approved of–-

But Viktor’s entire life had changed in the matter of a day. Last week he was designing and repairing weapons and defences, and now he was to be some Alpha’s victory reward, a war prize to flaunt around. 

Viktor looked down at his hands where they lay against his open journal. His fingertips were smudged with ink, startlingly dark against his pale skin. That was that, then. 

“Will I still be able to see you?” Viktor asked. “Afterwards?” 

“Of course, Viki,” Silco reached out, tucking some hair behind his ear. “This wedding is to bring about peace between Zaun and Piltover. You’re not being taken as a prisoner.” 

“Then why does it feel that way?” 

Chapter Text

The day of the wedding ceremony came about far too quickly. Viktor had spent most of the last week packing his things away and working with Silco and a group of seamstresses to create his wedding attire.

While he was able to choose his own wedding outfit, it was only to a certain degree. Tradition dictated that whatever he chose, he had to wear a dress. 

The dress was pretty, Viktor had to admit as he looked at himself in the mirror. The bodice was corseted, built in a way that kept his chest flat. It was high-necked to cover his throat and scent glands, (again, tradition stated it either that or a collar), and the long, loose sleeves were sheer black. The skirt was layers of tulle, and between that and the bodice it gave the illusion of curves. The dress was dark Zaunite colours, and he had gone without any sort of jewelry this time. 

“You look beautiful,” Silco commented, smoothing out Viktor’s hair. His fathers were trying to be supportive, to look for the bright side of things aside from this is for the sake of peace. 

“It’s almost time,” Vander appeared in the mirror behind Viktor. 

“Time for the face covering, then,” Viktor sighed and turned around. 

The mask he had chosen was based on an old Zaunite legend, Viktor’s favourite, one of a strange being simply known as the Machine Herald. He supposedly brought about an age of peace and healing in the deepest depths of Zaun, before he was brutally struck down by some Piltovan.  

Piltover had their own version of the legend, one which portrayed the Machine Herald as a villain and the Piltovan as the Hero of the story for destroying him. It was a symbol that many from either state would recognise. 

His fathers hadn’t batted an eye when Viktor had first presented the design to them. They supported the idea, along with everything it represented. 

Vander gently put the mask in place, Viktor closing his eyes momentarily. When he opened his eyes, he nodded, indicating that he was ready. 

Silco left after one more tight hug, going to join Jinx and Vi in the ceremony hall. Vander stood beside Viktor before the closed doors, waiting for their cue. 

“We will take the cane to your Alpha’s estate with your other belongings,” one of the staff said, pulling the cane out of Viktor’s hand. 

“Wait–-I need that to walk,” Viktor protested, but the staff member had already walked away. He looked up at Vander, who looked furious for a moment, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. 

“Hold on to my arm tightly,” he said when he reopened his eyes. “We’ll walk slowly.” 

Viktor had only just adjusted his grip on Vander’s arm when the doors to the ceremony hall swung open. There was music playing, but in Viktor’s sudden rising panic, it sounded cacophonous and out of tune. 

Vander led him to walk down the aisle, and Viktor’s eyes finally landed on Jayce Talis. 

Viktor already knew the Alpha was tall, but he had broad shoulders and was incredibly well-built, and it all worked together to make him seem much bigger. His square jaw was covered in a neatly trimmed beard, the same dark colour as his meticulously styled hair. 

The suit he wore was House Talis colours, all straight lines and specifically tailored to hug his body in all the right places. 

Viktor came to stand before him, and the Omega got a clearer view of his face. 

Jayce gave him a small, almost sad smile, accompanied by a tiny shrug and a slight tilt of his head, as if he were apologising for something. He had a scar across his cheek and another that almost bisected his right eyebrow, and his eyes were a beautiful shade of gold-hazel that rivalled the accents on the Alpha’s suit. 

He was gorgeous. 

The priest was talking, droning on about peace and coming together and what this union meant for Piltover and Zaun. Jayce kept his eyes on Viktor, never once looking away. Despite the mask and the dress that covered most of his body, Viktor felt naked beneath those golden eyes. 

Jayce Talis looked…kind. Viktor hadn’t expected that from Piltover’s most renowned and fiercest warrior, one that had struck down the lives of so many Zaunites over the last several years. 

Looks could be deceiving, Viktor reminded himself.

When Jayce was instructed to hold his hands, and Viktor instructed to take them in his own, his palms were warm, calloused, and strong. 

Given the nature of their union, vows were not deemed necessary. The ceremony still dragged on, and Viktor subtly shifted his weight onto his good leg, his other leg starting to shake from exertion, the brace digging against his skin uncomfortably. Rings were exchanged, and eventually, the priest ended the ceremony with one final talk about peace and prosperity.

Jayce lifted Viktor’s hands still clasped in his own and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to the back of each hand. 

The next step was that Jayce was to walk Viktor back down the aisle, from where the Omega would be taken away to the Alpha’s room to await him while he schmoozed and enjoyed the celebratory feast. Jayce turned and offered his arm to Viktor. 

Viktor felt out of his own body as he held on to Jayce’s arm, hesitating for a moment too long before they began walking. 

“Are you alright?” Jayce leaned down and whispered against his ear, and Viktor thought for a moment that his tone was genuine. 

Viktor nodded and leaned against Jayce for support, hoping to get across what he needed without actually speaking; Talis had read his file. He should know why Viktor was struggling. 

They took it slow as Jayce led him down the aisle and back through the doors. Viktor kept his eyes on the plush carpet before him, not looking up at the Alpha, even as he was handed off to staff and escorted out of the ceremony space. There was a short carriage ride out of the neutral zone and toward a large, rather imposing looking home that Viktor could only describe as a mansion. He was assisted out of the carriage, but was still denied his cane.

The whole ceremony had felt like a blur, but the expression on the Alpha’s face stood out in Viktor’s mind in stark clarity. He wondered if the Alpha was as kind as he looked, if he felt as apprehensive about this whole thing as the Omega did. Viktor felt like he was being traded away for the sake and safety of his people, but Jayce was in the same position. Neither of them had much of a choice. 

Viktor was relieved when he was able to finally sit down once being led up to Talis’ bedchamber. He was left alone to sit on the edge of the mattress, alone in the silence with only his own thoughts to keep him occupied. He wasn’t allowed to remove any part of his outfit, but he’d made the mask specifically for long-term wear. 

The bed was huge, covered in expensive fabrics and plush looking pillows, and Viktor allowed himself to lay back against them, taking the strain off his spine. A canopy stretched out above him, curtains draping down all four sides of the bed, currently tied back with thick cords that ended in tassels. 

Everything was red, gold, and white, completely coated in House Talis colours. But, the mattress was comfortable, and the bed was big enough that Viktor could sprawl out and still remain on one side of the bed, away from the Alpha who would soon be joining him. The whole room had a sort of earthy scent, something rich and deep, but it was muted. He figured the bedsheets had been replaced and the room specially cleaned for this night, so Jayce’s scent had been subdued. 

The room was bigger than most homes in Zaun, nevermind the rest of the house. The main entrance doors were tall, solid oak, and currently locked. There was a fireplace against one wall, with a rug and more cushions laid about in front of it. A round table with four chairs sat to one side by one of the large windows that lined the outer wall, and there was a door to the right of the bed that Viktor guessed led to a bathroom. 

Another door was partially hidden next to a large wardrobe, and Viktor figured it was probably a staff entrance, given how small and unimpressive the door was in comparison to the rest of the room. Viktor couldn’t see any of his belongings and hoped they’d just been put away in the wardrobe or some of the other cabinets he could see; he noticed his cane leaning up against the table, but it was too far for him to bother walking over to collect it. 

He was tired, emotionally drained and physically aching from the strain of standing unassisted for so long. He hoped he would be permitted to use the cane from now on, that it wouldn’t be torn out of his grasp again. 

Viktor didn’t expect to see the Alpha for several more hours, but he couldn’t even try to sleep. Without knowing exactly when Talis would show up, Viktor couldn’t risk it. He was supposed to be awake and alert when the Alpha arrived to remove the face covering and…

He didn’t really want to think about the rest of the night. 

Chapter Text

It was only about an hour and a half before Viktor heard the sound of a key in the door. He sat himself up on the edge of the mattress again, smoothing out his skirts and making sure his hair wasn’t too ruffled from laying down. 

Jayce Talis entered the room and pushed the door closed with his hip, as his hands were occupied, carrying a box of some kind that appeared to be holding food and a large bottle of wine. Jayce placed the box down on the table before he turned his attention to Viktor, who remained silent, watching him. 

Viktor saw the way the Alpha’s chest and shoulders moved as he took a deep breath, as if to steady himself. He walked over to Viktor, and knelt down in front of him. 

That was not something Viktor had expected. Alphas didn’t typically kneel down in front of Omegas, they were supposed to loathe being in any position that put them beneath anyone. 

“Hey,” he said with a small, uncertain smile. 

Viktor didn’t reply. 

“Um, I brought you some food over from the feast. It should still be warm,” Jayce looked away, over toward the table. “I asked your fathers what kind of food you liked. I know I’m not technically supposed to, but I thought you might be hungry.” 

His voice was deep, smooth and soothing, the sound of it settled deep in Viktor’s chest. He still looked unsure, unsteady, which was the opposite of what Viktor had expected from the Defender. 

“I suppose I need to take that mask off if you’re going to eat, though,” Jayce looked back up at him. “Is it alright if I do that now?” 

The Alpha was asking for his permission? 

Viktor just nodded, his movements a little jerky, but enough of a go ahead for the Alpha. He lifted his hands, easily finding the clips that kept it in place, gently taking hold of the sides of the mask and lifting it away from his face. 

Jayce was staring, his eyes moving all over Viktor’s face. The Omega kept himself sat straight, he kept his head up and held eye contact with Jayce, despite his desire to hide himself away. His inner Omega suddenly longed for this Alpha’s approval, to be seen as enough for him. 

“Wow,” Jayce’s voice was almost a whisper, his tone adoring and almost…reverent? “You’re beautiful.” 

Viktor finally spoke. “You do not need to lie to me.” 

“What?” Jayce looked confused as he set the mask down on the bed beside Viktor. “I’m not-–I mean it, Viktor, you’re gorgeous.” 

The Omega had to pull his eyes away from Jayce’s intense stare, but he felt something fluttering in his heart at Jayce’s open compliments. 

“Are you hungry?” Jayce stood up. “We should eat.” 

“I need my cane,” Viktor replied, glancing over to where it was against the table. “My leg hurts after being forced to stand for so long without it.” 

“Wait–,” Jayce looked over at the cane, then back at Viktor. “Being forced to stand without it? You weren’t allowed it during the ceremony?” 

“It was taken away from me.” 

Jayce looked…angry, but it wasn’t directed at Viktor. “What the hell,” he muttered, walking over and picking up the cane. “They knew you needed it and took it away? Why?” 

“I do not know,” Viktor took the cane, pushing himself to stand. “Appearances, perhaps?” 

“I will be having words with the Council,” the Alpha mumbled, helping to guide Viktor over to the table. His hands hovered, not touching, but close enough to help if the Omega stumbled. 

Viktor settled into his chair and took a look at the food in front of him as Jayce unloaded it from the box and onto a tray. He had to admit, it smelled delicious, and he was hungry. Jayce poured two glasses of the deep red wine before he sat in the chair opposite Viktor. 

Viktor pulled the tray closer to himself and started eating. There was some sort of steak that was better than any Viktor had ever tried, but what he was really interested in were the desserts. 

The sweets outweighed the savoury food on the tray, so Jayce must have genuinely asked Vander and Silco for suggestions. Still, Viktor focused on getting through the savoury before he moved on to any of the pastries. 

“Is there anything I can do to help with your pain?” Jayce asked after a few moments of just watching Viktor eat. 

“I will be fine,” Viktor replied. He took a sip of the wine, and was pleasantly surprised to find it was a traditional Zaunite red. 

“I think your belongings were moved in here during the ceremony,” the Alpha continued, fiddling with the stem of his wine glass. “So you can change out of the dress into something you can actually sleep in.” 

Viktor pulled one of the dessert plates closer; it was some sort of twisted pastry with a shiny glaze over the top, and a red fruit jam twisted among the layers. Despite wanting to just pick it up and eat with his hands, Viktor used the cutlery to cut it up. 

“There’s a privacy screen you can change behind,” Jayce kept talking. “Or I can just turn around. Unless you need help. The back of that bodice looks a bit complicated.” 

“It was not designed for me to be able to remove by myself,” Viktor answered plainly. “Some of my design choices were vetoed in favour of tradition.” 

He took a bite of the pastry and had to force himself to keep quiet, as he almost, genuinely moaned at how good it was. The perfect balance of flaky, sweet and tart, and the glaze gave it a unique texture. 

If Piltovan sweets were all this good, maybe Viktor could get used to living there. 

“I can help untie it, then,” Jayce said. “But then I can give you privacy to change.” 

Viktor flicked his eyes up to meet Jayce’s, confused. 

“I do not understand.” 

“Huh?” 

“Are you not supposed to remove my dress and claim me tonight?” Viktor asked. Jayce went bright red and stuttered over his words, looking anywhere that wasn’t the Omega. As he floundered, Viktor noticed the gap between Jayce’s top teeth, and couldn’t help but find that adorable. 

“T-traditionally, yes,” Jayce cleared his throat, his voice coming out squeaky. “But–-I mean, we just met, and this is…weird for both of us, but especially you, I mean you’ve had to move away from home, into what I’m sure you still view as enemy territory, and it’s been a long week and I figured you probably just want to rest.” 

Viktor blinked, processing what was being said. 

“I can sleep on the couch,” Jayce added, referencing the plush couch that sat against one of the walls. 

“The bed is large enough for us both,” Viktor said. “The couch looks comfortable, but the bed is far more so. It…has been a long week, but…it has also been a long week for you.” 

Viktor hadn’t had much sympathy for Jayce in the past week. He was just a faceless, strange Alpha at that point, nothing to Viktor except for words on a page. But now he had a face to attach to the name, and sparkling, bright eyes that Viktor kept being pulled back to. 

Jayce was handsome, there was no doubt. He was every bit an Alpha in appearance, but he also seemed uncertain, almost scared to even put his hands anywhere near Viktor. He was thoughtful, that much was evident by the food in front of him. He also looked tired, now that Viktor really got a close look at him. His lips looked bitten at, as if he’d been anxiously chewing on his skin for the last week. His scent was still subdued, and Viktor wondered if he was wearing scent blockers. 

“Perhaps we can…enjoy the rest of this wine and then get some rest,” Viktor suggested, taking another bite of the pastry. “I would like to change out of this dress, and I am sure that suit is becoming uncomfortable for you.” 

“Yeah, that…,” Jayce looked…relieved? “That sounds wonderful.” 

“I see you were truthful when you said you asked my fathers for suggestions,” Viktor continued. “Which pastry do you think I should try next?” 

Jayce blinked, silent for a moment, before he smiled–-the first genuinely relaxed smile Viktor had seen all day. Jayce pointed to one of the sweets, which looked like a sort of scone covered with crystallized sugar. 

“This one is full of cream and strawberries,” he said. “I think that’s my favourite.” 

Viktor took the plate and cut the scone in half, placing one half on his now empty plate and passing the remaining half to Jayce, who looked surprised. 

“You said it’s your favourite,” Viktor said. “I think it’s only fair we share.” 

Jayce smiled and took the plate. They spent the next hour or so discussing the sweets, Jayce asking Viktor about Zaunite treats and answering Viktor’s questions about the Piltovan ones. It was a light conversation about nothing much, but it almost felt like they were two friends simply discussing food, instead of two people forced into a wedding. 

Once Viktor was full, Jayce located where the Omega’s clothing had been put and passed Viktor the soft nightdress that he asked for. Just like he’d said, Jayce assisted in untying the back of the bodice and removing it, before he helped Viktor behind the privacy screen. 

Removing the heavy gown and replacing it with the simple cotton nightdress was a relief to the Omega. The softer fabric against his skin felt heavenly after the stiff fabric of the wedding gown, which he left draped over the seat that was behind the screen. 

“Are you dressed?” He asked before walking out from the screen. Once he received the affirmative from Jayce, he made his way over to the rug that sat in front of the fireplace. 

Jayce had lit the fire as the sun had set, leaving a slight chill in the room. He had changed out of his suit and into a pair of simple trousers and a loose fitting tunic, and the wine had moved to the stone brickwork that made up the fireplace. 

He helped Viktor settle down into the plush rug and placed one of the pillows under Viktor’s bad leg, his fingers lightly tracing over the bruising left from his brace. 

“I could, um,” Jayce hesitated for a moment. “If you’d like help to redesign your brace so it doesn’t bruise, I’d be happy to help. I have a forge, it’d be no problem.” 

Viktor sipped his wine. “I designed my brace myself.” 

“I-I wasn’t trying to say it wasn’t a good design, um–” 

“It’s okay, Jayce,” the Omega smiled despite himself; this Alpha was so easy to make blush. It was cute. “I would appreciate the assistance. I think my design is sound, it’s just a matter of materials. My current brace is made from scraps and whatever else I could find.” 

Mostly shrapnel, really. 

“So you…designed it and fabricated it?” 

Viktor sipped his wine, watching the fire. “Mobility aids aren’t exactly easy to come by in Zaun.” 

The silence that followed was something Viktor had been anticipating. They could skirt around the topic of the war as much as they wanted, but it had taken up so much of their lives at that point that it would be impossible for it to not bleed into conversation eventually. 

Especially for the two of them, who ended up so central to the whole conflict. 

“Did you ever wonder what it was even all for?” Jayce asked after another long stretch of silence. Viktor glanced over at him, but the Alpha was watching the fire. 

“Independence,” Viktor replied. “Equality. For Piltover to stop pushing down those it viewed as lesser than them. Piltover stripped our mines of anything valuable, left us with nothing, flooded our land with toxins and then blamed our people for it and offered no aid.” 

Jayce looked at Viktor, but he didn’t interrupt. 

“I was born with a twisted leg and reduced lung capacity, because of the pollution and the toxic air left behind,” Viktor continued. “But there were people who had it far worse than that.” 

“What do you mean?” 

Viktor turned to look at the fire again. “Jayce,” he started, slowly. “If we are to move on to this topic of conversation, I fear you will not like what I have to say.” 

“Our marriage is supposed to be about peace and the union of our cities,” Jayce turned his body fully toward Viktor. “My hope is that we can learn from each other and rebuild Piltover and Zaun, that we can all live together and become better. That’s not going to happen if we aren’t honest with each other.” 

Viktor sighed, watching how the firelight sparkled along the surface of the wine. “Very well,” he replied. “But I need more wine, first.” 

Chapter Text

Zaun was built, layer by layer, along a cliff side. As the years went on, they dug further and further into the rock, resulting in the strange city structure that was now known. As they dug, they discovered a variety of minerals, metals, unrefined resources that practically overflowed from every stone. 

It was said that Piltover used to be close allies with Zaun. Together they created the Mining Guilds, and the raw materials shipped out of the Zaunite mines ended up in the Piltovan manufacturing plants. 

Only, this led to a huge wealth discrepancy. 

Piltovan leadership stopped caring about the safety of the miners. One mine was shut down when several warnings and complaints were ignored and the Zaunites were pushed to keep digging, only to find a deep fissure of toxic gas. It flooded the mine and the Piltovans sealed it shut, with the miners still trapped inside. 

Small pockets of resistance began to emerge, and Piltover Enforcers showed no hesitation in killing them just to keep them down. Piltover grew, flourished and prospered, while Zaun suffered. 

Birth defects became common. Then, stillbirths, miscarriages, and infertility. Food was scarce, as nothing would grow.

“I was lucky to be born,” Viktor interrupted his own historical retelling. “My fathers had been trying for some time. Vi and Jinx are adopted, after their parents died during a mine cave in. I ended up being born prematurely, but I survived, and so did Silco.”

The people of Zaun all wanted the same thing, but they were scattered and disorganised. That was when Vander came into the picture, giving the citizens someone to rally behind. Silco was the tactician, and Vander was the muscle. 

The war began when Zaun carried out a sabotage on a Piltovan manufacturing plant. 

Viktor paused, taking a sip of his newly refilled wine. 

“And you probably know the rest,” Viktor said. “We were fighting for our equal share of the profits. Piltover would not have flourished the way it has without us.” 

Jayce nodded, the thoughtfulness evident in his expression. 

“And we retaliated because of the attack at the plant,” Jayce said. “The reality of these things get so easily swallowed in the chaos of war.” 

“What was Piltover’s reasoning for the war?” 

“It was framed as a self-defence thing,” Jayce said. “Since it went on for as long as it did, it just sort of…became a part of life.” 

“I understand that,” Viktor nodded. “I stopped considering why the war was still going. I just knew it was happening, so I had to do what I could.” 

“I never wanted to be head of the council,” the Alpha admitted. “When I founded Hextech, I wanted it to help people. I wanted a strong, renewable energy source that had no ill effects on people or the environment. Something that could improve lives and push us along the path of progress.

“But I was…persuaded to create weapons. Powerful weapons. I saw the destruction they were causing and I almost-–,” 

“...Almost?” 

Jayce sighed. “I almost killed myself,” he said. “I never wanted my ideas, my inventions to be used to kill people. I wanted to improve people’s lives, not end them.” 

“What made you change your mind?” 

“The attack on the foundry at the border,” Jayce replied. “The rocket that was used was Hextech technology, but…different. Rebuilt and in many ways, more refined. I realised that someone in Zaun was recreating my inventions and throwing them right back at us, and I decided I had to stick around and see this whole thing through to the end. 

“Hextech made the war more destructive, and if our enemy was using it on us, I had to be there to help us defend against it.” 

Viktor took another sip of his wine. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol, or his exhaustion, or his growing interest in Jayce, the feeling of security the Alpha gave him, but something made him want to be completely truthful. 

“It was me.” 

“What?” Jayce looked at him. “What was you?” 

“I was reverse engineering your weapons,” he explained. “I was making improvements and arming Zaunite soldiers with them to throw right back in your arrogant Piltie faces.” 

The two of them locked eyes, just watching the other for a few long, quiet moments. 

It was bizarre and entirely out of place when the two of them started to laugh. 

“How completely ridiculous is this whole situation?” Jayce laid back against the cushions. 

“War that ended with marriage,” Viktor raised his glass in some sort of mock-toast. “Millions of people dead, but hey, there’s a wedding feast to be had.” 

Jayce snorted when he laughed, raising his own glass to clink against Viktor’s. They both drank, draining their glasses, and Viktor felt tension leaving him. Even if this marriage was forced upon them both, even if it never resulted in love, at least they were getting along. Maybe, maybe, this wouldn’t be as terrible as Viktor had been dreading. 

They drank until the wine was gone and the flames had died down to embers. The conversation had moved away from the war and onto their respective families, any friends they had, and other, light topics. 

Viktor learned that Jayce had lost his father during childhood, and it had only been him and his mother since then. He had a close friend, a Beta named Caitlyn, who was a member of the Piltover Enforcers; but she rarely saw any actual action, since she was the only child of one of the most influential families in Piltover. Her mother was apparently on the Council, and had therefore been present for Viktor’s inspection. 

It was when the Omega failed to stifle a yawn that Jayce suggested they got some sleep. Viktor agreed, and took Jayce’s offered hand to help him back up to his feet. A little unsteady from the wine, Viktor still managed to make his way over to the bed. 

“I don’t mind sleeping on the couch,” Jayce offered once again. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” 

“Nonsense,” Viktor waved his hand dismissively. “It’s a large bed. We will both fit.” 

Jayce waited until Viktor was settled under the blanket before climbing in on the other side. “Do you want the curtains closed?” 

“Mh, it’s a little cold.” 

The Alpha untied the cords and closed the curtains around the bed. It was cosy, Viktor thought; it closed them off from the rest of the room, and felt sort of…safe. 

Viktor fell asleep much faster than usual. 

Chapter Text

The days following the wedding were mostly Jayce and Viktor figuring out how to live together. The bedchamber was large enough that Viktor didn’t feel stifled, and Jayce had told him he would have full access to the rest of the house. The Omega had asked for a tour after the third day, when he finally felt like he had regained his energy, and the sharp pain in his leg had settled back into a dull throb. 

Jayce had shown Viktor around, and the Omega was pleased to find out there was a library. The library was also huge, probably the largest collection of tomes he’d ever seen, with soft, cushiony seating scattered around for comfy reading. Jayce’s office was just across the hallway, and he said he had a forge out on the grounds. The gardens were extensive around the manor; from the windows Viktor had noticed a large hedge maze in the back of the home, and a rainbow of different flowers and plants that looked meticulously tended to. The grass was cut short and it all looked very…manufactured. 

But it was still more nature than Viktor was used to seeing. 

Viktor was a little surprised to discover he was allowed to wear whatever he wanted after the ceremony. He’d packed his own clothing, obviously, but part of him had expected his wardrobe to be entirely replaced. But, he continued to wear the familiar dark colours of his homeland. 

Jayce had extended an invitation to Viktor’s family to come over for a friendly meal, and they had it scheduled just over a month out. After five days had passed since the ceremony, Jayce was needed to look over some paperwork or another, and Council members were making appointments to meet with him. He was also expected to continue his duties as head of the Council-–which finally included two Zaunite citizens. Vander occupied one seat, and Sevika occupied the other. 

With the Alpha being busy, Viktor found himself alone a good portion of the time. He and Jayce had grown from strangers to, at the very least, friends over the first five days. The awkwardness had faded fast, and they laughed together, talked about anything and everything, and Viktor loved to tease him. Still, the Alpha had made no move to claim the Omega. 

Viktor was glad about that, logically, since Jayce wasn’t forcing himself on him, but his inner Omega whispered into his mind-–what if he wasn’t good enough for his Alpha? 

Viktor should probably be concerned about how fast he grew attached to Jayce. The idea of the marriage stopped being something he dreaded, and he missed Jayce during the days when the Alpha had to work. Just last night, Viktor had finally crossed the imaginary line down the centre of their bed and cuddled himself up against Jayce’s chest once the Alpha had fallen asleep. When they’d woken up that morning, Jayce had his arms wrapped tightly around the Omega, but pulled away when he’d realised. 

Maybe he wasn’t good enough. 

Viktor shook his head as if to physically remove the thought from his head. It was late evening, the sun setting and visible through the ceiling-to-floor length windows in the library. Viktor had a book open in his lap and his journal open to his right, jotting down notes and ideas that came to him while he read the tome. 

He sighed and closed the book, setting it aside to pick back up later; no-one else really used the library, so he felt little need to put the book back on the shelf. Jayce had lived alone in that giant manor, with the exception of the serving staff and cleaners. 

Having said staff was something Viktor could not quite adjust to. They were all friendly and polite, and seemed happy there; it seemed Jayce was a good man to work for, and he paid them all well. Still, Viktor had made his way down to the kitchen one day to find something to eat, and the cooks explained to him that he didn’t have to go all the way down there. He could just ring the bells that were in every room to request whatever he wanted. 

It felt odd to Viktor, and he didn’t really like the idea of telling people what to do. But when he showed up the next day in the kitchens again, the cooks just served him some food at their table. 

Viktor stretched his back before standing up, yawning as he grabbed for his cane. Jayce’s last meeting should surely be over by now, Viktor thought as he glanced at the clock. He liked to wait for the Alpha before eating dinner, so they could sit together. 

Jayce was sweet and gentle, but also brilliant, intellectually. Viktor had never met anyone other than Jinx who could keep up with him, but Jayce fell into stride beside him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Viktor was hoping to ask Jayce for access to his home lab, which for now the Alpha had been keeping locked. 

Viktor had also grown far too accustomed to the Alpha’s scent. It was woodsy, earthy and natural, but also smoky and warm. It calmed the Omega and soothed him in ways he hadn’t felt before, and as their two scents mingled in their shared room, in their shared bed, it just felt…right. Normal. Like that was how it was always supposed to be. 

Viktor left the library and crossed the hallway to Jayce’s office door, finding it slightly ajar. He could hear voices inside, so he peeked through the gap to investigate. 

“...that concludes the scheduling discussion, then,” a woman was saying. Viktor recognised her as Cassandra Kiramman from the Council. “There is just one more thing I wished to talk with you about.” 

“It’s late, Cassandra,” Jayce sounded tired. Viktor couldn’t see his face from the gap in the door, but he could see the way the Alpha leaned on his desk, his elbows resting on the surface and one hand rubbing at his face. 

“It will only take a minute,” a pause, the rustling of some papers. “It has been over a full week since the union ceremony. How are things going?” 

“Fine,” Jayce replied, plainly. “We’re getting along. Already exchanged some ideas about rebuilding Zaun and how we can help them clear the air in the lower levels.” 

“Is that so?” 

“I haven’t talked to him about leading the Council with me yet,” Jayce continued. “I didn’t want to overwhelm him.” 

“The whole point of this marriage was to unite our people,” Cassandra said. “But I’m not sure the rest of the Council will accept your co-leading idea.” 

“It doesn’t make sense to talk about union and still have the head of the Council just be me,” Jayce looked up at Cassandra. “Viktor and I are supposed to be a pair, right? Makes sense for the Council to be headed by a Piltovan and a Zaunite.” 

“Well, if Viktor accepts, I will help you draft a proposal for the Council.”

“Thank you, Cassandra.” 

“I noticed you have not marked each other yet.” 

Jayce made a strange sound then, sort of somewhere between an indignant gasp, a sigh, and a growl. He stuttered a bit as he tried to answer. 

“Is there something the matter with him?” Cassandra asked. “You did approve of him on paper, but is there something that has you hesitating?” 

Viktor’s heart was beating fast against his ribs, so loud in his own ears he was surprised no-one else could hear it. Why did he care so much about what Jayce thought of him? He didn’t know, but the fact was, he did. 

“No, no, he’s…,” Jayce paused for a moment. “He’s perfect, honestly.” 

The Alpha’s tone, dripping with adoration, almost made Viktor throw open the door and walk right in there to plop himself down in Jayce’s lap. 

“Then what is the problem?” 

“The problem is that I’ve only known him for a week,” Jayce sounded strained. “I like him a lot, Cassandra, and I don’t want to scare him or force him into anything. I know he’s an Omega and as an Alpha I’m expected to have taken him on our wedding night, but it just didn’t feel…like the right thing to do. So much has changed for him, he was forced to marry me, forced to move here, he’s being denied his suppressants, people are telling me I need to collar him, I just…it’s a lot.” 

There was a pause, and Cassandra sighed. “The Council will grow suspicious before long,” she warned, but she didn’t sound angry. “You’re a good Alpha, Jayce. Respectful, thoughtful, you always have been. But the Council, the citizens of Piltover and Zaun, they might not be placated until they see the both of you with mating bites.” 

“I understand.” 

Cassandra made a move to leave, so Viktor quickly ducked behind one of the pillars that lined the hallway. He heard the door open and then click shut, followed by the sound of the Councilor’s heels against the marble floor as she made her way down the hall and to the stairs. 

Peeking around the pillar, Viktor made sure she was gone. He waited and counted out five minutes before he walked to the office door and knocked. 

“Come in.” 

Viktor pushed the door open and walked in, Jayce looking up immediately when he heard the telltale sound of his cane. Jayce’s entire body seemed to visibly relax upon seeing him, the frown on his face softening, the tension in his shoulders leaving. 

“Hey, Viktor,” he sat back in his chair as the Omega made his way over. 

Instead of sitting in the chair opposite the desk, Viktor walked around to Jayce’s side and pushed himself up to sit on the desk. His legs dangled just inches away from where Jayce had his hand on the chair arm. 

It was warm that day, so Viktor had opted for a pair of shorts with a short-sleeved, hooded shirt. He had his leg brace on, but aside from that his legs were bare from the mid-thigh down. He noticed the way Jayce’s eyes flickered down his legs before the Alpha pulled his eyes back up to Viktor’s face. 

“Is everything alright?” Jayce asked. 

“I am hungry,” Viktor replied. 

Jayce glanced at the clock. “Shit, didn’t realise how late it was. You know you don’t have to wait for me-–” 

“But I want to,” Viktor interrupted. “Is it such a crime to wish to enjoy dinner with my husband?” 

Jayce’s eyes widened a fraction, his mouth opening to say something but seeming to find no words. Viktor had never referred to Jayce as his husband before, and the Omega was pleased to see how it affected Jayce. 

Fuck, okay, maybe he was falling just a little bit for this man. 

But it’s Jayce’s fault for being so easy to tease. 

And being handsome. And sweet, and respectful, and–-

“R-right, yeah,” Jayce managed to say, his throat sounding dry. “Sorry, that last meeting went on a bit.” 

“Hm,” Viktor idly fiddled with the edge of the paperwork laid on the desk. “What was it about?” 

“Just…Council stuff. Boring.” 

“Will I ever get to join in on this boring Council stuff?” 

He met Jayce’s eyes, hopefully not giving off any indication that he knew more than he should. 

“I, uh,” Jayce cleared his throat. “I actually…wanted to talk to you about that.” 

“Mh-hm?” 

“Well, this…our marriage was about union, right?” Jayce started. “And we have two Zaunite representatives on the Council, but I still think it’s unfair that the leader of the Council is a Piltovan. It should be more equally balanced, and…I think it would be a good idea for the two of us to lead the Council. Together.” 

“As partners?” Viktor tilted his head. 

“Exactly,” Jayce nodded. “We would hold the same position, and have the same level of influence and political pull. So Zaun doesn’t get overlooked, and so that our Zaunite representatives don’t get outvoted on every decision.” 

“Hmm,” Viktor pretended that he was thinking it over, leaning back against his hands on the desk. 

“You don’t have to answer me now, you can think it over,” the Alpha said. 

“I will need new clothes.” 

“Huh?” 

Viktor looked at Jayce with a smile. “I cannot help to lead the Council with my current wardrobe. I would look unbelievably scruffy next to you.” 

He punctuated the last sentence by poking Jayce’s thigh with his bare foot. 

“I would buy you anything you asked me for, Vik,” Jayce answered, his tone a little too honest, making Viktor flush and his playful exterior crack a little. 

Viktor leaned forward, his elbows against his thighs, resting his head against his hands. “Anything?” 

“Janna, yes,” Jayce sighed, not taking his eyes off Viktor. His scent was becoming more noticeable, and Viktor wondered if the same thing was happening with his own. “I want to spoil you.” 

Okay, maybe Viktor had already fallen for Jayce within the first three days. Maybe Jayce was just maddeningly perfect and wonderful and everything an Omega could ever want. 

“I will become your Council partner,” Viktor said, still holding Jayce’s fiery gaze. “And I will be treated with respect as your equal.” 

“I’ll make sure of it,” Jayce replied. 

Viktor reached out a hand to brush some loose strands of hair away from Jayce’s forehead. 

“I would like to share dinner with you,” the Omega said. “And tomorrow, I want you to take me shopping.” 

He didn’t miss the way Jayce almost leaned into his touch, catching himself at the last moment. The Alpha grinned, and Viktor was becoming a little obsessed with making Jayce smile. The gap in his teeth was too cute, but the sharp canines were…intriguing. 

“It’s a date.” 

Chapter Text

Clothes shopping was actually something Viktor had never experienced before. 

In Zaun, given the limited resources and the various blockades imposed by Piltover, his wardrobe consisted of hand-me-downs, repaired or altered second-hand clothes, or completely handmade items from scraps of fabric. The inspection outfit he’d worn, as well as the wedding dress, had been specially commissioned; such expenses were unthinkable during the war. 

Piltover had many boutiques and other such stores, and it was a little overwhelming. Viktor hadn’t expected quite so many choices, and he didn’t know where to start. He felt completely out of his depth. 

Fortunately, Jayce had caught on, and steered him toward a specific store. He explained that this one was his favourite, and he knew the staff there well. It would be a perfect place to start. 

They walked in and Viktor was immediately distracted by the mannequins that displayed all sorts of different outfits, ranging from casual to insanely formal. Piltover fashion was far brighter than traditional Zaunite clothing, but just as flashy. 

He vaguely heard Jayce talking to someone, but Viktor was looking at one of the nearby outfits. It was a dress, and while he wore dresses occasionally, it was very occasional. They were comfy and easier to wear on bad flare-up days, but crawling around the streets of Zaun and sneaking into abandoned battlefields looking for scrap required much more sturdy clothing. 

The dress went to about knee-level and was a beautiful, deep blue. The top looked like it was wrapped around the mannequin, fabric draping elegantly across the shoulders. The waist was cinched in by belts adorned with golden detailing. 

It was gorgeous. 

Someone appeared next to him and Viktor nearly jumped out of his skin when they greeted him. They were another Omega, apparently the person Jayce had been talking to. 

“Would you like to try this one on?” They asked, cheerfully. 

“O-oh, uh,” Viktor glanced over to Jayce; he didn’t need permission, per se, but it was Jayce’s money they’d be spending. 

“Try on anything you’d like, Vik,” Jayce assured him with a soft smile. 

The Omega attendant took note of every piece of clothing Viktor was drawn to as they walked through the store. Once there was a good sized list, Viktor was ushered into a back room area, where his measurements were taken. 

The attendant shuffled off with their clipboard, saying they would be back in a moment. Jayce had sat down on one of the seats outside the changing area, smiling at Viktor when the Omega turned to look at him. 

“Doing alright?” 

“This is…a lot,” Viktor admitted. “I am not used to so much choice, or so much…attention. This is very fancy.” 

Jayce chuckled, standing up and making his way over to Viktor. “You can get whatever you want, but don’t feel pressured to buy something you don’t like. I just want you to be comfortable.” 

Viktor looked up at him. Jayce kept a distance from him, even though the Omega would like for nothing more than the Alpha to hold his hands, or hold his shoulders comfortingly; while they were awake, Jayce was still holding back on the physical affection. 

The attendant came back in, pushing a rack full of clothes over to the changing area. They ushered Jayce back over to the seat before closing the curtain to give them privacy. 

When Viktor decided he liked a particular article of clothing, the attendant would make notes of any adjustments that needed to be made. Viktor had assumed that just meant measurements at first. 

“What do you think of this one?” The attendant asked after helping Viktor into a dark coloured blouse. 

“Mmh,” Viktor looked at his reflection in the mirrors. “I very much like this, but the fabric is stiff.” 

“We can make it out of the same fabric as the other blouse you liked,” the attendant said, making another note. 

“We can?” 

“Of course,” the Omega smiled. 

They continued, and Viktor ended up with a good stack of outfits that ranged from things he could wear every day, to outfits specifically for Council meetings. A few of them Viktor had asked for Jayce’s opinion, and the Alpha was happy to help. 

“Alright, I saved this dress for last,” the attendant pulled out the blue dress. 

They helped Viktor into the dress, and pinned the fabric back where adjustments would have to be made. Meanwhile, Viktor was looking at his reflection. 

He looked…nice. Pretty, even, he thought. The dress was comfortable and light, and he honestly loved the way the fabric draped over him. 

“Wow, this really suits you,” the Omega attendant said. “Would you like to show your Alpha?” 

“No,” Viktor replied, a little too quickly, and moving past the idea of Jayce being his Alpha a little too quickly. “Um–I think…I would like it to be a surprise.” 

The attendant grinned. “Oooh, that’s a wonderful idea!” 

There were some colour adjustments that Viktor and the attendant sorted out for the other clothing, since Viktor wanted things in more Zaunite colours, and then he and Jayce were being ushered over to the checkout area. 

“We will have everything ready in two days,” the attendant said. “Would you like them delivered to a home, or would you like to pick them up?” 

“Delivery is fine,” Jayce said. 

Viktor almost panicked when they were given the total price, looking up at Jayce and fully expecting him to say no. Instead, the Alpha didn’t even blink, handing over payment. 

“Are you sure, Jayce?” Viktor asked. “That’s a lot of money for just…clothing.” 

Jayce took the order slip from the attendant and looked at Viktor with a smile. “It’s fine, Vik, I promise.” 

The idea of spending money on anything other than food, supplies, and war expenses was so foreign to Viktor. Being Zaunite Royalty, his family wasn’t exactly destitute, but new clothes weren’t something to just waste money on. 

Really, the whole situation stood in such stark opposition to his life only a month ago. It almost made him want to laugh.

They exited the store, and Viktor didn’t bring attention to Jayce’s hand on his back, gently guiding him. 

“Do you want to look somewhere else?” 

“You just bought me an entirely new wardrobe, Jayce,” Viktor said. “I don’t think I’ll need new clothes for years.” 

Jayce just chuckled, checking his pocketwatch. “Maybe lunch, then?” 

—

It almost felt like a real date, like Jayce was courting him. They had lunch and then Jayce was showing Viktor around, pointing out some parks and theatre houses, entertainment and recreation that had never been touched by Zaun bombing raids. 

The fighting happened mainly on the borders and Zaun itself, after all. 

Jayce checked in with Viktor regularly, making sure he was still comfortable, asking if he wanted to sit down, if he was hungry at all. He made sure he paid attention to the Omega even when people would come over to talk to Jayce, their Defender, and completely ignore Viktor at his side. 

Viktor wondered how much the average Piltovan actually cared about Zaun, or the end of the war. 

At one point, Jayce was talking to a trio of Omegas that had come over to ooh and aah and giggle irritatingly at anything he said. Jayce was being polite, ever the gentleman, but Viktor was growing bored and his hip was starting to hurt. 

After a moment of deliberation, Viktor reached out and tugged at Jayce’s sleeve. One of the Omegas had been mid-sentence, but Jayce turned to Viktor the second he felt the tugging. 

“Yeah, V? You okay?” 

“I am tired,” Viktor felt a little childish, but it was true. “Can we go home, please?” 

“Of course,” Jayce smiled sweetly, saying a quick goodbye to the Omegas before leading Viktor away. 

Once they were a good distance away, Jayce let out a long sigh. “Thanks, V,” he said with a chuckle. “I always feel rude trying to pull away from conversations like that.” 

“Well, I was being honest,” Viktor replied, basking in the feeling of the Alpha’s palm, pressed against his lower spine. “I am tired. They were also annoying me.” 

“Did you, um,” Jayce hesitated for a moment. “Did you have a good day, though?” 

Viktor looked up at him and was surprised to see Jayce looking so unsure, almost like he needed the reassurance. 

“I enjoyed myself a lot today,” Viktor replied. “Thank you, Jayce.” 

—

Apparently it had been quite the debate when Jayce had proposed the idea of Viktor being a co-head of the Council. Despite that, when put to the vote, there were only three Councilors that voted against it, and four that voted for it. 

To say Viktor was nervous about attending his first session would be an understatement. 

Caitlyn had shown up to the Talis Estate that day, saying she was asked to escort them both to the Council Chambers. Jayce had asked her who had given her that assignment, and she was vague about her answer, immediately changing the subject to greet Viktor. 

She had ushered Viktor back up to the bedroom, saying she was going to help him get ready, and Jayce had such a bewildered look on his face that Viktor would have laughed–if only he himself wasn’t also feeling quite bewildered. 

Caitlyn was helping him get ready, though. She was tying up the back of his corset, while he looked at his reflection in the mirror. 

His outfit was mostly Zaun colours, and similar to the outfit he’d worn for his inspection. The only difference was that the reds were less Zaun, and more Talis. 

He supposed he was now part of House Talis, after all. 

“How’re you feeling?” Caitlyn asked, tugging on the lacing. 

“That is sufficient,” he answered; the corset was specifically boned to replace his back brace. “Any tighter and I will struggle to breathe.” 

“Good to know, but that wasn’t what I meant,” the Beta said, kindly, as she adjusted the collar of his shirt. 

“I am…anxious,” Viktor replied, leaning against his cane. “I know there are some on the Council who do not approve of me, that much was obvious during the inspection.” 

“Well, Jayce has told me you don’t shy away from telling anyone how you feel,” Caitlyn said, adding a clip into Viktor’s hair, pulling it back. “So just keep that attitude in the Council, otherwise they’ll eat you alive.” 

Viktor turned around to face her, a slight frown on his face. “Why did you come here, really?” 

“Well, for one I hadn’t met you yet, which I think it was rude of Jayce to not invite me over,” Caitlyn started. “Secondly, though, I just…wanted to warn you. The Councilors can be…a lot.” 

“I appreciate the concern, Lady Kiramman,” Viktor said. “I will not be on my own, though. I have Jayce, and not to mention my father and his guard now occupy seats as well.” 

“I know, I know, but that’s just inside the Council chamber, during sessions,” she said. “The Councilors make deals with each other and they’ll do anything just to make themselves richer. Hoskel and Salo are the main ones to look out for.” 

“You are…concerned for my safety outside of the Council?” 

“I am,” Caitlyn sighed. “Look, you know that many people aren’t happy about the war being over. Some Piltovans feel like we were defeated, the ones that sat up in their ivory towers and didn’t see any of the actual fighting. I’m sure there are some Zaunites who feel similarly.” 

“Peace is fragile, I know,” Viktor replied. “I…thank you for this warning, Caitlyn.” 

Caitlyn smiled, adjusted his clothing one more time, and then ushered him back out of the room. 

Chapter Text

The Council chamber was much as Viktor remembered it, except now there were two of those large chairs, emblazoned with a gold letter “T”. Jayce had pulled the chair out for him, motioning for him to sit, before taking his own seat. 

They were early, so the room was empty aside from the two of them. Jayce had some papers he laid out in front of them. 

“Alright, so the main point of this session is to discuss how to start rebuilding along the border,” he said as he handed some of the papers to Viktor. “Reopening trade, assigning construction teams to clear out the destruction-–” 

“Bomb disposal teams,” Viktor interrupted. “This stretch of land here-–,” he indicated along a map. “--was bombed to hell. It’s likely there’s explosives that never went off, and there’s landmines.” 

“Oh, good point,” Jayce scribbled down some notes. 

They brainstormed a few ideas before the rest of the Council trailed into the room. Viktor fought the urge to rush over to his father when he entered the chamber, but they made eye contact and Vander gave him a gentle, familiar smile. 

Once everyone was in and settled, Jayce stood up from his seat. 

“Before we start, I would like to present our new co-head of the Council,” Jayce gestured to Viktor, who picked up his cane to push himself onto his feet. “Viktor Talis, of Zaun.” 

Viktor bowed his head, making a mental note of the Councilors who did and did not clap. Once he was seated again, Jayce continued. 

“Our main topic today is rebuilding efforts,” he said, indicating for everyone to look at the papers before them. “We will focus along the border, since the most damage was done there.” 

“I hope the focus will be on the foundries and the manufacturing plants,” Councilor Hoskel said. 

“The focus will be on clearing out the destruction and any damage left behind from the war,” Jayce replied. “We need to make the land safe again, habitable, before we think about the factories.” 

“Besides,” Viktor spoke up. “Your factories will have nothing to manufacture without Zaunite resources. Zaun will not be able to continue our mining operations until our land is safe.” 

“Once the border is habitable again,” Vander added. “We will need to revisit the Trade Treaties set forth by the Mining Guilds. Then we can think about the factories.” 

“So we just continue to let profits plummet,” Salo said, dropping the papers back to the table. 

“This isn’t about profits,” Jayce shot back. “This is about our citizens. Piltovans and Zaunites alike suffered along the border for almost a decade of bloodshed.” 

“What is needed to rebuild?” Councilor Medarda interrupted, bringing the conversation back on track. 

Jayce took a seat, glancing at Viktor. 

“First of all we will need a team to go in and clear away anything left over from the fighting,” Viktor replied. “Unexploded ordnance, shrapnel, any toxic or harmful remnants from chemical weapons. Once cleared away, next would be determining what buildings can be repaired, and what needs to be hauled away.” 

The meeting continued, Viktor ignoring the way Salo would roll his eyes or the way Hoskel would scoff. They decided that the militaries of both cities would be best for clearing away evidence of the battles, working on their own sides of the border to avoid any conflict. 

“One last thing we wished to discuss,” Jayce said once the plans had been formalised. “While rebuilding efforts along the border are underway, we need to send relief aid into Zaun, and begin working on some kind of filtration system.” 

“Didn’t the Kirammans do that whole filtration thing already?” Salo said dismissively. 

“It was enough when it was limited to the mines,” Cassandra replied. “However, chemical warfare is a completely different level of contamination.”

“Not to mention the release of toxic gas from mines that got destroyed during the fighting,” Vander added. 

“A region-wide filtration system is far too expensive,” Hoskel scoffed. “It’ll fade away eventually I’m sure.” 

“If by ‘eventually’ you mean ‘in a hundred years,’ then yes, you would be correct,” Viktor said. “The lower levels of Zaun are becoming uninhabitable. If the mines are inaccessible, then there will be a marked drop in profits, even with your factories operational. Not to mention the declining birthrate and rise in birth defects.” 

“Besides, we’re hoping to use something more natural than a series of pipes and fans,” Jayce added. “This is an ongoing project. If anyone has any ideas, please send them to Viktor and myself.” 

“And what of Piltover?” Hoskel asked. “We’re talking a lot about Zaun, here.” 

“Most of Piltover avoided the war,” Vander answered. “The inner city never saw battle. Piltover was very thorough with their attacks on Zaun, though.” 

“Well perhaps had you not started the war-–”

“We didn’t start the war-–” 

The discussion devolved into an argument in the blink of an eye. Jayce sank back into his seat and let out a long sigh, running a hand over his face. 

“This Council is a mockery, Zaunites holding seats, ridiculous-–” 

“The Council is made to represent the people, and with Piltover and Zaun united, that means-–” 

“It’s bad enough there’s an Omega bitch as co-head, nevermind him being from Zaun-–” 

“Enough,” Jayce slammed a hand on the surface of the table as he stood up, drawing everyone’s attention. “The war is over. If we are to prosper once more, we need to work together, not bicker like children. Do I make myself clear?” 

The silence was deafening, and Viktor couldn’t pull his eyes away from Jayce. He looked furious, glaring around the table at the now quiet Councilors. His jaw was held tense, his hands still flat against the table. 

Viktor should not be finding it attractive. 

There was a murmur around the table, a few apologies thrown out. 

“Councilor Hoskel,” Jayce turned his attention to the older man. “Would you care to repeat what you just said about Councilor Talis?” 

“I didn’t say anything about you, Councilor-–” 

“Viktor,” he was practically growling. “What you said about Viktor.” 

Hoskel cleared his throat, shuffling awkwardly in his seat. “It’s just-–an Omega as head of the Council? It’s unheard of.” 

“What was the exact word you used?” Jayce’s tone was dangerous, his glare equally so. “I believe you called him an Omega Bitch?” 

“W-well-–” 

“I will not permit any such talk about any member of this Council,” he interrupted. No-one else seemed to dare more or interrupt in any way; most of them looked uncomfortable, but Viktor noticed the sort of amused, smug expression on Vander’s face. Councilor Medarda just looked tired. “And I will not tolerate any such talk about my wife. Do I make myself clear?” 

“Y-yes, Councilor Talis.” 

“From now on, if I hear anything of this nature, that councilor will be immediately expelled, their right to a vote waived and the final decision falling to myself and Viktor,” he ended, sitting back down in his seat. “This session is dismissed.” 

The councilors began to gather their things, and Viktor was suffering. 

Watching Jayce get so angry on his behalf, seeing him defend Viktor, and then calling him his wife? 

Viktor didn’t think he could fall any more in love. 

He was momentarily distracted when Vander and Sevika came up to his seat to talk to him, his father giving him a tight hug before saying goodbye. Vander shook Jayce’s hand with a solemn nod, and then the two Zaunite Councilors left the room. 

“Are you alright, Viktor?” 

Viktor blinked and looked at him. 

“I had hoped your first council session would go a little smoother, but I guess it’s to be expected,” Jayce sighed. “It’s been nothing but arguments for months.”

“You called me your wife,” Viktor said. 

Jayce looked at him, a sudden uncertainty on his face. “W-well, I mean, you are, and you did call me your husband last week-–” 

“But you said it in front of other people,” Viktor interrupted. He felt a little breathless, and it had nothing to do with the corset. 

“Was that not okay?” 

Viktor wasn’t sure what possessed him in that moment, but he reached out and gripped Jayce’s tie, using it to pull the Alpha in close. 

“It was very much okay, Jacye.” 

Viktor closed the gap, pressing his lips against Jayce’s in a bruising kiss. The Alpha stiffened for only a second before he relaxed and returned the kiss, moving a hand up to tangle in Viktor’s hair. 

Jayce pressed forward, moving closer into the kiss and tilting his head to get even closer. He swiped his tongue against the seam of Viktor’s lips, and the Omega opened up for him. 

The muffled sounds of their kissing sounded louder in the empty chamber, but neither of them cared. Eventually, Viktor pulled back, his face feeling flushed and glad to see Jayce was in a similar state. 

“I’ve wanted to do that since our wedding night,” Jayce said lowly. 

Viktor couldn’t help it when he giggled. “You Pilties move so quickly,” he said, pressing a quick, soft kiss against his lips. “It was about three days after the wedding for me, though.” 

Jayce chuckled, the tension and stress from the council session having completely disappeared. “Let’s go home.” 

—

Jayce had held Viktor’s hand until he helped the Omega up into the carriage, and during the ride back to the Talis Estate, it was as if they just couldn’t keep away from each other. 

Viktor had his good leg laying over Jayce’s lap, tangling his fingers in the Alpha’s hair. Jayce had his hand resting on Viktor’s waist, kissing him softly, slowly. 

“You look really good in this,” Jayce murmured into the kiss. “I’m glad I convinced you to get it.” 

“You’d say I looked good in anything,” Viktor couldn’t help but smile at the praise, though. His inner Omega was elated, feeling some sort of satisfaction now that Jayce would actually touch him. 

“You would look good in anything,” the Alpha replied, teasingly biting at Viktor’s lower lip. The Omega giggled, pulling Jayce back down into another kiss. 

Still, something was bubbling at the back of Viktor’s mind. He tried to ignore it, to focus instead on Jayce, but it was becoming harder and harder to push away. Like black ooze seeping through a crack, or toxic air escaping a caved-in mine shaft. 

He couldn’t shake away the image of how Hoskel and Salo had looked at him, even some of the others who had voted in favour of his place on the Council were wary of him. He couldn’t forget the way everyone ignored him when he was out with Jayce, as if he simply didn’t exist. 

Once they arrived back at the Estate, Viktor decided he wanted a bath. The tub in the bathroom attached to their bedroom was far too big to be sensible, Viktor thought when he’d first seen it, but it did allow for him to stretch out in the water. His joints were aching, his back was stiff from the corset keeping him upright, and he wanted nothing more than to just relax for a while. 

Jayce had asked, delicately, if he wanted company, but Viktor gave him a gentle no, followed by a soft kiss. The Alpha didn’t push, just said he would be in the bedroom, to just shout if Viktor needed anything. 

The lights in the bathroom were dimmed as Viktor floated in the warm water. He’d never even heard of bubble bath before the wedding, and now he was absently playing with the foam as it floated on the surface. 

That annoying feeling hadn’t stopped clawing at his mind, and he finally knew what it was. 

It was guilt.

Guilt for living in such a luxurious home while his people still suffered in slapped together shelters and half-collapsed buildings. Guilt for the wedding ceremony being so extravagant, when his people were scrounging for food. Guilt for having serving staff, for having spent so much on clothes, for settling into the glitter and glamorous lifestyle of Piltover. 

Even though the people of Piltover will never see him as anything other than an outsider. They would tolerate him, for fear of Jayce’s anger, but that wouldn’t stop the gossip and the scornful looks aimed his way when their Defender’s back was turned. 

Viktor took a deep breath and closed his eyes before he sank below the water, reveling in the silence it brought. 

He never expected he would actually fall in love with the Alpha he was forced to marry, and he certainly hadn’t expected it to happen so fast. Viktor had never considered himself anything like those stereotypical Omegas he read about in stories and fairytales, or the ones he sees flaunting themselves around Piltover like peacocks, and yet he’d quickly found himself needing Jayce’s approval. 

Resurfacing, Viktor kept his eyes closed for a few moments longer. 

The whole point of him being here was to put an end to Zaun’s suffering. He was on the Council, he held the highest position alongside Jayce, and he had the power to actually make a change. 

But he was so far removed from his homeland, from his people. Would they see the effort he was making for them? Or would they consider their Prince a traitor to their very way of life? 

His thoughts hadn’t been so restless in a long time.

Eventually the water went cold. Viktor sat up and pulled the plug, waiting for the tub to drain before he made any moves to climb out. 

He quickly toweled himself off and pulled on his nightdress, grabbing his cane as he made his way back into the bedroom. 

The fire was lit, and Jayce was sprawled out on their bed, snoring. Viktor was more than content to leave him be, but he’d fallen asleep in his suit, so the Omega shuffled over and shook his shoulder gently. 

“Mrphgh?” Jayce asked eloquently. 

“I don’t think that suit is comfortable sleepwear,” Viktor teased, making his way around to his side of the bed. 

Jayce sat up and yawned, blinking a few times. “Mmh,” he looked at Viktor, a dopey smile on his face. “Nice bath?” 

“It was relaxing,” Viktor climbed into the bed, stretching his legs out over the blankets. “I feel a lot better.” 

Jayce leaned over and kissed his forehead, before he climbed out of the bed. “I’ll go change, be right back.” 

It was a welcome change when they fell asleep together, wrapped in each other’s arms. It was even better when, for once, Jayce didn’t pull away when they woke up. 

Chapter Text

The Council sessions were happening twice a week, as it was considered a time of great change and transition, so emergency measures were still in place. Jayce had explained that typically the meetings happened once a month, unless there was a need for a special meeting. The first emergency measure was once a week, and the second measure was twice a week. 

They were exhausting. Viktor wasn’t sure why anyone would subject themselves to this sort of torture willingly. It just felt like argument after argument, as if the Councilors were allergic to agreeing with anything.

Still, progress was being made in Zaun. Food and supplies were being transported in regularly, and work along the borders was going smoothly. Viktor also got to see Vander and Sevika, who passed along letters between Viktor and Jinx. 

Life with Jayce had settled into comfortable affection, but once again Viktor had overheard Councilor Kiramman discuss their lack of mating bites with Jayce. After a particularly tense council session, Viktor heard Salo not so subtly make a comment about the Alpha needing to put a collar and leash on Viktor, to keep him under control. Jayce hadn’t been present to hear that. 

Long story short, Viktor was stressed. 

He had to appeal to the Piltovan Elite, he had to represent and help his people in Zaun, he had to behave himself enough that he wasn’t getting into full on screaming matches during council meetings. He was representative of Zaun, but his behaviour would reflect on House Talis just as much. He was expected to act like an Omega while also being in a position of leadership. 

Viktor felt all of that pressure and more, hearing whispers about his lack of a bite, rumours spreading about Jayce being unfaithful, or about Viktor being undesirable. 

Jayce had finally agreed to let Viktor into his lab at his Estate, and that was where the Omega was spending most of his free time. He’d asked Vander to bring along a few things that he had left behind, which fortunately his father did without asking too many questions. 

Viktor had retreated to the lab again that day, feeling unreasonably tense and cranky. He had settled down on a wheeled stool by the workbench, his good leg folded up with his foot perched on the edge of the seat, his spine hunched over with his chin resting on his knee. He kept his bad leg straightened, his foot resting against the floor. He would hate himself for keeping this position for so long later on tonight, but he didn’t care at the moment. 

Viktor also felt unusually warm, and he’d wondered briefly if he was coming down with something. His current outfit was probably not exactly lab safe, his sleeveless shirt leaving his arms bare, his shorts and lack of socks similarly leaving his legs bare. 

Goggles pulled down over his eyes and a pair of Jayce’s gloves pulled on (that were far too big for him, it was almost comical), Viktor had buried himself in his Hex Claw project. 

Not that he’d need it with the fighting finally over, but it was something he could work on. He was sure he could find some other use for it, eventually, if he ever finished it. 

Tools sparked and gears whirred as Viktor hummed to himself, working the day away. Jayce had left the Estate that morning to visit his mother, who Viktor hadn’t met yet. Jayce hadn’t invited him, but he’d said there were lots of errands he had to run afterward, so Viktor was perfectly content to remain indoors. 

He was feeling a little better than previous weeks, since they were on the verge of a breakthrough with the Zaun filtration project. A Beta from Zaun had approached Vander with an idea, and he’d been asked to present it to the Council. 

The Beta, Claggor, had discovered a flower that could survive in heavily polluted environments. After several experiments, he’d discovered that it could purify the air, which he’d demonstrated with a curious contraption that he’d built. The next steps would be to cultivate the flower and get them to grow in the quantities needed to clear the toxic air. 

It was an important development, and Viktor was hopeful. 

Viktor was singing to himself quietly as he worked, the spark of the claw’s mechanisms the only other sound in the room. 

“A já brouček, sekal souček,” Viktor wheeled himself across to one of the other workbenches, double checking his blueprints before wheeling himself back. “Posekal si paleček, ŋel jsem k panu doktorovi…”

“What’re you singing?” 

Viktor nearly leapt out of skin with an undignified yelp, dropping the wire cutters he’d been holding. Spinning around in his seat and pulling his goggles up to rest on top of his head, he was met with a very apologetic looking Jayce. 

“Ah—sorry,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought you heard me come in.” 

“You almost gave me a heart attack,” Viktor sighed, feeling some of his tension leaving him. The Alpha’s presence was always soothing, but it seemed even more so now. 

Jayce sat in the seat next to him, quickly taking in the lack of safety gear the Omega was wearing. He frowned slightly. “I’ll lock the doors again if you keep insisting on not wearing safety gear.” 

“I have gloves on,” Viktor sniffed, readjusting said gloves. “And goggles.” 

“Viktor.” 

“I’m not working on anything dangerous,” Viktor argued, closing up the access panel he’d been working on. 

“What are you working on?” 

Viktor removed the gloves in favour of a smaller, strappy sort of glove that was more of a hand wrap than anything protective. He slipped it on to his left hand and calibrated it with the Hex Claw laid out in front of him. 

Immediately, the claw end of the device whirred to life, following the movements of Viktor’s hand. Grinning, he looked at Jayce. 

“Behold,” he said dramatically. “The Hex Claw!” 

Jayce looked between the claw rotating uselessly on the workbench, and the wide grin on the Omega’s face. 

“The…Hex Claw.” 

“I was working on it before the peace treaty,” Viktor switched off the connection between the control glove and the claw. “The idea is it would attach to my back, along the spine, and it would give me extra range on the battlefield. It has a laser, and I was going to add more weaponry to it.” 

“The battlefield that you weren’t allowed to be on?” 

“It was just a little pet project,” Viktor said, definitely not pouting. “I’m not going to add anything more to it, I just…want it to work.” 

Jayce sighed, but he smiled. “It’s a brilliant idea, Viktor,” he said, affectionately ruffling the Omega’s hair. “But I would consider a laser weapon to be dangerous. Please at least cover up your arms next time you’re in here.” 

With a huff, Viktor nodded. “Fine. It is just too hot at the moment, I felt like a long sleeved shirt would suffocate me.” 

Jayce frowned, pressing the back of one hand against Viktor’s forehead. “You are a little warm. Are you feeling okay?” 

Viktor leaned into the touch. “Mmh,” he hummed, his mind going fuzzy at the skin contact. He almost felt like whining when Jayce pulled his hand away. 

“Maybe we should get an early night,” Jayce sounded worried. He stood up and the next thing Viktor knew, he’d been scooped up into the Alpha’s arms. Pausing only to set the goggles back on the workbench, Jayce turned and walked them out of the lab. 

Viktor was looking up at Jayce, watching him, his brain still holding on to that fuzziness that was starting to overcome his whole body. He felt like he was burning up. 

Jayce’s eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly, his nose twitched, and he glanced down at Viktor briefly. “Are you sure you’re alright?” 

“I’m sleepy,” Viktor heard the whining, petulant tone to his voice. “Will you come to bed with me?” 

“Anything to help you relax, amor,” Jayce smiled softly. 

—-

When Viktor awoke the next morning, he noticed two things: 

First, he was alone in the bed, and the empty space was cold. Jayce must have been gone for sometime. 

Second, Viktor was on fire. He groaned as he rolled onto his back, his breath coming out in short, rapid puffs. His hair stuck to his forehead and neck from the sweat covering him, his nightshirt suddenly suffocating. 

It wasn’t until he’d moved to pull off the nightshirt that he felt it: the warm, sticky slick that coated his thighs and soaked through his shorts. With another groan he ran a hand down his face, trying to calm his erratic heartbeat. 

The door opened at that point, someone walking in and setting something down on the table—-breakfast, Viktor thought sluggishly. 

“Good morning!” It was Huck, a Beta who’d worked for Jayce for some years. He opened up the curtains to let some light in, while Viktor covered himself with the blanket. “Master Talis wanted you to know he was pulled away for a meeting early this morning. He hopes to be back for lunch.” 

“I need him now,” Viktor managed. 

The weak, desperate tone finally got Huck’s attention; being a Beta, he wasn’t able to pick up on the thick scent of Omega in heat. “Are you okay, Viktor?” 

“No,” he ground out. “Huck, tell Jayce I need him.” 

Huck was smart and quickly pieced together what Viktor was getting at. He picked up the water pitcher and a glass from the table and left them on the bedside cabinet before he hurried out of the room. 

The second the door closed, Viktor threw off the blankets again and immediately shimmied out of his shorts. He hadn’t had a heat in years, thanks to the suppressants, and he’d almost forgotten the way it made his cunt throb and leak, more slick soaking the sheets beneath him. 

His dick was swollen and twitching, already hyper sensitive as Viktor started rubbing two fingers against it. His free hand clutched at the pillow under his head as he chewed on his bottom lip. 

He was soaked already, his thighs shaking as he rubbed himself in quick, tight circles. He knew it wouldn’t be enough, not now that he had an Alpha in his life— 

The mewl that escaped him was foreign to his own ears, bucking his his at the thought of Jayce. 

Viktor hoped his Alpha would hurry up. 

His fingers sped up against his clit, his other hand snaking down to tentatively press a finger against his entrance. Fuck, he doesn’t think he’s ever been this wet. 

Pressing his finger inside himself, Viktor wondered what it would feel like to be knotted. He’d never been with anyone before, let alone an Alpha, and something in his hindbrain told him that Jayce was probably already huge. He wondered if it would fit. 

The image of Jayce stuffing him full of cock, forcing him to take his knot, pushed Viktor over the edge. Keening pathetically, he felt his cunt tighten around his finger, more slick gushing down his legs. 

It wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t be enough until Jayce got his cock in here and fixed it. 

Viktor’s heart leapt when he heard the doors fly open. 

Chapter Text

Viktor sat up, leaning back against his hands as he made eye contact with Jayce. 

The Alpha immediately shut the doors with the same force he’d opened them with, crossing the room to the bed in long strides. 

“Jayce,” Viktor’s voice sounded whiny and pathetic, but he didn’t care, reaching out to his Alpha. 

Jayce sat next to him, gathering him up in strong arms and holding him close. “I’m here, mi vida, I’m here.” 

The sound of Jayce’s voice sent a shiver through the Omega, pressing his thighs together as he pressed his face into Jayce’s neck. 

His Alpha smelled so good, like warmth from a fire, pulling another needy, thin sound from Viktor. He felt completely out of his mind, his Omega instincts taking over. 

“Tell me what you need, Vik.” 

“You,” Viktor ground out, clinging to Jayce’s suit jacket, panting and keening into the Alpha’s neck. He flicked his tongue out, just the barest brush against Jayce’s scent gland. “Please, Jayce.” 

Jayce groaned, cutting himself off halfway through, his arms tightening around Viktor. “A-are you sure, Vik? I mean, we haven’t—“ 

Viktor growled—much less threatening than an Alpha’s, a little more chirpy sounding—and leaned in closer to Jayce’s ear. 

“Now is not the time to be a gentleman, Jayce,” he all but hissed. “Alpha.” 

Jayce growled low in his chest, and Viktor found himself on his back with both wrists pinned above his head, held in one of his Alpha’s hands. The kiss they shared was all consuming, like they were trying to devour each other, Viktor doing his best to keep up. 

Viktor gasped and whined when a hand groped at his chest, completely engulfing one of his small tits. Jayce’s hand was warm, his palm just a little rough, and Viktor found himself panting and whining into Jayce’s mouth. 

Fingers pinched and tugged at a sensitive nipple, Jayce now moving away from Viktor’s mouth to trail kisses down to his throat. 

“You make the most beautiful sounds,” Jayce murmured against Viktor’s scent gland, dragging his tongue over the sensitive skin. His voice was low, gravely, and all Viktor could do was spread his legs. 

“Please, Jayce,” Viktor’s voice was breathy as he arched his chest into the Alpha’s hand. “Please.” 

“Tell me what you want,” Jayce trailed kisses further down, over his collarbone, to the space between his breasts. 

“A-anything—everything—,” Viktor let out a sharp yelp when he felt teeth, biting and sucking a mark into his skin. “F-fuck—“ 

Jayce bit and nipped at the Omega’s skin until he was back up by his face, one final, sharp nip to Viktor’s jaw. 

“Tell me if you need me to stop, okay?” 

Viktor blinked rapidly, trying to push through the haze long enough to give Jayce a lucid answer. “O-okay,” his voice was already hoarse. 

He almost whined when Jayce pulled his hands away and sat back, but then suddenly Viktor was being pulled down the bed. Jayce lifted his hips up, Viktor’s legs ending up over the Alpha’s shoulders as he was held practically upside down. 

Viktor opened his mouth to ask what Jayce was doing, but then he felt a warm, wet tongue against his slit, and his mind went fuzzy. 

He threw his head back, hands clawing at the sheets as Jayce repeated the movement. He pushed his tongue through the Omega’s folds, pausing a moment to tease over his fluttering entrance. 

Viktor could feel how his slick soaked his thighs, wondering if he was making a mess of Jayce too. Jayce groaned against him, pulling another pathetic, needy moan from the Omega. 

“Fuck, you taste good,” Jayce said, not moving his face from between Viktor’s thighs. That tongue was back on him, broad licks over his entrance, teasing nibbles against his skin, until Jayce wrapped his lips around Viktor’s clit and sucked. 

Viktor came immediately, his orgasm tearing through him as he arched his back, voice coming out in breathy moans. He felt as his cunt gushed slick, but Jayce didn’t move away, the Alpha groaning into Viktor’s pussy and tightening his grip on slim hips. 

It was a far more satisfying orgasm than Viktor had managed to give himself, but it still wasn’t enough. 

Jayce had moved to kissing Viktor’s inner thighs, nuzzling against the scent glands there as the Omega rode out his orgasm. Viktor groaned and kicked at Jayce’s back with his good leg. 

“D-don’t stop,” his voice sounded pathetic, his head hazy and caring about nothing but Alpha, Alpha, Alpha—

Jayce chuckled before he dove right back in, his tongue eagerly lapping up the slick that coated Viktor’s desperate cunt. The Omega whined, reaching a hand up to tangle in Jayce’s hair, not caring how the angle was straining his joints. 

“Yes—fuck, yes, Jayce—,” he keened, his head thrown back against the bed. 

Viktor yelped when he felt the Alpha’s tongue prod at his entrance, before pushing inside, pressing up against his walls with a groan. 

All the Omega could do was try to breathe, coming out in desperate, short bursts of ah—ah—ah—J-Jayce—

It didn’t take long before another orgasm tore through him, Viktor’s mouth hanging open in a silent scream as he desperately ground down against Jayce’s tongue. 

The Alpha pulled back again, and Viktor could see the slick glistening in his beard. Jayce chuckled before he released Viktor’s hips, so he could lean over again. “I could do that all day,” he murmured into Viktor’s open mouth, still panting as he was. “You taste so sweet.” 

Viktor made a new noise, then, one he thought he was incapable of. He was purring. 

It sounded stilted and rusty, but Jayce nuzzled his face against the Omega’s chest to feel the gentle rumbling, and Viktor only purred louder. 

“You’re,” Viktor found his voice, hands tugging at Jayce’s shirt. “Wearing too many clothes.” 

His Alpha laughed, a low, soft, gentle noise, before sitting back. Viktor only mourned the loss momentarily, quickly distracted by Jayce shedding his layers of clothing. 

With Jayce sat back, Viktor also could see the bulge straining against his trousers. Viktor’s brain was going hazy again, the momentary clearness being once more taken over by the clouds of his heat. 

He’d seen Jayce shirtless a few times before, but it never ceased to send him breathless. Broad shoulders, gorgeous, golden skin, hair on his chest and on his ever so slightly soft stomach, a trail leading down and disappearing under his waistband. 

Viktor wondered how he, a bony, thin, crippled Omega ever got lucky enough to end up with such a perfect example of an Alpha. 

Jayce leaned over him and kissed him, keeping it slow and sensual despite Viktor attempts at heating it up. He keened into the kiss, throwing his arms around Jayce’s shoulders to keep him close. 

“You doing okay?” Jayce asked, with a nip to his jaw. 

“Uh-huh,” Viktor moved his hands down, pushing at the waistband of Jayce’s trousers, that he’d undone but not removed. “Need you, Jayce, please.” 

“Are you sure?” 

Damn this man, with his considerate and respectful personality. 

“Jayce I swear,” Viktor’s tone was not at all threatening, whiny and desperate as it was. “I’m going—to go heat mad if you d-don’t get your cock inside me right now.” 

That seemed to do the trick. Jayce growled low in his chest, leaning back and manhandling Viktor onto his front. 

“Present yourself to me, Omega.” 

Viktor’s pathetic sound was muffled by the pillow. He shakily got his knees underneath him and pushed up, arching his spine to present his ass to his Alpha. Viktor’s bad leg protested, and he was worried about how long Jayce expected him to keep this position. 

But then a pillow was pushed under his hips, to take most of the weight off his leg, and Viktor thought vaguely that that was the sexiest thing Jayce had done so far. 

Rustling fabric told Viktor that Jayce was finally, finally naked, and he lamented the fact that he couldn’t see his cock from this position. 

“Good Omega,” Jayce’s warm hands slid along Viktor’s sides, gripping his hips and arching his spine even further. “Look at you, your cute little cunt is dripping for me.” 

Viktor let out another whine, coupled with a chirpy sort of sound from his chest, the Omega within him getting needier. 

“Don’t worry, mi vida, I’ve got you.” 

Something pressed against Viktor’s entrance, and surely—surely that wasn’t the Alpha’s cock, it felt huge. 

But then Jayce pressed closer and the head pushed in, and holy shit, his Alpha really was just that big. 

“O-oh fuck,” Viktor keened into the pillow, already trembling. 

“Shit, you’re so tight,” Jayce’s fingers dug into his hips almost painfully, shaking with the effort of keeping himself restrained. He pushed in just a few inches more, bullying Viktor’s cunt into accepting him. 

“T-too big,” Viktor mewled, but he could feel the slick drooling down between his legs. He knew his Omega pussy would open for his Alpha, would allow him in no matter what. “G-gonna…b-break…” 

“You need to relax, my love,” Jayce’s voice was strained, his thumbs rubbing comforting circles against Viktor’s skin. 

“C-can’t,” Viktor panted. “P-please—fuck, t-too much, A-Alpha—“ 

There was a growl, low and dangerous sounding, before Jayce draped himself over Viktor’s back. “You said this was no time for me to be a gentleman, right?” 

Viktor briefly wondered what the hell his heat had gotten him into. 

A warm tongue dragged along heated skin at the base of Viktor’s neck, then suddenly there were teeth. 

Jayce sank his teeth in, scruffing his Omega. 

Viktor had only read about this in whatever dirty books he’d hidden under his bed, and none of the descriptions really prepared him for the reality of it. 

A loud, whiny sort of chirping sound escaped him, as he immediately came again, this time around his Alpha’s cock. Then it was as if every single muscle in his body simply gave up, allowing for Jayce to bottom out in one, smooth motion. 

Viktor was pretty sure he’d lost the ability to speak. His eyelids fluttered and his mouth hung open, drooling into the pillow. The only things keeping him up were Jayce’s hands on his hips and the pillow underneath him. 

“Vik, you with me?” Jayce’s voice was coarse and low, grumbly and soft all at once. 

All Viktor could do to respond was press his hips back against Jayce’s. 

Jayce rocked his hips, not moving much, thankfully giving Viktor a little time to adjust. Now that Jayce’s teeth were out of him, feeling was slowly coming back to the Omega, and he felt….full didn’t even begin to describe it. 

“Y-you’re…r-really big,” he said, voice breathy. 

“Does it hurt?” 

Viktor shook his head. “N-no,” he breathed out. “M-move, please, J-Jayce…” 

Jayce pulled back just a few inches before rolling his hips, moving slowly back and forth, his grip on Viktor’s hips still bruisingly tight. 

“You feel…so fucking good, Vik,” Jayce groaned, giving a particularly rough thrust forward. “Fuck, like you were made for me.” 

Viktor whined, trying to push back against Jayce’s cock as it speared him open. “P-please—f-faster, more, A-Alpha—“ 

Jayce adjusted his position, and suddenly he was fucking into Viktor hard and fast, punching the air out of the Omega’s lungs. 

Viktor let himself be used, finding he didn’t have the energy to even be embarrassed by the vulgar squelching sounds from his cunt with each punishing thrust. 

“J-Jayce,” Viktor managed to whine out. “W-wanna—wanna see you, p-please…” 

With a growl, Jayce pulled out entirely and flipped Viktor onto his back, pushing the supporting pillow to the side. Lifting the Omega’s hips up, Jayce thrust back inside in one, rough move. 

Viktor arched his back as the pleasure shivered up his spine, spreading his legs as much as he could as Jayce resumed his movements. 

“Fuck,” Jayce’s voice was mostly growl, but Viktor was able to make out the curse. Jayce grabbed his hand and pressed his palm against his own stomach, pausing in his movements for a moment. 

Before Viktor could ask why he stopped, he thrust in again, and Viktor cried out so loudly he was sure the whole damn estate would hear him. 

Under his palm, his stomach distended around Jayce’s cock. He could feel himself being fucked, from the outside, and Viktor was quickly moving toward another mind-numbing orgasm. 

“Bite me,” he gasped, tilting his head and baring his neck. 

Jayce’s rhythm stuttered, but Viktor felt the way his cock twitched. “A-are—you sure, baby?” 

Viktor wrapped an arm around Jayce, tangling his fingers into dark hair and pulling him down closer, to the right side of his throat. 

“I’m yours, Jayce,” he whined, grinding his hips back against Jayce’s. “Bite me, claim me, knot me—p-please, want to be yours, need to be yours—“

With a deep rumbling from within Jayce’s chest, the Alpha gripped Viktor’s hair and yanked his head further to the side. Viktor could feel the Alpha’s knot forming, catching on his entrance with each desperate movement. 

Jayce dragged his tongue over Viktor’s scent gland a few times, before the grip in his hair tightened, and he felt teeth. 

Viktor’s vision went white. Teeth piercing his sensitive skin should hurt, but all he felt was mind-numbing, devastating pleasure. He was cumming, he was pretty sure, probably crying out and whimpering Alpha, Alpha, Alpha, but Viktor’s mind had left him entirely. 

The next thing he was aware of was Jayce slowing his movements, languidly rolling his hips into Viktor, while lapping at the bite mark in an almost apologetic manner. 

“You back with me?” Jayce chuckled, but his voice was strained. Viktor realised, dazedly, that Jayce was grinding into him because the Alpha couldn’t pull out anymore, his knot keeping them tied together. 

But he hadn’t cum yet. 

Something possessive exploded in Viktor’s chest, his own chirpy, Omega growl escaping him as he surged forward, latching onto Jayce’s throat and biting down on a scent gland. 

“F-fuck—fuck—Viktor—!!”

The knot inside him grew, Jayce’s cock twitching and pulsing as he came deep inside Viktor. Jayce was groaning, grinding his hips forward as he desperately rode out his orgasm, Viktor keeping his teeth embedded in the Alpha’s skin. 

It wasn’t until Jayce nearly collapsed on top of him that Viktor’s heat cleared for a moment, allowing his senses to return. 

He gently extracted himself from Jayce’s throat, laying back on the bed and meeting his Alpha’s eyes. 

“Fuck, Vik,” Jayce laughed, breathlessly. “You okay?” 

“We’re bonded,” Viktor poked his tongue out, catching the small amount of blood on his lips. 

A small flicker of fear crossed Jayce’s expression. “Is…that—“

“Do not ask me if it is okay, Jayce, please,” Viktor couldn’t help but laugh. “It is more than okay.” 

The Alpha smiled, leaning down, the two of them sharing a surprisingly chaste kiss. 

“How long before your heat comes back?” 

“How long before your knot goes down?” 

Jayce chuckled, grinning. “Long enough to get some water and food into you.” 

“Mmh, fine,” Viktor sighed, allowing Jayce to move and manhandle him however he wanted. 

It was going to be a long few days until his heat was over, Viktor knew that. But, he had his Alpha to take care of him. 

Jayce made sure their bite marks were properly cleaned, and Viktor couldn’t help the small spike of pride when he saw his own mark adorning the Alpha’s throat. 

They were bonded. 

Chapter Text

“The flowers are growing far better than we expected,” Vander shuffled through the papers in front of him. “Some levels of Zaun are still too polluted, but if we introduce the plants in slowly, I think it’ll work.” 

“I’m glad to hear some good news, for once,” Jayce commented. He was leaned back in his seat, one hand gently tracing up and down along Viktor’s back. 

“Rebuilding along the border has finished,” Sevika added. “On both sides. Now it is just a matter of moving people back in.” 

The council meeting dragged by, but Viktor couldn’t really complain when it was all positive and there were no arguments. Jayce’s absent-minded caresses along his back were soothing, Viktor leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. He leaned his cheek on one hand, while the other fiddled with his collar. 

It was a sensation he was still getting used to, but it wasn’t a bad one. Jayce had made sure it was soft, but sturdy, not too tight that it was uncomfortable. It was the first day he’d worn it out of the house, and he could feel eyes on him when he’d entered the chamber—just like when he’d first walked in with Jayce’s claiming bite, the Alpha following with his own mark on his neck.

The news of their bond had spread like wildfire.

“That concludes today’s business, then,” Jayce pulled his hand away from Viktor so he could collect the documents that had accumulated on the table in front of him. 

“Just a quick reminder that the gala begins at seven this evening,” Salo interjected. “I trust everyone will be there?” 

It was the six month anniversary of the end of the war, so naturally Piltover had to have a celebration about it. There was to be a city-wide party, and a gala held in one of the glittering towers of the city for those lucky enough to receive an invitation. 

Viktor was looking forward to it, just because he knew his parents and sisters would be there. 

It was summer, and it was hot, so the dress code was a little more relaxed than usual. Viktor had been going through his wardrobe when he came across the blue dress he’d bought before his first council meeting; he hadn’t worn it yet, he hadn’t had an opportunity to. 

The dress was too fancy for casual wear, but not fancy enough for most of the galas and balls he’d gone to so far—but it was perfect for tonight. 

Gathering a few things, Viktor disappeared behind the privacy screen just as Jayce walked into the room. 

“You in here, amor?” 

“I’m over here,” Viktor called out. “Just getting dressed.” 

“Need any help?” 

“No, I can manage,” Viktor pulled the dress over his head after he’d put on the long-sleeved, mesh undershirt. Turning to look at himself in the mirror, he cinched the belts around his waist, making sure the skirt fit over the petticoat underneath. 

The jewelry Viktor had selected for that evening were all Zaunite in style, and he added a brooch to the top portion of the dress that bore the Zaun crest. His hair was getting long, so he pulled it back and clipped it in place. 

“You sure you want to go tonight?” Jayce asked. 

“It sounds like you don’t want to go,” Viktor smiled to himself, adjusting his collar. 

“These events are usually just so…dry,” his husband sighed. It sounded like he’d just thrown himself down on the sofa. “I’d rather attend the street party.” 

Viktor checked his leg brace before he pulled on his boots. “Maybe we can sneak out once we’ve made our appearance,” he suggested. Taking one last look at himself in the mirror, he picked up his cane and made his way into the rest of the room. 

Jayce was sprawled over the couch, one leg up and the other dangling over the side. He had an arm thrown over the back of the couch, and his head was leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The Alpha had already changed into his suit for the gala, but the fine fabric and meticulous tailoring clashed with the haphazard way he’d tossed himself onto the sofa. 

“That sounds fun,” Jayce sighed. “I’m sure we can convince your sisters to join us, too. Do you think—” 

Jayce looked up at that point, his voice dying in his throat when he took in Viktor’s appearance. The silence went on for a moment too long, anxiety suddenly rising in Viktor’s chest. 

“Do you like it?” 

“Do I like it?” The Alpha stood up and closed the distance between them in record time. His hands came to rest on Viktor’s waist, his eyes never stopping as they took in every inch for the Omega. “Viktor, you look…incredible. When did you get this?” 

“Our first date,” Viktor smiled, resting his free hand against Jayce’s chest. “I wanted it to be a surprise.” 

Jayce leaned down and pressed a soft, slow kiss to Viktor’s lips. “You’re gorgeous, mi amor,” he murmured. “Maybe we should just skip the gala, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.” 

Viktor laughed, playfully tugging Jayce’s ear. “Now, now, Miláčku. You’re going to be a good Alpha and behave tonight, aren’t you?” 

Jayce groaned, letting his forehead drop to Viktor’s shoulder. “Tease.” 

“We’re going to be late, my love,” Viktor pressed a kiss against Jayce’s temple. 

—

Jayce was almost immediately swarmed by politicians and fawning groupies alike when they arrived at the gala. He managed to keep them at bay for a little while, but when politicians wanted attention, they were not easily swayed. 

Viktor had slipped away to get another drink when he’d spotted his family arriving. 

“Viktor, Broučku,” Silco greeted him, hugging him tightly. “You look well.” 

“I told you Talis was taking care of him,” Vander chuckled. 

“Wow, Viki, you look fancy,” Jinx popped out from behind Vander. 

“So do you,” Viktor replied. “How much did they bribe you to wear that dress?” 

Jinx laughed, putting her hands on her hips. “Not enough. But the skirt does this-–” she spun, making the skirt flutter out around her. “--so it’s pretty fun.” 

“Where’s Vi?” Viktor asked, looking around. 

“Oh, she got distracted flirting with one of the guards,” Silco replied. “She’ll be along. Where’s your husband?” 

“Currently being mobbed by some representative of the manufacturing guild,” Viktor sipped his drink. “I was going to rescue him, eh, eventually.” 

“I’m going to check out the food table!” Jinx announced, bouncing off to see what was on offer. Vander went with her, mentioning something about keeping her under control. 

Silco and Viktor found their way to one of the balconies, overlooking the city below. 

“Are you doing alright, Broučku?” Silco asked once they’d settled on the plush bench next to the railing. “Vander said you seem well during the council meetings.” 

“I am…,” Viktor paused, sipping his drink. “I am doing better than I expected, I suppose.” 

“Is Talis treating you well?” 

“Oh, Jayce is wonderful,” Viktor smiled. He realised at that point that he and Silco really hadn’t spoken much since the ceremony, which felt like an entire lifetime ago. “He’s really sweet, and very kind.” 

“Are you happy with him?” Silco twirled his own drink glass, having nabbed one from a passing tray during their walk to the balcony. 

“Very,” Viktor nodded. “I am…still a little resentful of the nature of the marriage, but only because…it would have been nice to have met him in different circumstances. Perhaps actually courted, properly.” 

“It sounds like you love him,” Silco sipped his drink. “I never thought you would agree to wear an Alpha’s collar.” 

Viktor trailed his fingers over the soft leather around his neck. “Jayce isn’t anything like I expected him to be. He didn’t force me into anything on our wedding night, we just spoke and enjoyed some wine together. He even offered to sleep on the sofa, instead of in the bed with me.” 

Silco raised an eyebrow, letting Viktor speak. 

“He isn’t forcing me to wear this collar, either, and he made it specifically with my comfort in mind,” Viktor continued. “He’s respectful, and thoughtful.” 

“Why are you crying, Broučku?” 

Viktor blinked, suddenly aware of the tears running down his face. With a small laugh, he wiped at his face, sniffling. “I-I…do the people of Zaun talk about me?” he asked, looking up at Silco. “What do they say about me? Do they think of me as a traitor?” 

“What?” Silco frowned, processing the question. “No, no, not at all, Viki. They see what you’re doing for our people, I haven’t heard anyone say anything to the contrary. They see the sacrifices you’ve made.” 

“I would like to visit, sometime,” Viktor said. “I…would like to come home, for a little while.” 

“Whenever you want, Viktor,” Silco pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Zaun will always be your home.” 

Viktor managed a small smile, sniffling and wiping his eyes. He finished the rest of his drink, setting the empty glass down on the ground. “I suppose I should go and rescue my husband from those poachers.” 

“And I suppose I should find my own husband and make sure he and Jinx aren’t causing any international incidents.” 

—

When Viktor finally made it through the crowd, he found Jayce talking with an Omega woman he didn’t recognise. There was a familiarity between the two, Jayce genuinely laughing and smiling at whatever the older woman was saying. 

Jayce’s smile lit up when he saw Viktor, a hand immediately finding the small of Viktor’s back and pulling him closer. “Viktor! Perfect timing, mi amor, I have someone I wanted to introduce you to.” 

Jayce turned to the woman again, who Viktor noticed seemed…excited? 

“Viktor, this is Ximena Talis, my mother.” 

Viktor blinked once, twice, before holding his hand out to shake Ximena’s. “Mrs. Talis, it’s an honour.” 

Ximena smiled and shook his hand. “It’s about time we met, Jaysi just kept saying you were both too busy. Unbelievable, too busy for dinner with his own mother.” 

Viktor laughed, glancing up at Jayce before he turned back to Ximena. “Well, we should schedule that dinner sometime soon. This isn’t really a great environment for getting to know my mother-in-law.” 

“Oh, I agree,” Ximena nodded. “Truthfully, I don’t really like attending these things, but Jaysi said you would be here and I have waited long enough. And look at you!” 

Suddenly there were hands on Viktor’s face, squishing his cheeks before pinching them, then moving up to fix some loose strands of hair. “Aren’t you just beautiful, just like Jaysi said you were.” 

“Mamá,” Jayce was blushing. 

“Oh hush and let me fawn,” Ximena smiled warmly at Viktor. “I will expect that invitation before the end of the week.” 

“I will send it out first thing tomorrow,” Viktor laughed, rubbing at his cheek. “I promise.” 

Viktor continued to chat with Ximena until the older woman decided it was time for her to leave; he found that Ximena shared many of his own opinions about the galas, commenting on the gaudiness of some of the outfits and how many of them were just trying too hard. Anytime an Omega got too close to Jayce, or batted their eyes at him, she would immediately shoo them away, cursing them in a language Viktor didn’t understand. 

Jayce offered to walk her down to her carriage, and after making sure Viktor would be okay, he slipped out of the room with his mother holding onto his arm. Viktor figured he would try to find one of his family, making his way through the crowded room. 

“It’s good to see that Talis finally decided to collar his bitch.” 

Viktor paused, looking to his left and seeing Councilor Salo, smirking and swirling his wine in his glass. He was standing with a group of people Viktor didn’t know, but he was making eye contact with Viktor, clearly intending for him to hear. 

“I can’t believe it took months for the mating bite to appear,” Salo added with an airy laugh, the others around his joining in. “Then again, I can see why.” 

“Is there something you would like to say to me, Salo?” Viktor turned to face him, taking the bait despite everything in his head telling him to just walk away. 

“Well, it’s just a shame that Piltover’s Golden Boy ended up stuck with…,” Salo trailed his eyes down over Viktor’s body, lingering on his cane. “Someone like you. Jayce was Piltover’s most eligible bachelor, he even had some Alphas drooling over him. It’s too bad he has to make do with a broken little thing from Zaun.” 

Viktor tightened his grip on his cane, taking a deep breath. “I think you’re just jealous.” 

“Of you?” Salo laughed. 

“Well, I’m just a broken little Omega bitch from Zaun, correct?” Viktor tilted his head. “And yet…here I stand, with an Alpha’s collar and a bite. I do not see either thing adorning your neck, Salo.” 

The other Omega’s smile faltered, the smallest flicker of a frown on his face. 

“Talis had to, out of necessity," Salo scoffed. “At least when I bond with an Alpha, it will be genuine. Plus, I’m sure Talis will have to find some other Omega anyway, since I highly doubt you’re fertile.” 

That shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did. Viktor didn’t care, he knew Jayce didn’t care, but—his inner Omega was whining at the thought. 

“You said it yourself, that the pollution in the lower levels of Zaun causes infertility,” Salo sipped his wine. “You aren’t suited for head of the Council, you’re more suited for those Omega whore houses—”

Viktor moved his hand, coming up to hit the bottom of Salo’s wine glass, the red liquid quickly staining the light coloured blouse he was wearing. The glass fell to the ground and shattered, getting the attention of some of the bystanders, as Salo blinked a few times in shock. 

“Oops,” Viktor shrugged. “Clumsy me.” 

“You little Zaunite bitch—” 

“Is there something wrong over here, Councilor Salo?” Vander’s voice came from behind Viktor, and the Omega didn’t need to turn around to know his father was standing behind him, glaring dangerously at Salo. 

“You didn’t do a very good job raising this one, Vander,” Salo spat. 

“Hm, looks to me like you’ve just had too much to drink,” Vander replied. “Maybe it’s time you retire for the night, before there are any more…incidents.” 

Salo looked like he was going to say something, but then Jayce had reappeared and made his way over to see what was happening. “Is everything okay?” 

“Yes, nothing to worry about,” Vander’s tone gave nothing away, sounding polite as ever. “Councilor Salo just dropped his glass.” 

Jayce looked from the smashed glass on the ground, up to the red stain on Salo’s shirt, before he looked at Viktor and raised a brow. Viktor gave him a happy, perfectly innocent smile. 

“Yes, just an accident,” Salo huffed, before he turned and stormed out of the room. Serving staff came over to clear away the glass, and when Viktor looked up at Vander, he wasn’t surprised to see the slight frown on his face. 

“Viki,” he started, quietly. 

“I know, I know,” Viktor sighed. “I’m sorry.” 

“What happened?” Jayce asked, looking between the two of them. 

“I’ll tell you later,” the Omega smiled, taking one of Jayce’s hands in his own. “Come, let’s dance.” 

Chapter Text

 “He said what?!” 

Jayce looked furious, pacing around their bedroom as Viktor watched from his spot on the end of the bed. They’d arrived back home after the gala (and sneaking out to the street party for a little while), and Jayce had asked Viktor to tell him what happened. 

And, well, Viktor wasn’t about to lie to his Alpha. 

Viktor had tried to lie to himself, to tell himself that Salo’s words hadn’t hurt him, but no matter how much wine he drank that night, he just couldn't shake the interaction from his head. 

Jayce would never choose you. He was forced to be with you. If it was up to him, he’d never spare a glance in your direction. 

“I can’t fucking believe—it’s been months!” Jayce ran a hand through his hair. “We’re supposed to be people of Progress!” 

“I think it had less to do with the Zaun thing,” Viktor was looking at his feet, bare apart from his stockings. “And more to do with…you.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Jayce, everyone and their mothers would kill for a chance to be with you,” Viktor looked up at him. “Look at you. You’re so perfect it’s almost unbelievable—you’re an Alpha and you’re a great warrior, but you’re also really intelligent and respectful and thoughtful. I’m sure many people wept on the day of our wedding, since you were no longer considered available.” 

Jayce was frowning, turning Viktor’s words over in his mind. 

“Meanwhile, I am not exactly what many would consider to be a good Omega.” 

Jayce knelt down in front of Viktor, taking the Omega’s hands in his own. “Viktor–” 

“I am not trying to be self-deprecating, Jayce,” Viktor met his eyes. “But let’s be honest. I’m crippled, I’m too tall and not…soft. I’ve been mistaken for a Beta many times.” 

“I don’t care about all of that, Viktor,” Jayce squeezed his hands. “I think you’re perfect exactly how you are. And I don’t blame you for pouring that wine all over Salo. We can have him removed from the Council.”

“I worry about the fallout that might cause,” Viktor replied. “It is fine to just…let it go, this time.” 

“There’s something else bothering you,” Jayce said, after a moment of silence. He watched Viktor’s face carefully, too damned intuitive for his own good. 

Viktor sighed, leaning down to press his forehead against Jayce’s. He wasn’t sure the Alpha recognised the importance of the gesture, but Viktor did it all the same. 

“I just…wonder, sometimes, if you still would have chosen me,” he said, closing his eyes. “If things had been different.” 

Jayce’s thumbs stroked along the back of Viktor’s hands, a gentle, soothing motion. 

“Especially with all of these…Piltovan Omegas everywhere,” Viktor continued. “All well-behaved and decorated like holiday trees. Soft and pretty, their fertility never questioned—” 

“All air-headed, shallow, too busy worrying about physical appearance,” Jayce interrupted. “Viktor, look at me.” 

The Omega swallowed, hesitating before he opened his eyes. 

“You’re beautiful, I could tell you for days on end how absolutely gorgeous you are,” the Alpha smiled. “But your mind is just as incredible. You’re so smart, it took me years to perfect Hextech, only for you to improve on it, when all you had available were remnants. You’re clever and witty and just…,” he sighed. “Devastatingly perfect. I would choose you time and time again, amor.” 

“But you didn’t choose me,” Viktor tried to keep the tears down. “We were forced together.” 

“I would still have chosen you,” Jayce squeezed his hands before pulling them back, reaching for something in his suit pocket. “I…this is going to sound stupid, but just…humour me for a minute?” 

Viktor frowned, confused, when Jayce pulled back. “What is it?” 

“Viktor, these last few months with you have been the best months of my life,” Jayce smiled, looking up at him with those beautiful, sparkling eyes. “I know this marriage was arranged, we were wed before we properly met each other, and it’s been hectic, but…being with you has made everything worth it.” 

Jayce was holding a small box, which Viktor noticed when he lifted it up and handed it to Viktor. The Omega took it, glancing at Jayce before he opened it. 

Inside was a ring, gold and red and beautifully forged, with gemstones glittering in the light. House Talis colours, but with Zaunite patterns engraved into the band. 

“I love you, Viktor,” Jayce continued. “My heart, my soul, my life all belong to you. I would choose you a million times over, and though the choice was taken from us this time, I still wanted to ask…” 

Viktor looked up, meeting Jayce’s eyes. 

“Will you marry me?” 

Viktor could feel tears streaming down his face, but he wasn’t sure when he’d started crying. Damn this Alpha, he was perfect, how did Viktor ever get so lucky? 

“Yes,” Viktor said, his voice wavering from the tears. His hands were shaking as he held the ringbox, memorizing the way Jayce’s features lit up at his answer. “Yes, Jayce, a thousand times yes.” 

The second Jayce had slipped the ring onto Viktor’s finger, sitting above the previous wedding band, Viktor dropped the ringbox and threw his arms around Jayce, sending them both falling to the ground. They laughed in between kisses, laid on the floor, Jayce’s arms wrapped securely around Viktor’s waist. 

Jayce used his grip on Viktor’s waist to gently flip them over, not breaking the kiss. Viktor opened his mouth to Jayce’s probing tongue, whining into the Alpha’s mouth. 

Viktor arched against Jayce as his palm slid up along the Omega’s leg, up under the skirt of his dress. Viktor didn’t want to stop, but the twinge in his hip was becoming difficult to ignore. 

“Mmh—,” he broke the kiss, keeping his arms around Jayce. “T-take me to bed, Jayce…” 

In a matter of moments, Viktor found himself laid back on the mattress, his leg brace removed but his dress and socks still in place. Jayce had pulled off his jacket and was working on his shirt as he leaned over Viktor, pressing gentle, soft kisses over the Omega’s mating bite. 

“You have no idea how hard it was to keep my hands off you all evening,” Jayce murmured in Viktor’s skin. “You look incredible in this.” 

Viktor helped push Jayce’s shirt off his shoulders. “You don’t have to hold back now, Jayce,” Viktor said, practically purring. “I’m all yours.” 

Jayce trailed a hand along Viktor’s good leg, gliding over the silky material of the stockings. His other hand gently removed Viktor’s collar, just so he could kiss and nip at the Omega’s throat easier.  

Viktor hummed contentedly, laying back against the bed, happy to let Jayce do whatever he wished. When the Alpha’s fingers found the edge of the stocking, halfway up Viktor’s thigh, he tugged it gently, letting it snap back against Viktor’s skin. 

“You should show off your legs more often,” Jayce said, no doubt leaving marks along whatever exposed skin of Viktor’s neck he could get to. “They’re gorgeous.” 

Viktor giggled, pulling the skirt of his dress up teasingly, to reveal more of his legs. “Mmh, you think so?” 

“Gods, just look at you,” Jayce’s voice was low; Viktor could practically feel his eyes raking over the Omega’s slim body. 

“Get me undressed, Jayce,” Viktor squirmed, impatient. 

Jayce paused for a moment, his hand trailing patterns along Viktor’s thigh. His other hand came to rest on the opposite leg, gripping Viktor’s thighs and gently spreading his legs. 

“No,” he said. “I like the way you look in this dress. I think you should leave it on.” 

“H-huh?” Viktor blinked, looking down as Jayce moved one hand to undo his own trousers and push them down on his hips, just enough to be out of the way. 

“I wanted to take you all evening,” Jayce trailed his hand along Viktor’s thigh, moving up to the hem of his panties. “Just bend you over in front of everyone, show them just how much I adore you.” 

Jayce leaned over him, and Viktor let out a surprised gasp when the Alpha hooked his fingers into Viktor’s panties and pushed them aside. He pressed the head of his cock against Viktor’s soaked entrance, teasingly pressing forward, but not pushing inside. 

“J-Jayce—-“ 

“No-one would question my devotion to you after that,” Jayce kissed the corner of Viktor’s mouth. “I love you, Viktor. My Viktor.”

“I love—-you too,” Viktor whined, wrapping his arms around Jayce’s neck. “Please, Jayce—-“ 

Slowly, Jayce pressed forward, the head of his cock finally sliding inside. He moved slowly, letting Viktor feel everything, every movement, the way his pussy was easily letting Jayce in. 

“M-mmhn—,” Viktor bit his lip, muffling himself as Jayce finally bottomed out. 

“None of that, now,” Jayce cooed, adjusting Viktor’s skirts so they were pushed up and out of the way. “I want to hear you, mi vida.” 

Viktor opened his mouth to protest, but Jayce took that opportunity to roll his hips, slowly but hard—-the Omega couldn’t muffle his whine, bucking his hips back against Jayce’s. 

Jayce continued to move in slow, rough thrusts, one hand keeping himself propped up against the mattress, the other still gripping Viktor’s thigh. It was too much, it wasn’t enough, Viktor unable to do much more than throw his head back and mewl with each movement. 

“You’re perfect, Viktor,” Jayce’s voice was nothing but pure adoration. “I’m so lucky to call you mine.”

Jayce rolled his hips a little faster, but it was the endless compliments that flustered Viktor more. He whimpered, not sure how to react, how to respond. 

“J-Jayce,” he managed to open his eyes, unsure when he’d even closed them, looking up to meet Jayce’s gaze. “J-Jayce, my Jayce…Miluju tě, J-Jayce..”

Jayce leaned down, pressing a gentle, soft kiss to his lips. His movements remained slow but purposeful, Viktor’s thighs trembling where they remained around Jayce’s hips. He felt close already, his pussy clenching with each roll of the Alpha’s hips. 

Moving away from the kiss, Jayce moved down Viktor's throat once more, gently kissing, licking, nipping at every inch of bare skin he could reach. Viktor’s hand tangled in the Alpha’s hair, tightly holding on, whining as each thrust became rougher and rougher. 

Jayce sought out Viktor’s hand where it lay against the bedsheets, intertwining their fingers. “Let go for me, my love,” he said, hushed against Viktor’s throat. 

That was enough to push Viktor over, letting out a long, high pitched whine as his orgasm washed over him in gentle, but all consuming waves. Each roll of Jayce’s hips just prolonged the overwhelming pleasure, his knot catching until he couldn’t pull out any further. 

Viktor vaguely heard Jayce’s own coarse groan, a string of fuck, fuck, fuck, the feeling of cum spilling deep inside him. 

Jayce collapsed on top of him, both of them gasping for air, their hands still intertwined. 

“Jayce,” Viktor purred happily, running his free hand over the Alpha’s hair, lightly scratching at his scalp. Jayce hummed happily, nosing against Viktor’s bite mark, content. “I’m afraid I must now insist you get this dress off of me.” 

With a chuckle, Jayce pulled back and sat up, careful of where they remained tied together. “Okay, okay. I’ll help you undress.” 

“We should bathe together, once we can,” Viktor said, watching Jayce deftly undo the various belts around the Omega’s waist. 

Jayce leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Of course, mi vida.” 

“Jayce?” 

“Hm?” 

Viktor wrapped his arms around Jayce’s neck, pulling him down to press their foreheads together. 

“I love you.” 

Chapter Text

Ximena Talis’ home was much less extravagant than the main Talis Estate, but it was still quite a bit larger than what Viktor would consider to be a house. Jayce explained that they used to live in the Estate together, but Ximena had always hated the place, so he’d bought a separate residence just for her.

Viktor wasn’t sure why he was so anxious. He’d met Ximena before, just last week at the gala, and they’d gotten along just fine. Still he spent two hours deliberating over what to wear and asking Jayce if he should bring a gift. 

Viktor didn’t like the idea of showing up empty-handed, so he made the carriage go by a florists’ on the way so he could purchase some flowers. 

When Ximena opened the door, she greeted Jayce with a warm hug and gentle cheek-pinches, which she then repeated for Viktor, gushing over the beautiful bouquet he was holding. Ushering them inside, she led them directly to the dining room. 

After finding a vase for the flowers, Ximena settled down at the round table with Jayce and Viktor; it was a small-ish table that seated four people comfortably, and it was already covered with plates upon plates of delicious looking food. 

“I wasn’t sure what sort of foods you liked,” Ximena said. “So I suppose I may have gone overboard. Oh well, that just leaves more for you two to take home!” 

“That’s very kind of you,” Viktor replied. He let Jayce serve him some food, unsure of what most of it actually was and trusting his Alpha’s judgement. 

“So, Viktor, do tell me about yourself,” Ximena smiled. “Jayce of course has told me some things, but mostly he just rambles on about how pretty and perfect you are.” 

Viktor knew he was blushing, but he was pleased to see a similar flush on Jayce’s cheeks. “Mamá, please.” 

“I’m your mother, it’s my job to embarrass you,” she dismissed. 

“I’m not sure what there is to tell,” Viktor admitted, starting to pick at his food. “What would you like to know?” 

“Well, start with your family.” 

“My father is Vander and my mother is Silco,” Viktor started. “I have two sisters, Jinx, younger, and Vi, older.” 

“Ahhh, a middle child,” Ximena nodded, Viktor unsure what she meant by that. “Do you visit them?” 

“Occasionally,” he said. “I see my father at council meetings, though.” 

“Oh, the council,” Ximena sighed and shook her head. “I do hope they aren’t giving you much trouble, Viki.” 

Viktor forced a smile. “Not at all.” 

Viktor continued to talk about himself, though he found it difficult; he didn’t really like talking about himself, he was often told he was either too egotistical or too self-deprecating and couldn’t figure out how to sound normal. He also tried to avoid talking about the war, not wishing for the conversation to go that route. 

“I cannot believe you’ve been keeping him from me, Jaysi,” Ximena tutted as the three of them finished their food. Viktor wished he could keep eating—the food was delicious, but he was absolutely stuffed. 

“Things have been hectic,” Jayce said apologetically. 

“So you have said,” Ximena sipped her wine and turned to Viktor. “Your wedding gown was beautiful, by the way. Did you design it?” 

“Mostly,” Viktor replied. “There were a few things I had no say over. I did make the mask myself, though.” 

“Ah, how wonderful,” she smiled. “Now, I think I’ve put you on the spot for long enough—would you like to see Jaysi’s baby photos?” 

“Mamá!” 

“Yes, I would, very much so.” 

—

“Oh, and this is when he lost his first tooth,” Ximena pointed to another photograph. “He was so excited.” 

The three of them had moved into what Viktor assumed was the parlour after the dinner plates had been cleared away and leftovers safely packed and in the fridge for later. Viktor sat next to Ximena on a couch, no less than five large photo albums stacked up on the coffee table. Jayce was sitting in an armchair, face buried in his hands, the tips of his ears burning red. 

“Jayce, you were such an adorable child,” Viktor was teasing, but it was true. He was all round cheeks and wide-eyes, his enthusiastic smile immediately recognisable. There were a few photos of Jayce with an adult Alpha that Viktor assumed was his father, the resemblance almost uncanny. 

“This is so embarrassing,” Jayce mumbled into his hands. 

“What did you think was going to happen, Jaysi?” Ximena chuckled, turning the page of the album. “Viktor, your parents must have photos of you as a child, yes?” 

“Oh, uh,” Viktor paused. “A few. Not, eh…nearly as many as this, though.” 

“I’m sure you were such a cute little Viki,” Ximena smiled, bumping her shoulder against his. “You two will have such beautiful children.” 

Ximena kept going, reminiscing and teasing Jayce, and Viktor did his best to keep up. He smiled when he needed to, laughed at Ximena’s teasing, and enjoyed the company and the wine. He was enjoying himself. He was. 

But once again, the subject of children had come back up. Ximena made other comments about needing to take photos of her grandchildren and make even more albums, and Viktor was trying very hard not to spiral. 

He’d say that Salo’s words have come back to bother him, but to be truthful, they’d never stopped. The pollution and toxicity of Zaun air was still causing issues for Omegas and child-bearing Betas, and Viktor couldn’t help but question his own fertility. 

At the end of the night, Viktor and Jayce were in their carriage back home, two bags worth of leftovers on the seat next to Jayce. Viktor was sitting opposite them, watching the night go past the window. 

“Are you alright, mi vida?” Jayce leaned forward, resting a comforting palm on Viktor’s knee. “You’re quiet.” 

“I am okay,” Viktor gave him a small smile. “Merely tired. Your mother is a lovely person, I do hope we can share dinner with her more often.” 

“I don’t know how much more embarrassment I can handle,” the Alpha chuckled. “But yes, now that things are simmering down, we will definitely make more time. Maybe we could get your family over for a get-together sometime, too.” 

“I would like that.” 

—

Viktor had never had a panic attack before, but he was pretty certain he was having one. 

He was curled up in a corner of the bathroom, back against the tiled wall and knees pulled up to his chest, his breathing rapid and unsteady. He couldn’t hear anything over the buzzing in his ears, and no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t get enough air into his lungs. 

It was late, or early, Viktor wasn’t sure. He’d woken up with a start and an overwhelming need to throw up, which he hadn’t ended up doing, instead finding himself unsteady and unsettled. 

He’d had a nightmare, coming back to him in fractured images—a child, a baby, not fully formed but still crying, just a bloody mass of flesh that grabbed at Viktor with sharp claws that dug out of his body and tore him apart. 

He knew exactly what had caused it. 

Viktor didn’t know if he was fertile, and it had never bothered him until now. He knew it had taken a long time for Silco to successfully carry a baby to term, Viktor knew that before him, it had been miscarriages or inability to even conceive in the first place.

Salo’s words echoed in his mind, I’m sure Talis will have to find some other Omega anyway, because the chances of Viktor bearing healthy pups was becoming increasingly unlikely. If Viktor was fertile, like he was supposed to be, like an Omega was supposed to be, he would already be pregnant. After his heat cycle, there was no reason he shouldn’t be, unless his body was simply incapable of it. 

Would Jayce be disappointed? They couldn’t exactly break off the marriage, not without also breaking the peace treaty, but Viktor whimpered at the idea of Jayce leaving him—the bite mark on his neck burned. They were bonded. Viktor would rather die than be rejected by his Alpha. 

Rejection probably would kill him at that point. 

The door opened and Viktor heard movement, but he kept his eyes shut tight, his fingers pulling at his hair painfully. Hands were on his arms, warm and gentle. 

It wasn’t until Viktor picked up on the scent of spice and warmth that he opened his eyes, recognising that Jayce was there—his Alpha, his Alpha had come to soothe him. 

Viktor whined and threw himself into Jayce’s arms, immediately burying his face into the Alpha’s neck, trying to inhale more of that soothing scent. Jayce held him tightly, rocking him gently, rubbing his cheek against Viktor’s hair. 

Once Viktor’s breathing slowed down to normal, Jayce picked him up as he stood and made his way back to the bedroom. Never once letting go of Viktor, he got them settled into the bed and pulled the soft blankets back up around them. 

“Mi amor?” Jayce’s voice rumbled softly, Viktor still refusing to pull his face away from Jayce’s neck. “What’s on your mind, my love?” 

Viktor bit his lip and shook his head. 

“Please, Viktor,” his Alpha held him tighter. “I know you’re distressed about something, I can smell it on you. You can tell me anything, mi vida.” 

The Omega was surprised he wasn’t crying, but he was making enough pitiful sounds to make up for it. 

“What…happens,” Viktor swallowed, his panic spiking again at the idea of being rejected. “If I…cannot have your children?” 

Jayce paused, but his scent just grew warmer, instead of sour and bitter like Viktor was expecting. “What do you mean, ‘what happens’”? 

“I-If I…cannot give you children, w-would…,” His inner Omega whined, not even wanting to taste the words on his tongue. “You…reject me?” 

“Viktor,” Jayce sat up, setting Viktor in his lap and cupping the Omega’s face in his hands. “My darling Omega, I could never reject you.” 

“I had a heat, and I’m not—I’m not—,” Viktor met Jayce’s eyes. “What if I can’t?” 

“Viktor, I love you,” Jayce’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument, and Viktor practically melted beneath his hands. “Your ability to have children is not going to change that.”

“Even though you want pups?” 

“I would love to have a family with you, my love,” he kissed the bridge of Viktor’s nose. “And if you cannot bear them, we will figure that out if we get there. But my love for you is not reliant on your being able to carry children.” 

“People will talk,” Viktor didn’t have much fight left in him, not with the way his Alpha was practically smothering him with his scent, or the way Jayce smoothed his thumbs along Viktor’s cheekbones. 

“Then let them talk,” he replied, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss against his lips. “Who cares what they think. You’re perfect, Viktor. My Omega.” 

Viktor whined, moving forward to meet Jayce in another kiss. The Alpha’s hands moved to rest against the Omega’s small waist, returning the kiss, slow and languid and unhurried. 

Thinking about it logically, as Viktor knew he should have done from the start, there was no way Jayce would reject him. Jayce was too sweet, too loving, too gentle for something like that; Viktor wasn’t used to his Omega instincts taking over so damned loudly. 

Jayce kissed him until Viktor fell asleep, tangled up in each other, heartbeats in sync. 

Chapter Text

It wasn’t often that Viktor awoke to find himself alone in bed, especially since he and Jayce had bonded. Sometimes, work calls, and Jayce will have to sneak out early, but more often than not, Viktor wakes up with the Alpha still snoozing peacefully beside him. 

This was one of those mornings when Viktor woke up alone. 

He spent a little more time wrapped up in the blankets, face pressed against Jayce’s pillow, still wavering in and out of sleep. Viktor had hoped Jayce would still be there, resting, this early in the morning—the Alpha had seemed very…tightly wound recently. 

It had started just a few days after their visit to his mother’s. Jayce was snapping at people (not Viktor, though), and always seemed tense and on edge around other Alphas. When out with Viktor, he kept a possessive hand on the Omega’s waist, and more than once Viktor genuinely thought Jayce was going to start an all-out brawl. 

He supposed it made sense that Jayce had this more aggressive side. He was an Alpha, and he’d apparently been quite formidable on the battlefield; but it stood in stark contrast to the gentle, soft man that Viktor had grown to know. 

Not that any of these behaviours were ever turned on Viktor, of course. In fact, Jayce seemed even more clingy than usual, needing to have his hands on the Omega, saying that it helped him relax. 

Viktor didn’t think too much of it, too many other thoughts going on in his head. He had to work on the draft outline for repopulating Zaun with plantlife other than the pollution-consuming flowers. The hopes were that they might get Zaun’s agriculture flourishing once more. 

Viktor stretched before he pulled himself out of bed. Deciding he couldn’t really be bothered to properly dress, he found one of Jayce’s sweaters and pulled it on over a pair of his own sleep shorts. 

It was ridiculous how big the Alpha was in comparison to the Omega, Viktor thought, looking at how the sleeves fell over his hands. 

He made his way out of the bedroom and headed down to the library, but the moment the elevator doors opened and he stepped into the hallway, he could tell something was wrong. 

The air felt thick, the scent of Alpha permeating through the very walls as Viktor slowly stepped forward. He could pick up on the warmth and spice of Jayce’s scent, but there was something else there, an undercurrent of something metallic. 

Viktor walked over to Jayce’s office door and knocked. Once, twice, three times, with no response. 

Frowning, he pushed the door open and walked inside. 

Jayce was sitting at his desk, and for a brief moment Viktor thought he was asleep. He had his head buried in his arms, hiding his face, but one of his legs was bouncing rapidly, an anxious habit when the Alpha had too much energy. 

But then he snapped upright, eyes immediately finding Viktor as he closed the door behind him. 

There was silence, Viktor frowning slightly as he tried to discern what the hell was wrong with his Alpha. His eyes were bright, fiery, his breathing was coming out rapidly, despite sitting still. Papers were strewn all over his desk, ignored. 

Then, Jayce growled. “Come here, Omega.” 

It was a command, and Viktor was helpless to resist him. 

Viktor asked no questions, walking himself over to Jayce and climbing into his lap. Jayce immediately gripped his slim hips, pulling him down roughly to press their hips flush together. Viktor gasped at the feeling of the large, hard erection pressing against him through multiple layers of clothing, Jayce swallowing the sound as he claimed the Omega’s mouth in a fiery, demanding kiss. 

Jayce used his grip on Viktor’s hips to grind him down against the Alpha’s erection, growling into the kiss as he did. Pressure against Viktor’s dick, even muted as it was, was enough for slick to start soaking his shorts as he was helpless to however the large Alpha wanted to move him. 

It was obvious to Viktor, now, that Jayce had started his heat. It explained his current behaviour, but also his behaviour over the last week or so; the Omega was grateful they didn’t have any pressing matters to attend to, nothing they couldn’t cancel. 

Jayce had moved away from the kiss, dragging his lips and teeth down Viktor’s throat. The Omega whimpered and tilted his head to the side, baring his neck to his Alpha. Jayce was grinding his hips up as he pulled Viktor down, biting at the slim throat in front of him, all growls and groans as his movements and thick, heavy scent completely overwhelmed Viktor’s senses. 

“Need you,” Jayce’s voice was rough, low and coarse, panting against Viktor’s throat. “Fuck, Omega, need you—desk, present for me—” 

Viktor blinked rapidly for a moment, trying to clear his head. Even if Jayce was telling him to move, the grip on Viktor’s hips was bruising and not something he could pull away from. The idea of being fucked against the Alpha’s desk was incredibly tempting, but Viktor’s last shreds of rational thought knew that once Jayce had his cock inside the Omega, they weren’t moving for hours. 

Viktor shook his head and gripped Jayce’s wrists tightly in an attempt to make him stop. “Mmh–Jayce,” he gasped, digging his nail into the Alpha’s skin. “Stop, wait—” 

“No,” Jayce growled, digging his fingers into Viktor’s hips even tighter. 

Viktor released his own growl; this early on, he had at least some control over the Alpha’s actions, so he used everything at his disposal to make Jayce listen to him. His growl, his nails digging in, his refusal to continue moving, it all worked to make his Alpha huff and lean back in the chair, releasing his hold on Viktor’s hips. 

“Good,” Viktor breathed out, managing to get back on his feet, despite how much his legs were shaking. 

Jayce growled, but it was low and rumbly, no real aggression to it. “Omega…” 

“I am not letting you fuck me in this office,” Viktor asserted. “You don’t want to hurt me, right, Alpha?” 

The whine that escaped Jayce’s throat made Viktor’s head spin. He sank down to his knees, making the Alpha’s legs spread wider to accommodate him. 

“I need you rational enough to get me up to the bedroom in one piece,” Viktor said, knowing Jayce wasn’t really processing what he was saying. He reached up and undid Jayce’s belt before moving to his trousers. “You want to be good for me, right?” 

Viktor looked up at Jayce, a pout on his face, as he continued to move the Alpha’s boxers out of the way. The Alpha’s cock was red and swollen, precum beading at the tip and the slightest swell of a knot already forming at the base. Viktor wondered how long Jayce had been holding out, holding himself back, to end up in such a desperate state. 

Jayce nodded in response to Viktor’s question, never taking his eyes off the Omega. “Yes,” he breathed, his chest heaving already, a hand coming to tangle in Viktor’s hair. “Yes, fuck, Omega, please…” 

When Viktor leaned forward and flicked the tip of his tongue against the slit, Jayce threw his head back and released a low, coarse groan from the back of his throat. He wasn’t going to last long, so Viktor took the head into his mouth and didn’t wait until he started sinking down on the hard, hot cock. 

Viktor had very little experience with sucking Jayce off, only having attempted it twice before, and never being able to take his full length without gagging; he was just so goddamn huge. He got about half of his Alpha’s cock in his mouth before starting to bob his head, keeping his tongue pressed against the underside, flicking against the head every time he lifted up.

Jayce groaned, tightening his grip in Viktor’s hair as he forced the Omega’s head down further. Viktor focused on relaxing his jaw and trying to open his throat to the intrusion, breathing steadily through his nose as he felt the head bump against the back of his throat. 

Viktor knew if Jayce kept going, he was going to end up gagging or choking, and Jayce wasn’t coherent enough to stop. Viktor was nothing if not quick-thinking and adaptable, though, so he moved his hands up to wrap around as much of the steadily forming knot as he could. 

Teasing, stroking, pressing around the knot—smaller than usual since he had nothing to lock himself into—distracted Jayce enough to stop pushing down on his head. The Alpha’s breathing increased, his groans becoming deeper and rougher as Viktor felt the knot swell just a bit more. 

Salty, tangy cum flooded his mouth with little warning, Jayce growling and whimpering as he bucked his hips up desperately, Viktor using all of his concentration to swallow as much as he could; his Alpha came a lot, though, and most of it ended up spilling down his chin. 

Viktor pulled back and coughed, struggling to catch his breath for a moment, but he noticed how the hand in his hair turned gentle, petting him softly. 

“Fuck, Vik…” 

Viktor looked up, meeting Jayce’s eyes, and gave him a small, playful smile. “Feeling better?” 

Jayce didn’t reply. He stood up, scooping Viktor into his arms and not bothering to fix his trousers as he practically rushed them back to the bedroom.

—

Viktor found himself stripped naked and face down on their bed in record time. Jayce was still as dressed as he had been before, plastered over Viktor’s back and rutting his cock against the slick folds of his Omega’s cunt. 

Viktor let out small, light gasps every time the head of Jayce’s cock hit his own, unable to focus on anything but the sensations, the feeling of his own slick soaking his Alpha’s cock, his own desperation to be filled. 

“J-Jaaaayce,” he whimpered, clinging to the pillow his face was squished against. “Stop…t-teasing me…” 

“Your cunt feels so good, Omega,” Jayce growled, sinking back into his heat, keeping his arms wrapped tight around Viktor’s waist. 

“F-feel…w-would feel better i-inside,” Viktor managed to gasp out, his voice hitching. 

“Mmmh,” Jayce nuzzled into the back of Viktor’s neck, kissing and laving his tongue over the bruises and bitemarks that had already formed. He didn’t stop grinding against Viktor’s cunt, the head of his cock catching against his entrance, and Viktor was pretty certain he was going to lose his mind completely. 

“Please, Jayce,” Viktor whimpered, rocking his hips back against Jayce’s movements. How the Alpha could be so out of his mind with rut and yet have the coherency to tease was beyond Viktor. “I-inside, please, Alpha…” 

Jayce slowed the roll of his hips, licking and nipping at Viktor’s mating bite. “Mmh, wanna knot you, Omega.” 

“Please, please,” Viktor whined, arching his back as much as he could. “Fuck—Alpha, breed me—” 

He didn’t know where that plea came from, but it was enough to push Jayce into finally sinking his cock into Viktor’s soaked cunt. He was so sensitive, his pussy fluttered around his Alpha’s cock as he bottomed out. 

Jayce growled into his neck. “Gonna knot you,” he groaned, rolling his hips and grinding his cock deeper inside the Omega. “Gonna breed you, fill you with my pups…” 

All Viktor could do was mewl and whine loudly as Jayce’s movements became fast and desperate, hard and rough and enough to immediately push Viktor over the edge. Muffling his whines in the pillow, Viktor rode out his orgasm to the point of over-sensitivity, as Jayce just didn’t stop. 

His knot was forming again, enough that Viktor could feel the pressure of it. One of Jayce’s hands moved, pressing his palm flat against Viktor’s stomach, feeling the bulge of himself as he ruthlessly fucked his Omega. 

“You want it, don’t you, Omega?” Jayce’s voice was rough and sounded somewhat distant, like he wasn’t registering his own words. “Gonna fill you up, breed you, keep you fat with my pups—” 

“P-please, please, Alpha,” Viktor’s voice was unsteady, high pitched and catching as he struggled to catch his breath. He was immediately hurtling toward a second orgasm, barely having come down from the first, as his body was used for his Alpha’s pleasure. 

Jayce’s words trailed off into grunts and growls as he rutted into Viktor, his hand not pressing against his stomach moving down to rub and pinch at his sensitive clit. Viktor was thrown immediately into his orgasm, arching his back as his cunt clenched down around Jayce’s knot, keeping them locked together.

Viktor felt like he just couldn’t stop cumming—Jayce continued to rut into him, continued to tease his small cock, groaning into Viktor’s ear all the while. He felt Jayce’s cock get harder, his knot expanding and pulsing as his Alpha came, filling his insides with his cum. 

The next thing Viktor knew, he was in their bath. 

“Mhn?” he asked, groggily. His body felt numb, tingly; he shifted, but stopped when he heard the low grunt behind him and felt the tugging in his cunt—Jayce was still knotted inside him, and Viktor was sitting with his back to Jayce’s chest in the warm water. 

“You alright, baby?” Jayce’s voice was rough, but he sounded like himself. 

“Mphhh,” Viktor couldn’t seem to make his tongue form words, so he settled on purring instead. Jayce chuckled, nuzzling into his neck. 

“Might have gone a bit…overboard,” Jayce huffed. “I’m not sure when you blacked out.” 

“I felt you cumming,” Viktor slurred, his tongue heavy and his words permeated with the gentle rumble of his purrs. 

“Yeah, uh, I did that three times before I could think again,” his Alpha said, apologetically. 

“Fuck,” Viktor whimpered. Absently, he pressed his hand against his stomach, feeling how it was still displaced by the cock lodged inside him, but even more so now with just how much Jayce had filled him. 

“I think I have about an hour before it comes back,” Jayce said. “Are you…alright?” 

“Mhhm,” he smiled, lolling his head back to look up at Jayce. “More than alright.” 

The kiss they shared then was slow and soft, Jayce’s hand coming up to meet Viktor’s over his stomach. 

It was going to be a long week. 

Chapter Text

Viktor was looking at himself in the mirror, momentarily distracted while dressing for a council meeting. 

The meetings had moved back to once a month, since things were going so smoothly. The flowers were thriving in Zaun and clearing the air, most Zaunites had actual, proper houses again, and the councilors had to admit that Viktor was actually doing a good job. There had been a lot of progress made over the last nine months since the wedding. 

Viktor had paused while pulling on a blouse when he caught sight of his reflection. He thought he was imagining things, at first, but then he turned side-on, and saw it: 

A very small, but noticeable, bump just below his navel. 

He laid a hand against it, feeling the way his usually flat stomach was swelling; it could be nothing, it could just be that after months of eating consistently he was finally gaining some weight, but…

Viktor shook his head and continued to get dressed. 

When he’d walked out to meet Jayce and head down to their carriage, he’d noticed the way Jayce had stopped, frowned almost imperceptibly, his pupils dilating, when he laid eyes on Viktor. He blinked and the moment seemed to pass, the Alpha smiling sweetly and helping him up into the carriage. 

There was yet another celebration coming up in the next few weeks, Progress Day, which was the main topic of that month’s meeting. It was typically a Piltovan exclusive event, but they were making plans on extending it over the bridge, making it a multi-city wide celebration. 

“We could close off the roadways and have stands along the bridge,” Mel suggested. 

“I think that could work,” Jayce nodded, looking over the various maps sprawled over the table top. 

“We should have Zaun and Piltover tables spread out along both sides of the bridge,” Vander said. “That would sort of force people to actually go into each city, instead of keeping themselves separate.” 

“We’ll need Enforcers,” Hoskel commented. 

“No more than usual,” Mel replied. “Just the normal security detail, as we do with any large event.” 

“Zaun can supply some security officers, too,” Vander said. 

“Viktor, are you okay?”

Viktor looked over at Sevika, who was giving him that look she did—when she’d been watching for some time, and knew something was wrong. 

Jayce turned his head to look at Viktor, waiting for him to reply. 

“I am fine, Sevika,” Viktor replied. 

“You’ve been unusually quiet,” she said. “And staring at nothing.” 

“You look pale, mi vida,” Jayce pressed the back of his hand against Viktor’s forehead. “You feel cold.” 

The room suddenly started to spin, Viktor’s stomach giving an uncomfortable lurch. He forced his face to remain neutral, but he couldn’t deny that he was very much not fine—the whole meeting had been a blur, Viktor unable to focus; he should have known Sevika would notice his odd behaviour. 

“Excuse me,” Viktor stood up and made his way out of one of the side doors, into a blessedly empty corridor. He leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself and try to push down the rising nausea. 

The door opened and closed again, and Viktor was a little surprised to see Vander walking over to him, and not Jayce. 

“Jayce tried to leave but some of the others made a fuss,” Vander answered before he could even ask. “Didn’t want another argument to break out, so I told him to stay put.” 

Viktor just nodded. 

“Are you okay, broučku?” 

“I, uh,” Viktor swallowed. “I just feel a little…off, I suppose. Dizzy.” 

Vander gently took Viktor’s arm and led him over to a nearby bench he hadn’t noticed, coaxing him to sit down. 

“Are you sure that’s all?” Vander frowned, as if thinking, like Viktor was some puzzle he’d solved before, and he was trying to remember all the pieces. 

“I think I might throw up,” the Omega replied. “I felt fine this morning, but it just hit me about an hour ago.” 

“Are you eating okay? Have you had anything to drink today?”

“Yes, yes, papa, Jayce makes sure I have breakfast every day,” Viktor couldn’t help his small, fond smile. “You should probably go back inside.” 

“Sevika has it covered,” Vander replied. “When you get back home, you should probably lay down for a bit. Try and get some rest.” 

“But the event planning—,” 

“---Can wait,” he interrupted. “There’s still a few weeks until then, and it’s mostly all set anyway.” 

Viktor sighed, dropping the tension in his shoulders as he nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry for worrying you all, I’m sure I’m just tired.” 

“Just…,” Vander hesitated for a moment. “Keep an eye on yourself, okay?” 

Viktor agreed, and pushed his father to go back into the council chamber. It was only another ten minutes before the session was dismissed, and Jayce appeared through the side door, immediately moving over to Viktor and kneeling down in front of him. 

“Viktor?” 

“I’m okay,” Viktor managed a smile. The dizziness had finally stopped, but the nausea was still there. “I think I am just tired.” 

“Let’s head home,” Jayce stood up again, holding a hand out to help Viktor up. 

The Omega looked at Jayce’s hand and paused. He usually was insistent about walking by himself, without any assistance, but there was something nagging at the back of his mind, begging him to just give himself over to the Alpha to dote on. 

“Vik?” 

“Could you carry me?” 

Jayce’s eyebrows raised in surprise at the request, but he only stood in shock for a few seconds. His gaze softened, smiling gently. 

“Of course, amor.” 

—

Progress Day was an all day, city-wide celebration of the technological advancements of the previous year, and a showcase for up-and-coming innovators looking for sponsors. For the first time since before the war, Zaun would also be involved in this year’s festivities. 

Jayce said that it was thanks to Progress Day that he got enough funding to start Hextech, and he was excited to be able to actually enjoy the festival during a time of peace once again. 

Viktor was still having bouts of dizziness and nausea, often needing to excuse himself to go find a bathroom to throw up in, or waking up in the middle of the night with a similar issue. It was difficult to eat, most food he usually loved now just turned his stomach—but some days, he was so hungry he would eat absolutely anything. 

He wasn’t ignorant, he’d put the pieces together and figured out what was happening. He’d noticed that small bump in his lower stomach had gotten just a little bit bigger, but still easily hidden by his shirts and dresses.

Viktor was pregnant, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. 

On the one hand, he was elated. He’d finally been able to conceive, he was carrying Jayce’s child. 

On the other hand, he was terrified. He was hiding it, for now; what if he miscarried? What if he wasn’t healthy enough to carry the child to term? 

He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide it for long. Jayce had already made a comment about his scent smelling sweeter than usual, but the Alpha hadn’t put two and two together yet. The shift in his scent was noticeable, but only slightly so, and Jayce clearly didn’t think too much of it. 

Eventually, though, Viktor knew it would become obvious. Not just in his scent, but in his Omega-driven instincts and his physical appearance. He was already nesting, which wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary, but he was stealing more and more of Jayce’s clothing and pulling it into their bed. 

Progress Day at least gave them something else to focus on, so Jayce wasn’t hovering over him quite as much as he would be otherwise. 

Viktor knew Jayce would be overjoyed at the news, but he thought it might be easier to hide it for as long as he could, in case he did end up miscarrying. 

The day of the Festival came up quickly. Viktor and Jayce made an appearance in the councilor's tent, but the Omega slipped out once he noticed Jinx and Vi. 

“You need to come see what me and Ekko put together,” Jinx immediately grabbed his hand, pulling him along, Vi following them both. 

“How are things back home?” Viktor asked, looking up at Vi. 

“Going well,” she replied. “Thanks to you,” she added with a playful nudge. 

“Vander and Sevika have been helping with the council too,” he replied. 

“Yeah, but without you as co-head I feel like they’d be getting out voted constantly,” Vi said. “It almost feels like home again.” 

They walked past the Kiramman tent, and Vi paused in her steps for a moment, raising up on the balls of her feet to look over the crowd. 

“Her name is Caitlyn.” 

“Huh?” Vi looked at Viktor. 

“The Enforcer you keep flirting with,” Viktor gave her a look. “She wants you to know that her name isn’t cupcake, it’s Caitlyn, and she’s waiting for you over there.” 

A quick thank you and a tight hug later, Vi disappeared into the crowd, and Jinx continued pulling Viktor along. 

Her and Ekko’s showcase was focused on helping the miners in Zaun. They’d created tiny, clockwork butterflies, equipped with sophisticated sensors. The idea behind them was that they could fit into small spaces or be sent down into mine shafts and bring back readings on the air quality, without having to risk the safety of miners or resort to using live animals. 

“They’re beautiful,” Viktor commented, one of the butterflies crawling along his hand. “I’m sure I could easily talk Jayce into House Talis sponsoring this project.” 

They talked for a while, Ekko talking about the specifics of how the butterflies worked, before Silco appeared beside Viktor. He listened alongside Viktor for a few minutes, before leaving Jinx and Ekko to their showcase and gently steering Viktor through the crowds to other booths. 

“Have you had anything to eat yet?” Silco asked as they passed some of the food stalls. 

“I am not hungry,” Viktor replied, his stomach doing an uncomfortable flip at the smell of the fried, greasy food. 

They found themselves in a small park, off to the side of the festival space; it was mostly empty, only a few families with children around, taking a break from the hectic chaos of the celebration. Viktor had the feeling Silco led him there specifically, a hand on his back steering them toward a nearby bench. 

“Vander and Sevika told me about the last council session,” Silco started, and Viktor should have figured this would be coming. “Are you still feeling unwell?” 

Viktor looked at his hands, where they lay over the handle of his cane. Some small part of him was saying that the first person he told about the potential child should be his Alpha, but he also didn’t know anyone other than Silco who had struggled with the same things he was going through. 

He sighed, letting his head fall forward. 

“I think I am pregnant,” he responded, quietly. 

Silco turned so his body was facing Viktor, one of his hands gently coaxing Viktor to let go of his cane. 

“Have you told Jayce?” 

Viktor shook his head. “I’m…frightened,” he said. “I wasn’t even sure if I was fertile, but now I’m scared that I might…lose them.” 

Silco was quiet for a time, holding Viktor’s hand in his own. 

“You know that your father and I were very lucky to have you,” Silco started. “You survived, even while the upper levels of Zaun were polluted. You may have grown up in that environment, but you aren’t there now.” 

Viktor looked up at him. 

“You have access to a lot more than I did, and we both still made it out alive,” Silco brushed some of Viktor’s hair behind his ear. “I understand being scared. But if you tell Jayce, at least you won’t have to carry those fears alone. I was terrified, but I had your father, and it made all the difference.”

Viktor leaned forward, letting his head fall against Silco’s shoulder. “You’re right,” he sighed. “I’ll tell Jayce tonight.” 

Chapter Text

Viktor found Jayce again just before the Progress Day speech. The Alpha had been pacing around backstage, shuffling through some papers and checking his notes; he looked up when Viktor walked in, visibly relaxing at the sight of his Omega. 

“There you are,” Jayce walked over, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s waist and nuzzling against his neck. “Where’ve you been all day?” 

“With family, mostly,” Viktor placed a quick kiss to Jayce’s cheek. “Jinx and Ekko’s project is worth our funding, I asked them to submit the plans to House Talis so you can take a look.” 

“I’m glad you got a chance to look around,” he nuzzled further against Viktor’s neck. “You smell really sweet.” 

“Are you prepared for your speech, miláčku?” Viktor took the papers from Jayce, hoping to switch the subject before the Alpha thought too much about what he just said. 

“I think so,” Jayce stood up straight again. “You sure you don’t want to come up with me? I’m talking a lot about the peace treaty, you should be there.” 

“Eh, no, no,” Viktor managed a small laugh. “Not in front of…all of them.” 

Jayce gave him a small smile and kissed his forehead, taking his papers back when they were handed to him. They both heard the announcement introducing Jayce to the stage, the Alpha looking over his shoulder toward the steps. 

“Good luck, miláčku.” 

The roar of the crowd was deafening even backstage, where Viktor found a crate to sit on. From his vantage point he could only see Jayce’s back, but he could hear him loud and clear. 

The Omega laid a hand against his stomach, as Jayce’s speech started talking about the future of their two cities. He absently rubbed his thumb over the small bump as he listened. 

It hadn’t even been a year since the wedding. Everything had turned out far better than he’d expected, Jayce being better than he’d expected. He’d taken to his new life surprisingly well, and progress in Zaun was moving so smoothly it almost felt unreal. Just today Viktor had seen Enforcers laughing alongside vendors from Zaun, he’d seen children from all walks of life playing together, he'd seen Piltovans and Zaunites alike getting along, sharing food, sharing ideas. 

Now Viktor was pregnant, but he couldn’t ignore the anxieties that arose. Silco was right that he had access to more than he ever had—clean air, clean food, clean water, knowledgeable doctors, but the fact still remained that it took Viktor this long to conceive in the first place. 

It would be okay, he told himself. He’d tell Jayce once they got home, and then he’d have his Alpha to help him through every single step. Viktor wondered if the child would look more like him or Jayce; he glanced down at his leg, and hoped the child would take more after Jayce. 

Viktor was broken from his thoughts when an Enforcer walked past him, heading up the steps to the stage, clearly not noticing the Omega. That was odd, he thought, all of the Enforcers should be in place by now, surely. 

He’d just gotten back on his feet when he heard a loud blast, a flare visible from where he was, rising into the night and casting an eerie red light over the crowd. 

Everything happened all at one. 

There was screaming, and Viktor could see the crowd moving as people were trying to run away. The Enforcer that had gone up to the stage entered his line of sight, now holding a weapon that looked very much like a chainsaw, sneaking up behind—

“Jayce!” Viktor moved as fast as he could, getting halfway up the steps. “Jayce!!” 

The Alpha heard him and turned, able to mostly avoid the surprise attack-–mostly. The chainsaw tore up along Jayce’s back, the Alpha stumbling to his knees as the blood was much too vibrant against his white suit. 

Viktor pushed himself up the remaining steps and toward the assailant—he knew he couldn’t take the person down, being taller and about twice the size of the Omega, but he could at least distract him. 

Using his cane, Viktor whacked the assailant on the back, and managed to move out of the way as the attacking Alpha swung around with the weapon now aimed at Viktor. 

A shot rang out, and the assailant fell to the ground. 

Caitlyn ran to Jayce and helped him up, setting her rifle down for a moment. “You and Viktor need to get out of here.” 

Jayce stood up, and Caitlyn led him over to Viktor. “That’s an order,” she added, picking her rifle back up. 

Viktor did the best he could to help Jayce back down the steps into the backstage area. He hoped the injury on his back wasn’t too deep, but the blood was still seeping out and staining the fabric. 

“Are…you okay?” Jayce asked, using the wall to brace himself. 

“I’m fine, Jayce, it’s you we need to worry about,” Viktor led them toward the door. “We need to get you to a doctor.” 

There was an explosion behind them, the ground rumbling and almost throwing them both off balance completely. Jayce was wobbling as they continued to move, another explosion going off, sounding much closer this time. 

Viktor pushed the door open and they’d just stepped outside when one final explosion went off, causing the building around them to finally give way and crumble down. 

The dust was clogging Viktor’s throat no matter how much he coughed. He wasn’t able to move, and a quick look confirmed that a large piece of rubble had landed on his leg. He could feel blood on his face, but he didn’t have time to think about that. 

Something in his brain switched, acting on autopilot, recalling all of the survival training he’d ever received. It was only his leg that was pinned, and he’d landed on his back after the blast. Viktor sat up and pushed at the large stone, but it only budged a small amount. Looking around, he spotted his cane. 

Using the cane as a sort of lever, Viktor was able to lift the stone enough to wiggle his leg loose, but his cane snapped the second he was free. Walking wasn’t going to happen, not without a cane and his already bad leg now broken, so he used his good leg to push himself along the floor. 

He coughed again, and pulled his shirt up to cover his mouth and nose. Something nearby was on fire, but he couldn’t hear the crowds running or screaming anymore—he wondered if the explosion had knocked him out for a while. 

Viktor pushed himself along, trying to get further away from the collapsed structure, and he realised he couldn’t see Jayce anywhere. 

The most important thing to remember: don’t panic. 

There were arms around him then, and he was being picked up. 

“Viktor, are you okay? Shit—you’re bleeding,” Jayce was running, keeping Viktor close against his chest. “We’re getting out of here, okay?” 

The adrenaline must be keeping Jayce going, Viktor thought vaguely. His throat felt too dry to speak, so he kept his mouth and nose covered, taking in their surroundings as Jayce ran. 

People were still running, and there were small fires everywhere. Enforcers and Zaunite soldiers were all around, helping people and trying to control the fires. 

Viktor went dizzy, and that was the last thing he remembered.

Chapter Text

“He must have been hit by some of the debris. He has a minor head injury, but there won’t be any lasting effects. You both just need to rest up and let your injuries heal.”

“Thank you, doctor.” 

“I will check in with both of you in a week. Remember to take your pain medications.” 

“You’re sure he’ll be okay?” 

“Both he and the baby will be fine.” 

“...The…baby?”

—

Viktor opened his eyes, slowly, his whole body feeling like it was pumped full of lead. He felt heavy, but pleasantly numb all the same, though he was aware of the plush bedding beneath him. 

He was in bed, and he picked up Jayce’s scent next to him. He tried to roll over to face his Alpha, but the bulky cast around his leg stopped him. 

“Viktor,” Jayce leaned over him, looking tired and drained, his hair unkempt and his beard messier than he usually kept it. He was smiling, but he looked on the verge of tears all the same. “Vik, mi vida, how are you feeling?” 

“Am…I on…something?” Viktor asked, frowning.

“Just some painkillers,” Jayce leaned down, pressing their foreheads together. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” 

“What…happened?”

Jayce moved back and laid down next to Viktor, on his front. “We’re still trying to figure that out. The working theory is it’s some kind of underground group that opposes the peace union. They bombed the hell out of the audience chamber.”

“Are you okay?” Memories were coming back to him, slowly. “You were attacked, you were bleeding.” 

“I’m okay,” he smiled. “It wasn’t too deep, thankfully. I just have to sleep on my front while it heals, which isn’t…super comfortable.” 

Viktor reached over, gently trailing the backs of his fingers along Jayce’s cheek. 

“Your leg is broken,” he continued. “And you were hit in the head by something, probably rubble. But the doctor said we’ll both be fine so long as we rest.” 

“What about the attack?” 

“Caitlyn and the Enforcers are investigating, alongside the Zaunite military,” Jayce replied. “She promised to keep us updated.” 

“How…many people were hurt?” 

Jayce closed his eyes, frowning slightly. “Too many,” he said. “We don’t have a number yet.” 

Silence followed as Viktor tried to make sense of everything. He knew there were individuals who disagreed with the peace treaty, but whole groups? Organised efforts to fight back? Why would they move now, nine months after the fact? 

“M-my–,” Viktor swallowed. “My family-–”

“They’re fine,” Jayce opened his eyes, meeting Viktor’s. “Vi got a little scuffed up in the fight, but that’s the worst of it.”

Viktor let out a breath, nodding. 

“The doctor mentioned something else,” Jayce started, slowly, his tone undiscernible. 

Viktor looked at him, waiting. 

“He said that you’re about twelve weeks pregnant.” 

The Omega heard his own sharp intake of breath, unable to pull his eyes away from Jayce. 

“You knew?” 

“I-I–I was going to tell you,” Viktor felt like he was going to cry—he’d upset Jayce, he’d upset his Alpha by keeping this from him. He pushed himself into a sitting position, Jayce moving to sit next to him. 

“How long have you known?” 

“I…suspected it about three weeks ago,” Viktor was fidgeting with his hands, his inner Omega telling him to please Alpha, placate Alpha, apologise to Alpha. He tilted his head to the side, exposing more of his throat, in an instinctual plea for forgiveness. “I was certain only a few days ago. I was going to tell you a-after the Festival.” 

Jayce moved closer and nuzzled into Viktor’s neck, nosing at his scent gland there. Viktor relaxed as the Alpha’s scent turned soothing, gentle, letting his Omega know it’s okay, Alpha isn’t upset. 

“I was just…scared,” Viktor continued, as Jayce wrapped his arms around his waist. “I still am.”

“Scared?” 

“What if my body isn’t good enough?” Viktor curled his body into Jayce. “What if…I can’t keep the baby? W-what if I’m not strong enough, and they die—”

Jayce kissed all over his face, gently shushing him. “It’s okay, mi vida,” he pressed their foreheads together again. “I’m here. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe. Both of you.” 

Viktor met Jayce’s eyes, the Alpha smiled. The Omega took his hand and guided it over to lay against his stomach, reveling in the way Jayce’s eyes lit up as he felt the small swell. Viktor knew Jayce was overjoyed—he could smell it in the way the Alpha’s scent jolted, warmth and spice coming through stronger—but he was keeping himself calm. 

“I never thought I’d get to have kids,” Jayce said quietly. “I…can’t believe it’s actually happening.” 

“I would like to keep the news between us for as long as we can,” Viktor said, keeping his hand over Jayce’s larger one against his stomach. “My mother knows, but I know he can keep a secret. You could tell your mother too, of course.” 

“Of course, amor,” Jayce smiled, looking away from their intertwined hands and back up to Viktor’s face. “We won’t say anything until you want us to.” 

With a smile, Viktor pressed his lips against Jayce’s, meeting him in a slow kiss. Despite the unease from the attack, the anxieties about what that might mean for the future of their cities, and their injuries, Viktor allowed himself this joy. 

—

There was an emergency council meeting called only a few days after the attack. Jayce’s injuries were healing well, but he was getting restless, as he hadn’t been cleared to resume normal activities—such as working in his forge, which he was extra frustrated about since Viktor’s cane had broken and he wanted to make him a new one.

For the time being, Viktor was borrowing a cane brought over by the doctors.

If Viktor thought the doctors were being hard on Jayce, though, it was nothing compared to how the doctors were treating the Omega. Daily checks, mostly to make sure the baby was okay, reluctant to even allow Viktor to leave the bedroom to attend the council session. 

Walking was harder than usual, and Viktor would have asked Jayce to just carry him everywhere, if the Alpha’s back and shoulder weren’t injured. Jayce still supported him as much as he could, helping him into his council chair before settling down next to him. 

Councilor Medarda, Vander, and Sevika were the first to arrive that day. 

“I’m glad to see you upright, Viki,” Vander ruffled the Omega’s hair affectionately. “How’re you feeling?” 

“I will be okay,” Viktor managed a smile. “The cast is bothersome, but I’ll live.” 

Sevika wasn’t one for outward displays of affection, but she lay a hand on Viktor’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “I’m anticipating this session to be a bit…tricky.” 

“We will have to do our best to keep everyone on track,” Mel sighed. “We’ll have the Enforcer’s report first, then we can…determine our next steps.” 

As the rest of the council filtered in, the others took their seats. Jayce was holding Viktor’s hand beneath the table, his touch firm and comforting. 

Caitlyn stepped into the centre of the room, where Viktor had been almost a year ago during his inspection. It felt so long ago, like an entirely different lifetime. 

“We conducted a thorough investigation immediately following the attack, alongside the Zaunite military,” Caitlyn started. “We found remnants of the explosives used, and you will find a detailed description in the report I’ve handed out.” 

Viktor didn’t want to open the thick report that lay before him, too scared of what he might find. Jayce was flipping through his with his free hand, not letting go of Viktor. 

“The attack was carried out by a small group of individuals, no more than ten people, all of them wearing stolen Enforcer uniforms. Disguised as such, they were able to slip past security without being noticed,” Caitlyn continued. “It seems that Councilor Talis was their main target. He was the only person who was directly singled out and attacked.” 

Viktor tightened his hold on Jayce’s hand. 

“The figures on the final page are still being updated,” she said. “But…so far we have one thousand and twelve people injured, nine hundred and sixty confirmed casualties, and two hundred and fifty people reported missing.” 

Viktor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The numbers—he remembered when Vander would return from a battle with numbers like that. He remembered Vander and Silco recording every single name, remembering each and every person that had fallen in the name of Zaun. 

“Thank you, Caitlyn,” Jayce said softly, and Viktor opened his eyes again. 

Caitlyn bowed her head and exited the chamber, the doors echoing through the silent room as they closed behind her. 

“These explosives look an awful lot like the ones Zaun would use against us,” Hoskel was the first to break the silence. 

“That does not mean anything,” Councilor Shoola replied. 

“But it’s worth noticing,” Hoskel shot back. 

Viktor let go of Jayce’s hand so he could pick up the report and flip through to the page Caitlyn had referenced. The remnants of the explosives did resemble how Viktor would re-work and re-shape the Hextech bombs from Piltover, his heart sinking into his stomach at the realisation. 

“I can assure you, Zaun had no part in this,” Vander said. 

“We cleared away the debris from the borders,” Viktor spoke up. “They were supposed to be sent to the foundries to be recycled. Did they get there?” 

“We had no reports to the contrary,” Shoola said. 

“Neither did we,” Sevika added. 

“How would this group have obtained the Enforcer uniforms?” Viktor continued. “They aren’t exactly sold in boutiques.” 

Jayce frowned, turning over Viktor’s questions in his mind. 

“What exactly are you suggesting?” Salo asked, his eyes narrowing. 

“Viktor,” Jayce looked at him. “You have a theory?” 

“It is only a theory,” Viktor said, putting the report back on the table. “But it would seem to me that some of the debris never made it to the foundries, and were perhaps directed elsewhere. Our attackers were gathering the remnants in order to recreate the weapons, and then someone on the inside handed over the uniforms.” 

“Proposterous!” Hoskel slammed the report against the table.

“Do you have a different theory, Councilor Hoskel?” Viktor asked him politely. 

“Zaunites are resourceful and crafty, we all know this from the war,” Hoskel’s face was red with anger as he spoke, stabbing his finger against the report as he spoke, as if to emphasize his point. “They could have stolen the uniforms!” 

“We do not know who is behind this attack,” Jayce said sternly. “And I think our Enforcers would notice if ten uniforms suddenly went missing.”

“They certainly would,” Cassandra agreed. “In order for ten uniforms to disappear with no follow up investigation, someone will have had to fill out the necessary forms to explain it away.” 

“Whoever is behind this,” Vander started. “They received no support or endorsement from myself, Silco, or Sevika.” 

“And what about Viktor?” Hoskel spat. 

“Are you accusing Viktor of treason, Councilor?” Jayce asked. His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous just below the surface. “You are familiar with how deep an Alpha-Omega bond goes, correct?” 

“Well,” Hoskel huffed, deflating slightly. 

“I think that betraying Jayce in such a way would, at this point, cause me immense pain, or even death,” Viktor said. “Perhaps if you were bonded, you would understand.” 

Jayce glanced at Viktor quickly, a sort of that was an unnecessary jab but I’m going to allow it look.

“I think the next step is to postpone any further events, for the time being,” Jayce continued. “And I will discuss with Caitlyn about the uniforms and anything suspicious on that front. We will meet again next week, unless there are any new developments.” 

As the councilors left, Viktor noticed the way Hoskel glared at him before turning toward the doors. As Viktor picked up his cane and pushed himself onto shaky legs, he caught Salo’s eye, an unusually concerned look on the blonde’s face, that disappeared so quickly Viktor almost thought he imagined it. 

Viktor was tired, and he couldn’t wait to go home.

Chapter Text

Caitlyn was tasked with figuring out the mystery of the missing uniforms, Vander had volunteered to follow up on the foundry reports, and the doctors forced Jayce and Viktor to continue resting. 

Viktor laid back against the pillows piled up in front of the fireplace, where he’d made a small nest for himself. It was dark out, a week after Progress Day, and Viktor’s thoughts hadn’t stopped buzzing. He had one hand resting against the subtle swell of his stomach as he watched the fire. 

The weapons looked like his creations because they were slapped together from remnants of those very weapons, that was all. It didn’t mean anything—it didn’t mean that Zaunites were behind the attack. 

But then, if they weren’t from Zaun, would it really be any better for them to be from Piltover? 

The door opened and closed, but Viktor didn’t look away from the fire until Jayce was next to him. He crouched down, a box in his hands that was tied up with a pretty red ribbon. 

“Mind if I join you?” Jayce smiled. 

“You do not need to ask permission,” Viktor replied, shuffling over to give Jayce some room. “Where did you go?” 

Jayce sat beside him and lifted up the box as if that was the answer to his question. “Mamá sent this over for you,” he said, handing the box to Viktor. 

Viktor carefully untied the ribbon, opening the box and finding it filled with incredibly fancy looking chocolate truffles. “She sent these for me?” 

“Well, when I told her we were expecting, she insisted on getting you these,” Jayce positioned himself carefully on the pillows, being mindful of his still healing back. “Apparently when she was pregnant with me, chocolate was one of her big cravings.”

“I have been craving chocolate,” Viktor commented, looking at the small piece of paper that came in the box, listing the various flavours. “Hopefully my cravings align more with the Talis-genetics than, eh, my own.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Táta apparently had some…strange cravings,” he decided on a hazelnut truffle first, carefully taking it from the small paper cup. He popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly. 

“I will have to send your mother something to thank her,” Viktor said after he swallowed. “These are delicious.” 

He picked up another one—a strawberry truffle, this time—and held it up to Jayce. The Alpha smiled and opened his mouth, letting Viktor feed it to him. 

They ate about a third of the truffles before setting the box to the side, and Viktor curled himself up against Jayce’s chest. The fire was the only light in the room, and it was warm and cosy. 

“I’ve increased security around the estate,” Jayce said. “Just…in case. I’ve made sure your parents did the same for themselves, too.” 

“Have we received any updates?” 

Jayce shook his head. “Vander said he’ll meet with me tomorrow about what he found. You should be there, too, we’ll just be down in the home office.” 

Viktor nodded, feeling sleepy as he leaned against Jayce. 

“We’ll figure this out,” Jayce said, pressing a kiss against Viktor’s hair. 

—

Large amounts of the gathered shrapnel and unexploded ordnance never made it to the foundry. The foundries never reported this discrepancy because, to them, there wasn’t one—the amount delivered matched the amounts they were told to expect. 

But that did not match the amounts the clean up teams reported. 

Someone had diverted just enough of the scrap to not be noticeable, and either altered the reports themselves, or paid someone else to do so. The mismatching data fell through the cracks of multi-layered communications, going unnoticed. 

The next step was an in-depth audit of the foundries, which Jayce and Viktor left to Caitlyn and Sevika to carry out. 

The appropriate forms for acquisition of Enforcer uniforms had been filed away without anyone recalling ever actually approving them. As the investigations proceeded over the next week, all they uncovered was a seemingly never-ending web of corruption, bribery, and forgery. 

Except they couldn’t pin anyone down as being responsible. A few people admitted to being bribed, but they said they never actually met the person doing the bribing. 

The council session had ended, but they were milling about in the council chamber, Viktor still seated as he read, re-read, and re-re-read the reports that had been presented. The meeting had been tense, Hoskel seemingly eager to start fights and point fingers, still convinced that Zaun was behind all of this. It had been a long time since Viktor had seen Vander so angry. 

Two weeks to the day after Progress Day, there was another incident. 

It was during a council meeting, now happening twice a week once again, to try and decipher all of the clues staring them in the face. There was another argument, this time between Hoskel, Shoola, and Sevika, and Viktor was trying to tune it out for as long as he could; he was sure Vander could step in if a physical altercation became likely. 

Jayce groaned in frustration and leaned back in his chair, looking up toward the ceiling with a deep, fatigued sigh. They weren’t making any progress. 

One moment Viktor was reading through a report, and the next moment he felt Jayce’s hands on him, forcefully pushing him to the ground. 

He hit the ground—hard, he might add—but the gunshot that pierced through the air answered his question; so did the smoldering bullet hole in the seat he had just been occupying. Jayce shouted something, and there was a flurry of movement. 

Viktor found himself scooped up by Jayce—who probably shouldn't be carrying him yet—and they ran out of the chamber through the side door. 

“Are you okay, Viktor?” Jayce only stopped once they were in the hallway, Vander the only other person around. 

“Ow.” 

“I know, I’m sorry,” Jayce ran a hand through his hair after setting Viktor down on the bench. “I saw—in the upper viewing area, the light caught the scope and I panicked.” 

“I would rather be pushed to the ground than shot, Jayce, it is okay, I am—I am just in shock,” Viktor replied. “How would a sniper get in here without anyone noticing?” 

“I don’t want to start any rumours,” Vander said, carefully. “But it seems to me the only way a sniper could have gotten in here was if someone let them in. Someone who is supposed to be here.” 

Jayce sat on the bench next to Viktor, leaning forward and burying his face in his hands. “This is all so fucked up,” he said, muffled beneath his palms. 

Vander left the hallway to determine if everything was safe, and Viktor let his head fall against Jayce’s shoulder. 

“You sure you’re alright?” Jayce asked, letting his hands fall so he could look at the Omega. 

“A little bruised, perhaps,” he replied. “Are you okay, Jayce?” 

Viktor sat up straight when Jayce moved, leaning back against the wall. “No,” he said. “No, this is…none of this makes sense. Could a member of the council really be behind all this?”

Vander reappeared, telling them that the sniper had been caught, but he’d bitten down on some kind of poison pill before he could give them any answers. Enforcers escorted the councilors out of the building before they did a thorough sweep of the premises for any evidence of further plotting. 

The carriage ride home was quiet, but Jayce had pulled Viktor into his lap and refused to let go.

—

Security around the council chamber was tripled, with Enforcers inside the chamber itself and along the upper viewing areas. All of them sworn to secrecy, to not relay anything they heard during the meetings, all of them hand-picked by Caitlyn herself. 

It had been a month since Progress Day, and since the sniper in the council chamber there had been no further incidents. Viktor was trying to pull focus back, at least partially, to the humanitarian efforts in Zaun, presenting the butterflies that Jinx and Ekko had showcased. The flowers had spread all around Zaun, and more plantlife was thriving, but the deep mine shafts were still an issue. 

Viktor had learned to spin it as a matter of profits and business, rather than human safety, in order to get Hoskel and Salo-–and sometimes Shoola and Cassandra—to agree on something. He just hoped it was all worth it in the end. 

His baby bump was still easily hidden by loose fitting shirts and dresses with flowy skirts, but in private it was almost impossible for Jayce to keep his hands away. Sometimes he would lay with his head in Viktor’s lap, nuzzling into his stomach, talking to both Viktor and the life growing within him. 

It helped Viktor manage his anxieties, and the doctors said everything was progressing as normal. 

There was a fire that happened in the middle of the inner city one day, in an abandoned building, but it triggered an explosion that killed six Enforcers. Two days later a shipment of building supplies was sabotaged on its way into Zaun. 

Four days after that, Viktor and Jayce were making their way back to the estate in their carriage after a visit to Ximena’s. It was late, much later than either of them expected to be out, and they were exhausted. 

“We should sleep in tomorrow,” Jayce said, his head resting on top of Viktor’s, an arm snugly around his waist. 

“Mmh,” the Omega agreed. “I didn’t have any plans. I think I could sleep all day if you let me.” 

Jayce chuckled, nuzzling into his hair. “You can rest as long as you need, mi vida.” 

The carriage jolted to a sudden stop, far too soon for them to have arrived home. They stayed quiet for a moment, trying to discern what was going on, when they heard a scuffle and a shout. 

“That sounded like the driver,” Viktor commented as they both sat upright. 

The sound of a gunshot shattered the night, and a split second later the carriage door on Jayce’s side was pulled open. 

Jayce pushed Viktor back as he launched himself forward, fist connecting with the assailant’s face and sending them stumbling backward. Jayce was out of the carriage, and Viktor couldn’t see much as the door swung closed behind him, but he heard the sounds of a fight. 

He wasn’t sure what to do. He couldn’t exactly fight, his leg still healing and bound—not that he’d really stand a chance against a group of attacking Betas and Alphas anyway. 

But then the door behind him was opened, and hands grabbed him and dragged him backward. Viktor struggled, kicking out his legs and flailing his arms the best he could, trying to shout for help. 

A hand covered his mouth to silence him, and Viktor bit down as hard as he could. He tasted blood and was dropped to the ground, scrambling to put some distance between himself and the assailants. 

A heavy boot came down on his back, pinning him to the ground. A hand moved down, holding some kind of needle contraption with a vial of shining purple liquid. Viktor tried to get away, but the needle pierced his arm and he fell limp. 

His eyes slid closed as consciousness faded away. 

Chapter Text

Viktor woke up slowly. 

His head felt heavy, his mind struggling as he tried to force himself to wake up, feeling dazed and distant. He tried to focus on his surroundings, everything coming to him agonizingly slowly. 

Viktor was sitting up, his back was against something hard. His head hung forward, and he couldn’t move his arms from where they were twisted behind his back. Something covered his mouth, and something was around his wrists. 

His eyelids fluttered, and he managed to pry them open, blinking a few times to clear his vision. Wherever he was, it was dark, only a small sliver of light visible underneath what must be a closed door. 

He tried to straighten up, but his hands were bound behind the metal pole he was sitting against. He couldn’t move. 

Stay calm. Don’t panic. 

Viktor looked around, but he couldn’t make out much in the darkness. He tested the strength of the bindings around his wrists, finding they didn’t budge, and struggling only made the metal dig into his skin painfully. 

Okay. Don’t panic. List the facts. 

Fact: Viktor did not know where he was. 

Fact: It was dark and he was restrained. 

Fact: He had been injected with something that had knocked him out, by unknown players who attacked the carriage. 

Theory: Viktor has been kidnapped and is being held hostage. 

That didn’t help. 

He took a deep breath and leaned back against the metal pole. Moving his hands as much as he could, he determined that there were metal cuffs around his wrists. They seemed a little too big for his wrists, but he wasn’t able to slip his hands out—not without breaking his thumb first. He filed that away for later. 

The door opened at that point, the light momentarily blinding him as he blinked to readjust. The person standing in the doorway was lit from the back. 

“Good morning, Princess.” 

Viktor’s heart jolted—he knew that voice. The person—an Alpha—walked toward him, his steps slow and purposeful. Viktor pressed back against the pole in an attempt to keep some distance. 

The Alpha crouched down in front of him, Viktor’s eyes finally adjusting to the new light. 

“Fmmn?!” Viktor’s voice was muffled, something feeling like adhesive tape covering his mouth. He knew this Alpha—the light reflected off his golden metal jaw, tattoos that covered him from head to toe just visible in the low light. 

Finn laughed, reaching up and painfully yanking the tape away from Viktor’s mouth. “Did you miss me, darling?” 

Finn had previously been one of Sevika’s top generals and someone Viktor’s family trusted. He’d been severely injured during a fight, his jaw blown off by an explosion, and after his recovery he was never quite the same. He’d disappeared several months before the peace treaty. 

Viktor had never really liked him. He was a relentless flirt, always acting like he knew better, and always making comments about how Omegas shouldn’t be in positions of real power—like Silco was. 

So, Viktor reeled back and spat directly in his stupid face. 

The Alpha barely flinched, but he frowned as he wiped his face. “Just as bratty as ever, I see,” he sneered. 

Viktor just glared at him. 

“Not feeling very talkative, princess?” Finn gripped Viktor’s jaw, forcing his head up and to the side. “Never thought I’d see you with a mating bite. Or a collar. Crazy how times change, isn’t it?” 

He released Viktor’s face, remaining crouched at eye-level with him. “I really had hoped it wouldn’t escalate to this, Viktor.” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“If you hadn’t interfered and just let us kill Talis, it wouldn’t have had to come to this,” Finn sighed, dramatically. 

“You’ve been behind the attacks?” 

“Mh, sort of,” the Alpha shrugged. “We’ve been getting some…additional help. There are many of us, both in Zaun and Piltover, who don’t agree with this…peace treaty.” 

“No shit,” Viktor scoffed. “That much was obvious. What I don’t understand is why.” 

“You were forced into a marriage, isn’t that reason enough to be angry about it?” Finn said, his eyes lingering on the bite once more. “Not only that, you were forced to marry the man who killed thousands of Zaunites. Our people. And now you have to wear his colours, his bite? Don’t you see that as the insult it is?” 

Viktor frowned, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from lashing out again. 

“And don’t think I didn’t notice this,” Finn’s palm pressed against Viktor’s stomach. “But don’t worry. This part we can fix.” 

Panic erupted in an instant, Viktor kicking and struggling to get away from the Alpha’s touch—not his Alpha, not his Alpha—

Finn cooed as if trying to soothe him, but Viktor felt like he was going to be sick. He’d never liked this Alpha’s scent, it smelled like burning and acid and blood. 

“Do you know what happens when an Alpha bites an already claimed Omega?” Finn’s eyes moved back to Viktor’s throat, moving his hand and hooking a finger under the collar.

Viktor froze, looking at Finn with wide eyes. “Please don’t,” he said, his voice shaking. 

“I’ve heard it’s quite painful for the Omega,” he continued. “One bond breaks, another bond is forced.” 

He pulled his hand back, tearing the collar from Viktor’s neck. The Omega stayed frozen in place, his breathing was panicked, his Omega instincts clashing with his more logical mind, resulting in complete inaction. 

“But we’ll deal with the baby situation first,” Finn said, as if Viktor should be happy to hear that. 

“W-why are you doing this?” 

“Piltover doesn’t deserve peace,” he answered. “And Zaun won’t have peace until Piltover is completely wiped off the map. We had hoped killing Talis would break the treaty, and trying to kill you wasn’t my idea. But now…if I claim you, as I was always meant to, Piltover would have no other option but to fight, and another battle on Zaun soil will negate the peace treaty.” 

Viktor flinched when Finn stood up, curling in on himself the best he could. 

“I’ll take good care of you, princess,” Finn said, running his fingers through Viktor’s hair. “You’ll see how much better things will be once Piltover pays for their crimes.” 

The Omega didn’t reply, squeezing his eyes shut as tears began to flow, breaking down in sobs the moment Finn left and the door clicked shut behind him. 

—

Viktor wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Finn had come and gone a few times, each time bringing a plate of food, but Viktor refused to eat. His hands were still bound, he knew what Finn was trying to do—to make him reliant on the Alpha, starting with the simple act of feeding him. 

After the third time Viktor refused, Finn had left but returned only a few moments later with someone else. Between Finn and the other thug, Viktor found himself being force-fed, despite his struggles and attempts to bite. He ended up vomiting most of it back up. 

Finn had mentioned something about talking to the doctor about getting on with termination of the pregnancy. Viktor knew he needed to get out. He tugged at the bindings around his wrists, trying to twist and turn his hands to get loose, but all he accomplished was the feeling of blood dripping down his palms. 

Keeping himself calm was near impossible. With each second that ticked by, he risked Finn coming back in to make good on his threats, and Viktor being injured and bound stood no chance at fighting back. He tried to tell himself that Jayce would be looking for him, his parents would be looking for him, he was sure all of Zaun and Piltover were looking for him. 

They’d find him. Viktor had to hold on to that. 

He closed his eyes, positioning his right hand over his left, taking a few deep breaths as he focused. He pushed down on his thumb joint, biting into his lip to keep himself from crying out in pain; he’d only ever studied this process in theory, never thinking he’d actually have to use it on himself. 

The door swung open just as Viktor felt something starting to shift, making him startle and freeze. It was Finn, it was always Finn. Viktor heard other people walking by the tiny room, but no-one else ever came in, unless it was time for another force-feeding. 

“Are you going to eat for me yet, princess?” Finn crouched down in front of him. “Starving yourself isn’t going to be good for the baby.” 

“The baby you’re planning on destroying?” Viktor spat out, maintaining hard eye contact. 

“You don’t expect me to believe that you’re wearing that Alpha’s marks by choice,” Finn narrowed his eyes. “Talis is a murderer.” 

“Jayce was a soldier in a time of war,” Viktor said. “Just like you, and Sevika, and Vander.” 

Finn grabbed Viktor’s jaw, his fingers digging in painfully as he yanked the Omega forward, as far as the bindings allowed. “So what, you’re telling me you actually love him?”

Viktor didn’t respond, unable to do so clearly with the grip on his face. 

“Unbelievable,” Finn shook his head. The Alpha leaned closer, tightening his grip on Viktor’s face. He tilted his head, closing in on Viktor’s throat, the feeling of his breath against the bite mark sending red-hot nausea through the Omega. 

“You would turn on your people for princely looks and a good cock, hm?” Finn hissed. Viktor was trying to stay still, to just wait it out until Finn got bored and left again—but then, he felt a wet, slimy tongue drag up over his bite mark slowly. 

Viktor acted instinctively, biting down on Finn’s hand, sinking his teeth in as far as he could. Finn jerked back and tried to pull his hand away, but Viktor wouldn’t let go, hearing his own, angered growling.

Finn forced his fingers into the joints of Viktor’s jaw so he could pull back, and immediately back-handed slapped the Omega across the face. Viktor could feel blood running down his chin from his nose, but he raised his head defiantly all the same. 

“How the fuck Talis managed to tame you is beyond me,” Finn pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it against the bite on his hand. “The doctor is nearly finished with the termination compound, though. Just a few more days, and you won’t be so eager to fight back.” 

The door slammed when Finn left the room, plunging Viktor once more into darkness.

Chapter Text

Viktor was starving. He was trying to dislocate his thumb, but his refusal to eat had left him with very little energy. People other than Finn were coming in and out of the room now, to clean him up and force water and food down his throat. His clothes had been taken away at some point and not returned.

His grip on his thumb slipped once more, and Viktor couldn’t help it when he screamed in frustration. He struggled, the metal of his bindings clanging against the pole loudly. 

He was exhausted. He knew he should eat, if not for himself then for the baby, but Finn was planning on killing them anyway. At least if Viktor took himself down too, then the Alpha would be left with nothing. He felt something like a feral animal, running on instincts alone, not speaking to anyone who came into the room anymore. 

He could only imagine how he looked. 

Viktor awoke at one point to a loud crashing sound, somewhere in the distance beyond the closed door. He strained his ears, listening, hearing more noises, people yelling, the sounds of…gun fire?

The sounds of a battle. 

He hoped that Piltover hadn’t launched an attack against Zaun. He hoped that the last ten months hadn’t fallen apart completely. 

The sounds of fighting only got louder, until the door shook as something—or someone—hit against it. Suddenly the door was kicked down, swinging open and flooding the room with light. 

“Vik!!” 

Someone ran over to him, kneeling down in front of him. He heard the sounds of something mechanical disengaging, two loud thuds and then there were hands on his face. 

“Vik, Viki, can you hear me? Please, fuck, Vik, give me something here—”

Viktor squinted and blinked a few times, recognising the voice of his sister. The Atlas Gauntlets lay on the ground beside her. He couldn’t find his voice to reply.

Vi looked over her shoulder when someone else appeared in the doorway. “Get Jayce!” 

Viktor made a desperate sound, the sound of an Omega in distress, tugging against his restraints. 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Vi moved to behind him, looking at the wrist bindings and cursing under her breath. She started on getting them open, when there was another figure in the doorway. 

“Viktor!!” 

Viktor looked up, and Jayce was in front of him, kneeling down to be eye level with him. He looked exhausted, his face was thinner than usual, deep shadows under his eyes. Viktor tried to move forward, but his wrists were still bound, and all he could do was let out a broken whine. 

“Just a second—,” Vi tugged at the cuffs. 

Jayce’s hands were on his face, in his hair, looking him over and checking for injuries. Viktor knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that struggling against his bindings was just prolonging Vi’s ability to get them open, but he needed to get to Jayce. He needed his Alpha.

The moment his wrists were free, Viktor all but threw himself at Jayce, clinging to him tightly, pressing closer as if to crawl inside the Alpha’s chest. Jayce held him just as tightly, shielding him from view, protectively. 

Vi reequipped the Gauntlets before she left the room, leaving the two of them alone. 

Jayce was talking, but Viktor was too far gone to understand what he was saying. He nuzzled into his Alpha’s throat, nose bumping into his scent gland, needing the closeness, the security. 

He whined when Jayce pulled his arms back, but then he felt Jayce’s coat being wrapped around him, surrounding him in that comforting, warm scent. 

Jayce was about to pick him up, but they both froze at the same time—the scent of burning and blood filled Viktor’s senses, making him whimper and try to push himself back. 

“Talis.” 

Jayce stood up, turning slowly, his hand reaching out to grip the handle of his Mercury Hammer that Viktor only just noticed. Finn walked into the room with slow, confident steps, fixing Jayce with a hard stare. 

“I doubt you remember me,” Finn continued. “But we met on the battlefield a few times. I have you to thank for this,” he added, motioning to the prosthetic jaw. 

“If you don’t get out of my way, I’ll finish the job this time,” Jayce growled. 

“Now, you see, I can’t do that,” Finn replied. “Because you’re trying to leave with my Omega.” 

Jayce’s grip on the hammer tightened. “Your Omega?” 

“I haven’t gotten around to reclaiming, yet, but the doctor just finished what we needed to terminate your other claim on Viktor,” Finn said. “You’re not leaving here alive, Talis.” 

Viktor whimpered, curled up as small as he could make himself, keeping Jayce’s coat around himself tightly. Jayce held up his hammer, preparing for a fight. 

“I’m not letting you touch him,” Jayce’s voice was almost entirely growling at this point, snarling at the other Alpha. 

“Maybe I’ll make you watch,” Finn goaded him on, pulling a gun from within his jacket. “Make you suffer, just like you’ve made Zaun suffer.” 

Jayce yelled as he charged Finn, swinging the hammer at the other Alpha. Finn dodged and fired a shot at Jayce, grazing his arm as Jayce turned to rush at him again. 

Viktor had pushed himself back into a corner, covering his ears with his hands as the fight unfolded before him. Jayce managed to get a few solid hits on Finn, but the fight just continued, Finn landing a sickening sounding punch to Jayce’s jaw. 

“I won’t kill you immediately,” Finn had Jayce in a headlock, the other Alpha struggling against him. “I’ll make sure you see when I kill your pups, you’ll see when I get my teeth into my Omega’s throat.” 

Jayce let out a strangled sound, something like a snarl and something like a scream, before snapping his head back into Finn’s face. Jayce was freed from the hold, picking up his hammer once more and aiming it at Finn. The head of the hammer shifted, a glowing light coming from within. 

Viktor squeezed his eyes shut when the beam of light shot out of the hammer, sending Finn flying backwards into the wall. Viktor remained curled up, whimpering to himself, until he felt arms surrounding him. 

Jayce picked him up, shifting him into one arm so Jayce could pick up his hammer with the other. Viktor glanced over at where Finn laid crumpled on the ground, blood slowly seeping out into the ground around him. 

Viktor wasn’t sure when exactly he passed out, adrenaline crashing now that he was cradled against his Alpha’s chest.

—

When Viktor woke up again, he was exhausted. 

Every part of his body hurt. His joints ached, his throat burned, his head was swimming, his wrists felt raw. Somewhere in his mind, he was trying to piece it all together, but his Omega instincts were still mostly in control. 

Someone moved next to him, and Viktor didn’t recognise the person’s scent. He jolted upright in bed, trying to get away from this stranger, growling and snarling at them—

“Viktor, Viktor, hey, look at me,” familiar hands gripped his shoulders, and he looked away from the startled nurse, seeking out his Alpha. 

Jayce sat next to him, on the edge of the hospital bed, one hand moving up to cup his cheek gently. He smiled, softly, his scent soothing. 

Viktor’s growls turned into purring as he curled up into Jayce’s chest. 

Jayce’s arms held him protectively, keeping him close. 

“It might take a while for him to return to himself,” Viktor heard the nurse saying. “Regressing into purely Omega instincts is a common reaction to this level of trauma.” 

“How is he otherwise?” Jayce’s voice rumbled in his chest, Viktor nuzzling closer and purring louder. His Alpha was here. It was all okay now. His Alpha will take care of him. 

“Recovery will take some time,” the nurse said, and Viktor became aware of the various IVs and other tubing he was connected to. “He’s lost a lot of weight. His wrists are the worst of the physical injuries he sustained, but…it’s difficult to tell the extent of the psychological damage.” 

“And the…baby?” Jayce asked, as if scared of the answer. 

There was a pause, and Viktor’s purring abruptly stopped. 

“I’m afraid I’m not sure,” the nurse said. “There are still signs of life, but with how much Viktor’s been through, it will be…tentative for a while. We will do everything we can.” 

Viktor let out a high-pitched, wounded whine, curling in on himself and wrapping his arms around his mid-section. No. He couldn’t lose Jayce’s child. He couldn’t fail. He had to keep his Alpha’s pup safe. He couldn’t fail. 

Jayce’s fingers carded through Viktor’s hair, and the Omega had a brief, coherent thought as he noticed he’d been cleaned up and his hair washed. 

“Thank you,” Jayce said to the nurse. The sound of a door closing told Viktor the nurse had left. 

Jayce repositioned them, sitting in the bed and laying Viktor on top of him, being mindful of the tubing he was connected to. Viktor was shivering, only wearing a thin hospital gown, but Jayce pulled the blanket up around them both. 

“I’m so sorry, Viktor,” Jayce said, nuzzling into Viktor’s hair. The Omega made an inquisitive chirping sound, looking up at the Alpha. “I couldn’t protect you. When we were attacked, it wasn’t until after that I realised it had all been a distraction, and they’d taken you.” 

Viktor frowned. It wasn’t his Alpha’s fault. He didn’t blame Jayce at all. Viktor leaned up and gently nosed against Jayce’s mating bite in a soothing way. 

“I think I nearly lost my mind trying to find you,” Jayce let out a flat, humourless laugh. “You were gone for nearly three weeks. I never stopped looking. None of us did.” 

Viktor started purring again. He had to soothe his Alpha, reassure him that it was all okay—Viktor couldn’t stand the way his Alpha’s voice was shaking, the way his hands were trembling against him, the unshed tears he saw in those gorgeous eyes. 

“I’m never letting you go again, Viktor,” Jayce said. “I love you. I promise, I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.” 

Viktor let his eyes close, purring and curled up against his Alpha. His body was beginning to relax, knowing that finally, finally—

He was safe. 

Chapter Text

It was two days before Viktor’s voice returned to him. His medical staff had to be entirely Betas, as he felt repulsed by any Alpha who wasn’t Jayce, and he wouldn’t stop growling at other Omegas. 

Jayce stayed with him. He said he couldn’t leave anyway, but if Viktor felt the distance between them was too far, he would start to panic. 

It took a full week before the Omega instincts returned to normal levels, and Viktor felt more like himself. He was allowed to return home, and curling up in his own bed was the greatest relief he’d felt in a long time. 

It was a week and a half before the Council and various journalists started requesting (or rather, demanding) to know what had happened. 

Jayce told him that they’d found where he was being held thanks to an anonymous tip, and they’d managed to arrest most of the assailants, but some of them managed to slip away in the chaos. Caitlyn had been a little frustrated when she’d found that Jayce had killed Finn, but she knew better than to argue with him over it. 

Viktor was curled up against Jayce’s chest in their bed, the Alpha holding him tightly. 

“...I don’t know what it was they injected me with,” Viktor was recounting everything the best he could, but he found himself struggling to remember some details. “When I woke up, I was…where you found me. I was there the whole time.” 

Jayce pulled him closer, gently playing with the hairs at the base of Viktor’s neck. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, mi vida. I know it must be difficult to talk about.” 

“I would rather tell you than the Council,” Viktor replied. “I’m sure my father and Sevika could tell you all about Finn, though.”

“They’ve told me some things,” Jayce tangled his fingers in Viktor’s hair. “What a bastard. Did he touch you at all?” 

Viktor shook his head. “He also said he was getting ‘additional help’ from someone, that he wasn’t the sole person behind all the attacks,” he looked up at Jayce. “It…sounded like the attack on Progress Day was his idea, but the sniper in the council chamber was not.” 

Jayce pressed a kiss to his forehead, pulling him close again, Viktor tucking his head under the Alpha’s jaw. They remained in silence for some time, broken only by Viktor’s quiet purring. He’d been doing a lot of that recently. 

Jayce had made him a new collar, and the feeling of it against his neck was comforting. He couldn’t stand being separated from his Alpha for any amount of time, and Jayce remained with him, holding him and soothing him. 

There were signs of life from the baby, the doctors said, but they were faint, and there wasn’t as much progress as there should be for how far along he was. Jayce was making sure Viktor was eating, taking any medications the doctors prescribed, and overall taking care of himself. 

Occasionally, Viktor would dissociate. He would feel miles away, movement and speech feeling like insurmountable obstacles. Sometimes Jayce was able to bring him back easily, sometimes all he could do was hold the Omega until the dam broke and the tears started. 

“You’re not broken, Viktor,” Jayce’s voice was soft as he held Viktor tightly, soothing his hurried, anxious apologies. “Everything will be okay. I’m here, I’ve got you.” 

—

Jinx had latched herself onto Viktor’s arm the second she’d climbed into the bed next to him, and it was clear she wasn’t planning on letting go any time soon. Jayce was still in the room, for Viktor’s comfort and security as much as his own, but he sat at the table to respond to some correspondences.

“---So Vi was totally showing off for that Enforcer girl, it was a little difficult to watch,” Jinx continued her story. “But the Enforcer seemed kinda into it, so, whatever. Vi’s been spending a lot of time in Piltover lately.” 

“She came by to visit two days ago,” Viktor replied. “She spent a lot of time asking Jayce about what Caitlyn likes.”

“I think she’s planning on courting her,” Jinx scrunched her nose, sticking her tongue out. 

“Aw, come on, I think it’s sweet,” he smiled. “Just like you and Ekko.” 

Jinx just made a dismissive sort of pssh sound, before flopping her head against Viktor’s shoulder. “I’m so glad that Finn bastard is finally dead. Never did like him.” 

“Me neither,” Viktor lay his head against Jinx’s. 

“Remember when you almost burned his hair off with that laser weapon?” 

Viktor couldn’t help his small smile at the memory. “Well, he should have learned to knock before walking into my lab.” 

“His face was priceless,” Jinx snorted as she laughed. “Would’ve liked to get a few punches of my own in before Jayce blasted him. Oh well.” 

“I got a few good punches on him first, if it makes you feel better,” Jayce piped up. 

“You know, that does make me feel better,” Jinx grinned. 

It was the next day that Silco came to visit Viktor, despite doing everything in his power to see his son before that. With the unpredictable state Viktor had been in, plus Jayce’s own possessive instincts overriding his senses, it took far longer than he would have liked. 

Silco sat beside Viktor on the edge of the bed, fussing over his hair, his bandages, asking if he was comfortable, if there was anything he needed. 

 “Táta, I’m okay,” Viktor reassured him, taking Silco’s hands in his own. “I promise.” 

Silco paused in the middle of his rambling questions, meeting Viktor’s eyes. “I’m sorry, broučku,” he sighed. “It’s—I can’t even imagine how scared you must have been. I wish we’d been able to find you sooner, I mean, I wish you’d never even had to go through this at all.” 

Viktor pulled Silco closer so he could press their foreheads together. “I know.” 

“I miss you terribly, Viki,” Silco admitted after some time. “I’m…glad that this union ended up being something you could be happy about, but…it feels strange to not have you home. And when I heard that you’d been taken, I felt…useless.” 

“Táta,” Viktor wrapped his arms around Silco’s shoulders, hugging him tightly. “I miss you too. Once things finally settle down again, I promise to make our visits more consistent.” 

Silco returned the embrace, rocking Viktor gently, just like when he was young. 

—

Three weeks passed before an emergency council meeting was called by Councilor Salo. He was insistent that Jayce and Viktor both be there, even saying they could have the meeting at the Talis Estate, just to ensure they were present. 

Viktor was nervous to leave the Estate, but he knew keeping himself holed away wasn’t going to make him feel any better. He kept a tight grip on Jayce’s hand as they walked to the chamber—Viktor’s new cane in hand, a proud mix of House Talis and Zaun colours, designed and made for him by Jayce. 

Viktor was surprised to see that not every councilor had been invited to this meeting. It was only himself, Jayce, Vander, and Salo. 

“What is going on here, Salo?” Jayce asked, once everyone had settled in. 

Salo picked up a thick folder that he’d had on the table in front of him, and silently handed it over to Jayce. 

Viktor leaned over to look as Jayce opened it. 

There were letters, communications, blue prints, maps, schedules—everything a person might need to successfully carry out sabotage and infiltration. 

“What is this?” Viktor looked up at Salo, frowning. 

“Shortly after the union ceremony, Councilor Hoskel approached me,” Salo started. “He was unhappy about the end of the war and was looking for my help to nullify the treaty somehow. I admit, I did help at first, with providing him with any information he asked for. He found a network of people who felt similarly, and bribed others to make them comply.” 

Viktor glanced up at Jayce, who was reading through some of the communications in the folder. He was frowning, his jaw tense. 

“It went much further than I ever expected it to,” Salo continued. “I had no knowledge about the Progress Day attack, or anything that happened after that. After…recognising the improvements that were being made, in Piltover and Zaun, I had to accept that peace was far more prosperous. I tried to make Hoskel see that, but he refused to listen.

“I was the ‘anonymous tip’ you received on Viktor’s location,” he added. “I suppose I do not expect any sort of gratitude, but I would hope that my revealing this information to you all would, at the very least, prevent a visit to Stillwater.” 

“If you could excuse us, Salo,” Jayce said, without looking up from the evidence. 

Once Salo had left the room, Jayce handed the folder over to Vander. Jayce remained silent as Vander looked through everything. 

“What do we think?” Jayce asked after a long moment. 

“It looks like Salo is telling the truth,” Vander said. “His involvement in this stopped just before things started getting violent. This letter here,” he slid it over to Jayce and Viktor. “Makes it clear he didn’t even know about the redirection of debris from the foundries.” 

“It seems like he was mainly just being used by Hoskel,” Viktor said. “I hold no amount of fondness for Salo, but…perhaps just having him removed from the council would be punishment enough for his involvement.” 

“I think,” Jayce started, slowly. “We should call in the others and use this evidence to build cases against Hoskel and Salo. We can aim for removal for Salo, and imprisonment for treason for Hoskel, but it will have to come down to a vote.” 

The next three days were spent between the council chamber and the Talis Estate, presenting the facts to the rest of the councilors. Hoskel was placed on temporary house arrest, as was Salo. 

As Viktor laid in bed one night, staring up at the canopy over him and listening to Jayce’s gentle snores as he slept, he thought he felt the barest of movements under his palm as it laid against his stomach.