Chapter Text
Jayce had noticed a pattern. It came naturally to him, of course. It was nearly impossible to walk through life without recognizing the patterns. Algorithms, Cycles, habits. It was an integral mechanic in the great machine of existence. In terms of his career, it had served him well. The man of progress they call him. The smirk was imminent. He tried not to let it get to his head but It was… flattering. In that sense, he was grateful for his heightened ability of pattern recognition.
However, in the mundane; In his everyday life, some of these patterns could be annoying. Other people’s habits, his own as well but namely, one person’s habit was getting on his nerves as of late. Jayce’s own lab partner, Viktor was… mmm dictatorial? No, that was a bit harsh.
Pushy? No. Iron handed? No. What the hell.
Jayce leaned over the study desk in the Academy’s library. Unable to focus on the book in front of him. His hand worried over his chin as his mind was consumed with whatever Viktor had been displaying lately. It all sounded so rude. He certainly didn’t want to offend the man. He didn’t even know if it was that great of an issue. It was just…
“What are you, my dom ?”
A couple of students in the aisles were getting quite boisterous.
“Huh? Are you kidding? If I didn’t tell you what to do, you’d be lost-”
A sharp shushing sound came from one of the rotating librarians and the two young men apologized, quickly sinking away into the aisle.
Dom.
As in dominating? Is that how people put it these days? Jayce supposed it was one way to get the point across.
He looked down at his book and shut it with a sigh. There was nothing here that would help them with their current problem. Not that he expected to find anything anyways. The Academy library was surely purged of most literature containing information on the arcane. You must wonder, why would he even look if he knew this already? Well, Viktor told him to.
Despite it starting to annoy him, Jayce still did as Viktor told him because… they’re partners. What else is he supposed to do? Besides, Viktor had never steered him wrong and listened to him too. It’s a two way street. Maybe the other man had even gotten annoyed with him as well. It didn’t matter. He should head back and let Viktor know it was useless. Jayce stood and handed the book off to a nearby librarian. “Thank you.”
“Of course, Mr.Talis, do tell us if there’s anything else we can assist you with.” Hmm, he had to say, the librarians were always well prepared to find whatever he was looking for. This was one of the newer patterns he’d noticed after being dubbed the man of progress. The recognition. It had its perks. “That’s all for today, but keep up the good work.” He threw a wink in her direction. Encouragement. The librarian chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Yes, sir.”
See? He could be a dom too sometimes. Jayce chuckled as he left.
When he returned to the lab, he was surprised to see Viktor seated, reading some notes and drinking a cup of tea by the Hexcore. It was the coziest he’d seen him in some days. Wait… so was he not doing anything while Jayce went and did all that research for him?
“Find anything?”
“No, I told you it was useless-” Jayce walked further in, coming to lean on the desk next to Viktor. “If the library ever had anything on the arcane, it’s been scrubbed clean.”
“Hm. It was worth a shot.”
“Like I said, there was nothing but you didn’t listen.” His brows shot up and he tilted his head.
Viktor put his cup down, looking up from the pages. “ No, I listened. I simply wanted to be sure, Jayce.”
His eyes shot to the notes in Viktor’s hand, he gestured to it. “And what have you been doing? Reviewing old notes? The answers aren’t there, Viktor.”
“I disagree,” Viktor put the notes down and spread them out. “ Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.” Oh here we go . The man moved the pages from one spot to another, reviewing the notes and humming in thought. Jayce watched him lift his head and look around before his gaze locked onto something on the other side of the room. “Bring that here.” A pale finger pointed towards an open box that held all their writing stationary. Pens, pencils, compasses…
Viktor did this often, he would sit somewhere away from his needed tools and endure the pain of getting back up. Jayce was about to move and do what he asked without hesitation as he’d done it many times before but he stopped. What he heard in the library crept back into his mind. He had to keep the laughter at bay as he said it.
“What are you, my dom ?” Like a parrot, same inflection and everything.
He watched in amusement as Viktor’s head slowly turned back to him. Gazing up at Jayce with an incredulous look. “What did you just call me?”
Oh, crap, he wasn’t expecting that reaction.
“Uh…” suddenly, he felt embarrassed. This did not go as planned. Not that he had a plan. He just thought it would be funny?
“Nevermind.” Jayce almost felt relief but it was immediately followed with, “Is there something you would like to tell me, Jayce?”
The man of progress was confused. “I… I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Naturally.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
Viktor’s hands dropped to his lap. “It means that you have no idea what you just said to me. My cane.” he held his hand out in the direction of it, which was not even five inches from him. “V, it’s right there-”
“My. cane .”
Jayce picked it up and handed it to Viktor’s open hand without further protest. He felt… like he was in trouble.
“Good.” He watched as Viktor carefully stood from his seat. He stepped away from it before gesturing to it with his cane. “Sit.” Jayce’s eyes shot between the seat and his lab partner. Silence took them over for a moment. Hazel eyes fixed him with a look that made him want to go rigid.
So he sat.
“A dom. Your dom? Really?” There was a smirk on Viktor’s lips and he huffed out a small chuckle. “If that is what you want, I fear you may not have the…,” there was that familiar sound he made when considering things. “ gusto, for it.”
Now he was really confused. There was not a passing day that Viktor didn’t tell him what to do. Whether in the lab or even during presentations. Hell, he curated most of the presentations. “Viktor, we do this every day. What are you talking about?”
A hum of consideration left the man again. There was a shuffle and the tap of his cane on the granite flooring. The tenor of his voice came slowly, taking his time with each word. “Is that so?” As Viktor came close, there was one final intimidating drop of his cane, next to Jayce’s knee and it made him jump a little. He looked down to check that his toes were still intact.
“ Look at me .” The command of Viktor’s voice sent something like electricity through his spine. His eyes obeyed and looked back up at Viktor. “I must say, that was more direct than I ever expected.” …What?
“What are you-”
“Quiet.”
Jayce shut his mouth. Why did he shut it? He was nervous now and he had no idea why. Viktor was being so… so?
“ Dominating .” Another gentle huff of laughter. “What you and I do here is not domination , Jayce.” Ah…
“Then what is-” He was cut off when Viktor suddenly gripped his face with cold fingers. His cheeks were slightly squashed together and his lab partner’s icy digits kind of hurt. Something took over Viktor’s expression. Whatever it was, it was nothing he had ever seen from the man before.
“ If I was to dominate you, Jayce-” The hard line of Viktor’s cane now touched the inside of Jayce’s knee, pushing it. Wait - “You would know it.” Jayce was frozen in place. The cane pushed his leg a little more until his thighs no longer touched. “I would have you still, just like this.” Slowly, Viktor pushed his face back. “Waiting on my every command…” Jayce felt the cushion of the chair dip as Viktor came to hover over him. Was that his knee between his-
“Like a dog .”
“Viktor!” Those cold fingers left his face but before he could drop his chin even slightly, he felt a vice grip in his hair, pulling him back yet again. He winced in pain. “ Just like that .” He had never heard Viktor sound like this. Ever. Not like that- god . Something stirred within him. A heat he didn’t have a name for just then. Jayce’s eyes shot open and he was shocked to see Viktor so close to him. His face was mere inches away, looking directly into his eyes. There was a sadistic look on his face that was somehow tender at the same time. “You would make the sweetest sounds for me, Jayce.”
Jayce jumped back suddenly, his breath catching in his chest. Viktor’s grip came loose as he lost support under his knee and almost yelped as he dropped. It was a flash of movement. The sudden jerk, the shock, the heavy breathing, the chair flying back behind Jayce as he caught the other man by his waist.
Viktor was looking at the floor as Jayce held him there. The broader man’s breath was still a little ragged but catching up with him quickly. His partner gazed up at him and smiled. “My hero.”
They both quickly composed themselves and Jayce stood a couple steps away from Viktor as they pulled their uniforms back to order.
“I suppose that is enough work for the day.” The floor chimed with the taps of Viktor’s cane as he made his way to exit the lab. “Vik-!” Jayce’s hand shot out but he didn’t know what to say as the door was opened. The other man stopped and hovered by the open door. He wasn’t looking back but he wasn’t looking into the hallway either.
The reality came rushing in. Jayce finally, fully understood what was going on and what Viktor thought he meant when he said- oh god. Heat radiated off his face. He didn’t even want to imagine what he looked like right now. This was so embarrassing! Jayce’s eyes were glued to the grey and gold floors of their lab.
“If you like, we can explore this further.” Viktor’s voice wasn’t discreet and Jayce wondered why he felt like they needed secrecy. Their eyes met, as he finally found the courage to look up and Viktor needed Jayce to see him. “... at my place.” There was something uncertain there, almost afraid and it was so faint but Viktor was brave. “Your choice.”
The silence in the lab was deafening. The sound of the door closing was louder than anything he’d ever heard in his life and Jayce could not stand it. Yes he was embarrassed but he also wanted to know… more .
In the halls of the Academy, Viktor smiled when he heard those familiar heavy steps behind him.