Chapter Text
March 9
Viktor and Jayce have been partners, in more than one way, for quite a while now. Lab partners for 9 years, lovers for four. HexTech ended up being scrapped shortly after their highschool years ended, but that's okay. They've been working on so much other cool stuff, that Jayce finds that his goal to help people with his work has been reached! Genetic editing, micro-organs, and embryo health prediction tests have been both of their focus for most of their careers.
Jayce decided to walk to the office today. Viktor’s leg was inflamed, and his allergies were acting up, so he stayed at home for the day. Jayce wishes that Viktor wasn't allergic to pollen, because it's absolutely gorgeous outside today. In fact, Jayce left for work earlier than normal so he could walk the more scenic route. His body protests the uphill path, but it's totally worth it! Jayce takes a minute to just breathe in the smoky air at the top of the hill, closing his eyes and… Wait, smoky air?
Jayce looks around, eyebrows furrowed as he tries to determine the source. His hazel eyes dart along the city below when he spots it. The bridge that connects Piltover to Zaun is up in flames. Viktor is going to be heartbroken. Faintly, he sees Enforcers running in and out of the fire, some injured and some not. He’s first aid certified. Not only that, Jayce is also CPS certified. So, he races down without a thought… Well, he tries to. With how often he’s in the lab, Jayce lives a more sedentary lifestyle. He’s out of breath before he makes it down the hill. He doesn't get a chance to rest when he gets to the scene, though. The Sheriff is too busy barking orders to notice Jayce. Her voice is hoarse, though whether or not from the yelling or if it's a natural rasp is unsure.
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Jayce is acutely aware of the calls and texts from Viktor, choosing to ignore them in favor of bandaging up an Enforcer. Whatever happened has ended, but the fire still rages. Jayce feels his asthma coming on from the smoke. At last, he pats the man he’s patching up on the shoulder.
“There, you should be good now. Get to a hospital when you can.”
The man hardly acknowledges Jayce, merely bouncing up onto his feet and running back over to help stop the fire. Satisfied with his work, Jayce steps further back from the fire and grabs his inhaler from the bag he luckily didn't drop. He can’t help but flinch when the medicine hits the back of his throat. Curse Viktor for stealing his spacer.
Jayce doesn't have time to faux curse his husband though, as a heavy hand plants itself onto his shoulder. Jayce startles, but turns around. The Sheriff, with her hand on his shoulder, gives him a lopsided smile. Her husky voice tells Jayce that it's a natural rasp, perhaps caused by smoking?
“My name is Sheriff Grayson. I came over to personally thank you for your work today, Mr. Talis… Think you can help two more?”
Jayce will never get used to people knowing his name. Grayson doesn't seem to notice though, as she looks down to her side. Jayce follows her glance, his eyes widening. At Grayson’s feet stand two spot covered girls. The taller and older girl has a defiant spark in her pale blue eyes, her eyebrows furrowed and her shoulders hunched. Had it not been for Grayson's arm holding her wrist, the child surely would've fled. Her pink hair is almost brown from the dirt and dried blood in it, and there's a cut on her lip. Other than that, she seems alert and okay.
The other girl has bright blue hair and eyes, and is overall a lot less dirty. As to why, Jayce isn't sure. The blue haired child is hiding partially behind the taller girl, the side of her face just barely peeking out. Her eyes are watery, her cheeks stained with tears. The girl looks up at the pink haired child, who tries to shift to block the little girl from view. Grayson tugs her back to her side, raising an eyebrow at the girls.
Jayce nods quickly, slowly crouching down (more for his sake than for theirs). He can't get a good look at the smaller girl right now, and he has a feeling that she’ll do whatever the taller girl does, so he starts there. He keeps his voice low and soft.
“Hello there… My name is Jayce, can you tell me your names?”
There's a long pause, the pink haired girl now outright glaring at him. The girl behind her, though, seems to have a moment of bravery. She slowly creeps out, and Jayce strains to hear her voice.
“...Powder, an’ this is Vi.”
His heart swells at her timid little voice, and offers a hand to the little girl: Powder. Grayson tugs the other girl, Vi, a little closer to her side, to prevent the child from trying to pull Powder back.
“Those are such pretty names… Are you sisters?”
Powder nods, rocking nervously on her feet as she tucks her chin to her chest and comes closer. Powder seems to be in better shape than Vi is, upon a quick glance. Jayce sighs a little in relief. She doesn't take his hand, though she quietly walks right up to him. Jayce doesn't touch her just yet, but takes the chance to better look her over. It seems that her sister took the brunt of whatever happened there.
“Are you hurt?”
Powder shyly shakes her head, but turns and innocently points to Vi, who stares at Powder with a mixture of betrayal and shock.
“Vi got hurt, Vi has owies.” Powder turns back to Jayce, eyes wide. “Mom and Dad got owies too. They're big owies.” Vi deflates at Powder's words, her lip wobbling subtly as the girl looks down to the ground. Jayce doesn't need to ask to know what happened. He smiles sympathetically at Powder, reaching forward to gently rub her shoulders. Yet another subtle check for injury, just in case.
“I'm so sorry, Powder. That must've been scary. How about you and your sister come sit with me? So we can take care of her owies.”
Powder perks up and Vi deflates. “I hold her hand?”
Jayce nods, and both he and Grayson chuckle as Powder promptly turns to Vi and tugs her over. Vi digs her heels in, staring at Jayce as though he were the one to personally cause the fire on the bridge. Grayson dips her head and leaves while Powder tries to convince Vi to come closer. The woman leaves a first aid kit by Jayce’s side, at least.
“Powder!” Vi hisses, her tone low. She yanks her arm away from Powder's grabby hands, instead grabbing her shoulders and trying to usher Powder behind her. “We don't know him, we need to leave!”
“We do know him. He’s Jayce.” Powder stares up at Vi, eyebrows furrowed and her lips pulled into a pout.
“Knowing his name isn't the same as knowing him, Pow.” Vi groans, making an attempt to walk away. Jayce tuts softly, sticking his arm out to prevent her from walking and further. Vi grits her teeth, trying to walk around his arm, and so Jayce scrambles to his feet. He attempts to herd her back to the first aid kit, and is met with surprising success. Whenever Vi walks around his arm, Jayce follows her movement and pushes his arm closer to her, forcing the girl to back up. Powder got bored of the game long ago, and now quietly sits by the first aid kit. Vi is too frustrated and preoccupied to notice. Eventually, Vi growls in frustration, and tries to duck under Jayce’s arm. He merely lowers his arm with her, and scoops her up so her back is against her choice.
Vi’s frustrated howl echoes through the whole damn scene. Jayce’s cheeks flush with embarrassment as a couple Enforcers spare him a sympathetic glance or a soft snicker. She's got some fight to her, that's for sure… But Jayce probably has at least one hundred pounds over her in weight, and while he can't run very far, he can certainly wrestle a child into one position.
He sits cross-legged on the ground, Vi’s back to his chest still, although he keeps her seated between his knees so he can hold her still. Powder seems to understand that this is Not A Great Time™, as she stays a bit further back, merely watching Vi wrestle with Jayce with a tilt of her head.
Wrestling Vi into one place is one thing, getting her to let him check the gash on her lip is another. Jayce grunts as Vi wriggles, thrashing her head around so that Jayce can't do anything, or when he does manage to get a hand on her chin, she’ll bite him before his fingers even come near her mouth. He’s so focused on trying to keep all his fingers intact that he nearly leaps to his feet when a stick hits him firmly across the shoulders. Of course, Vi yelps at the jolt and tries to use it as her chance to escape.
Jayce looks up, expecting to see… Honestly, he’s not sure. But Viktor is there, and the stick that hit him was actually his husband's cane. Viktor has an eyebrow raised, his lips pulled into a tight frown as he observes the girl that Jayce is still wrestling with. Viktor hums thoughtfully, looking between Vi and a now wary and nervous Powder. Eventually, he crouches down to be closer to Jayce's shoulder, grabbing the open first aid kit. Viktor stares at him expectantly.
Jayce stares at him a moment, then moves his hand under Vi’s chin, pushing her back against him, and tilting her head up. Viktor hums a tune that Jayce doesn't recognize, but it seems to put Vi at ease. Not completely though, she’s still wriggling and whimpering, trying to get out of Jayce’s arms. Powder comes to Jayce's side, intrigued by the stranger, yet still a bit cautious. Jayce has a feeling that the stranger danger will fade as soon as she hears his name, but Jayce lets the little girl cuddle up to him either way.
Viktor always had steadier hands than Jayce, and that's proven by the way he gently cleans the wound on Vi’s face, simultaneously preparing for sutures with his other hand. Vi yelps, surprised by the cleaning, but Viktor doesn't falter. Her squirming has gotten weaker, likely because of both how she's exhausted herself and because when Viktor starts suturing the wound closed, he shows the needle to Vi first. Jayce is in awe, watching as his husband near effortlessly manages to soothe and care for Vi at the same time. Being ambidextrous has its perks.
Jayce lets go of Vi as soon as Viktor finishes, and the girl flings herself to her feet. Bristling, but not as upset as she was earlier. Powder hesitates, then trots to Vi’s side, reaching up to paw worriedly at her sister's lip. Viktor tuts.
“Be careful, it might still hurt.” His voice is soft and gentle, and he watches the two with a mixture of fondness and curiosity, especially when Vi doesn't try to run off again. Instead, he turns to Jayce with an amused huff. “This is what happens when you walk to work alone? You realize that I've called you?”
Ah, right… Jayce meant to call him back. The girls giggle at Jayce’s sheepish expression, and Viktor snickers at their giggles. Jayce motions to each sister respectively.
“Ah, this is Powder, and this is her sister, Vi. You two, this is my husband, Viktor.” Vi giggles a little more when Viktor uses his cane to lightly hit Jayce over the head. His tone is light and teasing, almost sing-song as he speaks.
“You're avoiding my question.”
“Am not.”
“What are you, five?”
“I’m five!” Powder interrupts the conversation with a loud squealing giggle. Neither Viktor nor Jayce can help laughing in response.
“Aw yeah? You a big girl then?”
“Mhm!”
Vi is still a little hesitant to trust them, but she's relaxed by now. Her shoulders are no longer so close to her ears, and her expression is no longer a grimace. However, when Grayson seemingly appears out of nowhere and puts a hand on both Vi and Powder's shoulders, Vi goes right back to where she started. Viktor and Jayce go quiet as Grayson speaks tentatively.
“Do you two have any family, besides your parents?”
Both of them shake their heads. Viktor’s expression tightens, and he and Jayce share a glance. Jayce and Viktor both love kids. Hell, they've been wanting a few of their own. They have enough money to care for two extra mouths, it's not like they're financially strained or anything. It's just… Even if they love kids, does that mean they can take care of children? Jayce thinks he can. Hell, Viktor's already proven he can, so… Jayce gives him a hesitant nod. Viktor returns it, and turns to Grayson, who has crouched down to try and explain the idea of a foster family, and that they'd likely be separated. Neither Jayce nor Viktor could bear to let the girls go to some random place in Piltover, especially alone. They won't let it happen.
“Sheriff Grayson, if I may… Jayce and I have space for them. Both of the girls.”
Next thing they knew, the girls were already situated in their house. Now all that's left is to parent.