(I am.. a sucker for different ways Vik meets S2!Jayce - idea from sulkybender's fanfic on Ao3 "I have dreams sometimes you're talking" and I wanna make it my own.. + a what if they could make peace)

Affection held us together. The words had left his mouth weeks ago, and Viktor had regretted it ever since. He didn't want to leave, but at the moment he had felt betrayed, betrayed that Jayce had brought him back, betrayed that Jayce had ignored his wishes, and betrayed that the man wouldn't listen. Then, he became the Herald, and once the community had settled, he realized just how much he missed the fellow scientist. He missed his laugh, his hyperactivity. He missed the way he spoke, the way they bantered. He missed their late nights, and he missed that smile the other had. He missed all of it.

When Jayce arrived to the commune, he'd expected him. However, he hadn't expected how Jayce had arrived. In fact, he didn't recognize the man in front of him at first, had it not been for the hazel eyes, or the all too familiar gap between his teeth. No, he couldn't begin to understand how the same man he knew who lit up every room he was in - suddenly didn't. Focusing closer, he could finally see it. The Arcane. The same magic that had healed Viktor had ruined his partner. Oh. Oh, Gods. This was no longer the man he knew.. this was.. someone else. His lips parted, flashes of color swirling in his eyes. A rush of emotion, a feeling previously dulled, coursed rampantly. “Jayce..”