(The cover art belongs to me for once! Ghost au? I think Jayce would. Actually die without Viktor. I mean, look at him in canon. He’d either have broken heart syndrome or be unable to tell reality apart from fiction. Similar to canon again)

Viktor finally passed from his illness on a cold day in February. When he did, Jayce stayed curled in the bed for hours, still talking and holding onto the other half of his soul. It took until he fell unconscious before they could actually remove him.

The months later passed in a blur. Hextech, without his partner, slowed. The developments were something Jayce could hardly look at, the lab still left like it was before on the other side of the room. He hadn't even moved the coffee cup, hadn't switched out the moving stool to a chair. If anything, he stayed sitting in the stool, staring at the blueprints while holding his partner's cane. The lab stayed occupied by Jayce, who never seemed to get work done.

The worst part, however, was that Viktor died with unfinished business. The pain was gone, 'living' in a blissful peace as he roamed around. It was almost nice, seeing things he hadn't been able to do when he was sick. But.. Jayce. Gods, the longer he watched, he felt sick to his non-existent stomach. There were times where his partner would stare at him, shake his head, and wipe his eyes. The few times there were developments, he'd spend too much time at once, burning like a candle at both ends.

It wasn't until one night that he had gone and gotten himself wasted, had a sinking feeling entered. Jayce saw him, it was clear from the pause to the blank expression as he sat in the lab, and Viktor stood in front.

For a moment, they were silent. For a moment, nothing moved. "Jayce..?" Viktor finally spoke first, questionably.