Throughout the majority of their relationship as lab partners—between Viktor and Jayce—the rumors of a private romantic affair between them had been whispered across the workplace since as early as Jayce could recall.

Usually, they were brisk and inconsequential secrets passed down by bored and unbothered councilors who enjoyed poking fun at the newest member, and his Zaunite “assistant”.

Initially, he tolerated them and brushed it off as humor. Eventually, sweating and nervous, he’d cut into conversation where he overheard one of their names being mentioned and inquire what was wrong.

His worry and concern was warranted after a harsh title being passed around like a contagious disease around any outlet than was interested enough—the lovers of Progress.

How cruelly humiliating that sounded, especially after their entire slogan built up around their (most Jayce’s) idealized version of success for Piltover. Their cheeks burned and eyes averted whenever Jayce or Viktor heard the slip of that damned phrase floating in the air. It seemed to die down, inevitably…

Unfortunately, any rumor so far had been completely true, and it was only the moment when Jayce and Viktor were awaiting for them to actually get caught.

Embarrassingly enough, they were exposed on Valentine’s Day; one of the liveliest days in Piltover clouded with mocking newspaper reports plastering their faces under the headline. What was the photo, you wonder?

A utter blatant photo of them kissing, carelessly, in the failed privacy of an alleyway they stopped outside of for a brief moment. Viktor held a tightly bundled bouquet of flowers, along with Jayce’s hand, as the other carefully tucked the stuffed bear and chocolates under his arm. Mushy, sweet, and devastatingly mortifying for Jayce that this photo released.