Chapter Text
Pppplllleeeaaaseee!"
Viktor refused to turn his head towards the sulking voice, clutching his laptop bag closer to his hip. Viktor eyed the empty parking lot in front of them as he waited for Powder’s boyfriend to pick her up. “For the tenth time Powder, no.”
Powder frown deepened, refusing to let go of his arm that was holding his bag as she tried to draw his attention back on her. “Why not?"
“Because I do not want to,” Viktor answered, shifting his weight to lean more comfortably on his crutch. “Why are you here anyway? Just to steal my car?”
“First of all, the internet is faster here than at home. And second! Not steal,” Powder leaned her head on his shoulder, gazing up at him with wide blue eyes. “You would be driving!”
“Yippie,” Viktor deadpanned. “Why is the internet here better than at home or the library, again?”
“I need it as fast as possible to buy tickets and this college has faster internet,” Powder said with a smirk as she hooked her arms to stay wrapped around Viktor’s shoulders. “Ekko was a dear as usual and dropped me off here and so.” She grinned deviously. “I can ask you to take Vi and I to the concert! Two birds, one AK-15 or whatever the saying is."
“That is not the saying,” Viktor mumbled under his breath, but he leaned into her hold with a growing smile.
“Come on,” Powder could see she was winning and brought out the biggest puppy eyes. “you know he’s my favorite artist! I have listened to him since he was first discovered!"
“I thought your boyfriend was your favorite artist,” Viktor drawled in a low voice. Curse Ekko for being late to pick Powder up…Okay, not “curse” him but getting here a little faster would be appreciated.
“Ekko’s my favorite artist in my soul and my heart, but he is understanding when it comes to Jayce Talis.” Powder said. She always said the man’s name as if it would make Viktor aware of the “seriousness” of the situation. It did not.
“Why is Ekko unable to go with you and your sister?” Viktor leaned over the sidewalk, searching for any sign of recuse from Ekko.
“Ekko has to work that night at the bar! Why are you fighting me so badly? The tickets are free for you!” Powder sulked, knowing full well that her pouts no longer swayed Viktor as they did when she was younger – back when Vander and Silco had introduced them and she burst into a wide grin and tackled his good leg at the sight of her new friend. But her ways would not sway him. Well,…not always swayed. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! A wedding on stage by two famous singers!” She finished dramatically.
“It is just two celebrities trying to get more views and attention, normal powerhouse couple things," Viktor knew it would make Powder gasp and look at him with mock horror. When she did, he couldn’t help but smile. “But - Why can’t you go with your sister? Or your dads drive you?” Viktor finally turned his head to face Powder fully, carefully tugging himself free from her grip, no longer praying that Ekko would make a heroic entrance and stop her from making Viktor accept it.
“You know Vi got her license suspended again,” Powder did let go of Viktor as he pulled away, standing next to him with a resigned look. “Dad One and Dad Two forbid her from being behind any wheel now and we only have the one car that dads need for work. They did say that they will only let us go if we are driven by a proper adult.”
Viktor raised an eyebrow. “Vi’s twenty-one.”
“Old does not translate to proper,” Powder said.
“I’m thirty, what does that say about me?” Viktor asked, cocking his head to the side. He knew he would say yes inevitably, it was for the girls after all. But it was still fun to tease and Powder was always quick to make Viktor say yes.
“Uhhh,” Powder answered eloquently, looking slightly flustered before she started grinning, an idea formed in her head. Viktor internally grimaced knowing whatever the idea was, he was going to fold, as he usually did when it came to the sisters.
“How about…I will make your favorite cookies and as much sweet milk as you want…” Powder trailed off in a singsong voice.
...Dammit.
Viktor simply exhaled once, closing his eyes in resignation before he could see Powder’s victorious expression. “…With double chocolate chips?”
“Triple!” Powder held up three fingers with a smirk before she giggled excitedly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and torso, careful not to jostle him as he gripped his crutch to keep his balance. “Thank you so much!”
“Be honest Powder, will I regret this choice?” Viktor said. He breathed out a relieved sigh when he heard a car horn, waving as he saw Ekko pull the car up.
“You won’t! It will be the best choice you have ever made!” Powder waved her fingers at him, brightly painted nails shining in the sunlight as she blew a kiss to her boyfriend. “Violet will call tonight with the details for the concert!”
Viktor waved back to her as Ekko shot them a confused look.
“She convinced you?” Ekko yelled out the window in shock.
“It was the cookies,” Powder said proudly.
Viktor ran his fingers through his hair as he headed towards his own car. “Just one night…Not too hard, right?”
*
Jayce Talis turned his body around slowly, trying to examine his first outfit of the night. The ridiculously sized mirror made Jayce feel like a kid trying on outfits at the store.
“Okay,” Caitlyn said, seemingly materializing out of thin air by Jayce’s side. “So we have everything set for tonight, I have Elora on the phone and she said Mel is on schedule, of course, and…” She trailed off as she took in Jayce’s nervousness. “I mean, everything is going well.” The way Caitlyn smiled proved that she was telling the truth –.
“You look amazing,” Caitlyn said excitedly when Jayce didn’t speak, no hint of a tease in her tone for once when she complimented him. She started shoving her phone in her pocket to show her seriousness. “It looks even better today, somehow.”
Jayce said nothing for a few moments, silently looking at each angle with a growing frown. When Jayce dreamed of his wedding, he never planned for the occasion to be watched and surrounded by millions of eyes, no matter how excited those eyes may be. It didn’t help either, when those eyes that were hoping for a downfall of some sort to occur.
“What's wrong?” Caitlyn asked.
Jayce groaned at his reflection, hating the outfit more with each passing moment…Well, not just the outfit…“Too late to elope, huh?” Jayce asked, only half kidding.
“I would say so, yeah,” Caitlyn said sympathically.
"Should have just got married on a beach," Jayce sighed.
Mel encouraged this whole…stunt. Said it would be best for publicity for them both and they would be able to be married. Jayce agreed, of course he did – when it was Mel, he would do anything. Plus, Mel would know better than him about most things in this world.
“Our world,” Mel had said once. Even when it didn’t feel like it. She had been in the business since she was a child, so of course Jayce trusted her when she suggested this…situation. Barely felt like a wedding anymore.
Between Mel’s ambition and her mother's, Jayce willingly trusted Mel’s plan. She would know the best strategic plans when it came to their line of work. Jayce was only a “rising star” as the tabloids loved to say – but that didn’t matter to him. He was doing what he loved and soon he would be married to whom he loved.
Jayce grimaced, finally stealing a glance at Catelyn to answer. “I look like a Temu version of myself.”
“Nooo, well I mean, it is not your style. But it still looks great!” She encouraged.
“Where is Mel?” Jayce asked, looking past the sea of heads around the room for his fiancé. “I have been messaging her almost all day.”
“You can’t see her, its bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.” Caitlyn said, smirking.
“The wedding is in eight hours, does that superstition even count anymore?” Jayce tried, smiling weakly before he started taking off the tie.
“Keep it on, we need to do the pictures now - ”Caitlyn looked down at her phone that hadn’t stopped vibrating since last week. “Ugh, sorry, I got to take this again. And don’t worry,” She patted his arm. “You look great. It’ll be fine. Just leave it all on until after pictures are taken!”
Jayce smiled at her warmly, nodding his understanding as Caitlyn grinned and set off to do god knows what. The expression quickly fell from his face once she was out of sight. He huffed, wishing this day would end so that he and Mel could finally be together.
Jayce grappled at his phone and felt his heart sink when he saw there was still nothing from Mel. When will she be here? Mel was not one for quality time and she would hours or even days to respond to him but he thought today of all days –
Oh god, this has gotten so out of control. Jayce just wished it was him and Mel on a beach somewhere, sharing their vows and promising to stay together forever. Sure, things had been chaotic, but once this was over, things could be better. They would.
“Just one night…Not too hard, right?” Jayce mumbled under his breath.
*
Viktor tightened his tie with a huff, tying and removing it several times before he was satisfied with it. Why was he nervous, it wasn’t like he even knew these people. Viktor reached for his crutch as the doorbell started ringing, signaling the girls here finally here.
“Hey Vik,” Violet gave him a toothy grin, stepping into Viktor’s apartment, wearing her usual jeans and red leather jacket before she immediately made her way to Viktor’s fridge.
“Don’t touch the alcohol, that’s Sky’s,” Viktor said in lieu of a hello, smiling back at her nonetheless.
“She didn’t strike me as the type,” Vi said with a shrug as she grabbed one of Viktor’s canned iced coffees instead.
“Leftovers from her bachelorette party,” Viktor answered, using his crutch to head back to the bathroom mirror and fiddle with his outfit again, debating on cuffing his sleeves or if he was putting way too much thought into this.
“Who has leftover anything after a party, unless it’s veggies?” Vi muttered to herself, glugging half of the drink in one go. “Especially bottles of my favorite beer?” She tried again, waving one of his own drinks as hostage.
“No, Viktor said, no heat behind his words. Vi smiled back with a shrug, taking another one of Viktor’s coffees. “She is coming by tomorrow to pick up a few more things, so she will notice.” Viktor would miss having Sky as his roommate – she was one of the few people he could trust.
Viktor’s smile didn’t leave his face once, not even as he noticed Powder’s outfit. “Do your dads know you’re wearing that?” He leaned against the wall to gesture to her with his crutch.
Powder beamed as she twirled to show off her skinny black jeans, and dark grey crop top with an x pattern sewed on the front, most likely done by herself. “Dad actually recommended the shirt.” She answered, heading towards her sister like a magnet.
“Silco dad or Vander dad?” Viktor questioned, just to tease her further.
Powder refused to answer and Vi snorted, reaching over to ruffle her sister’s hair. “I think she looks kickass.” She said fondly, her wolfy grin growing wider.
Powder beamed.
“And you are wearing that?” Vi asked, looking over Viktor’s clothes with a raised eyebrow as she sipped from the can.
Viktor frowned slightly, looking down at his outfit; he had dark dress pants (ones he normally wore for work), with a black blazer over a plain white button-up. “What’s wrong with the way I am dressed?” He asked, his voice unnecessarily high-pitched.
“It’s a concert for two crazy rich celebs who love attention,” Vi said. “not a real wedding. You don’t need to dress up.”
“This is dressed up?"
“Well, technically it is, I mean - they will be married at the end,” Powder quickly defended, snagging the canned drink from Vi’s unsuspected hand as punishment and chugging down the rest.
“Simp,” Vi poked at her sister’s cheek.
Viktor let the sisters’ tussle as he limped towards his closet. He grabbed the only hoodie he owned, one that his foster father got for him last year for his birthday. One that was two sizes too big. “How did I get an extra ticket in all of this?” Viktor asked as he shrugged a sleeve over his arm.
“Vi broke up with her girlfriend of exactly one week,” Powder said simply, tossing the can into the trash.
Vi glared but didn’t disagree. “Should have known better than to date a ginger,” Violet said with a sigh.
“Don’t decriminate against gingers! They were slaves of the potato famine!” Powder twirled a finger dramatically.
Viktor said nothing, enjoying having company in his home again as he grabbed his keys, white knuckling his crutch with his free hand. “Shall we?”
Both sisters nodded and Powder jumped over her sister’s back, pointing towards the door as she yelled “onwards!”. The sisters talked the entire car ride, dropping information on the two singers to Viktor, and arguing among themselves over which artist was better. It seemed like both were talented and Vi and Powder loved them both, so Viktor stayed quiet.
“This. Is. Ridiculous,” Viktor growled out as he finally parked the car. “We should have done literally anything else but drive here ourselves.”
Powder and Vi shot each other a quick look. To most, it would have been too fast to be noticed.
“Nothing,” Powder said too quickly, shuffling a homemade sign she made under her arm.
Viktor raised an eyebrow.
“I mean,” Vi said slowly. “Technically, we could have used an app, but…” She shrugged a shoulder.
“We wanted to spend time with you,” Powder finished for her, nudging her sister. “And with Sky leaving, you have been looking…lonely?” She tried.
“Oh,” Viktor said, touched.
The sisters were never good at saying their feelings directly, and seemed to have eyes for the cars and crowd instead of Viktor.
“Thank you,” Viktor said, meaning it.
Vi cleared her throat, nodding and Powder’s eyes started looking wet. “We love you, you know that?” She said.
“I do,” Viktor said. “I love you both.”
“Okay anyway!” Vi said, interrupting. “Too much emotions! Let’s go watch two mindless clout chasers make out sloppy style.”
“I thought you liked them?”
“I do but I can acknowledge their flaws, I am nice like that,” Vi said, wrapping an arm around Powder as Powder leaned in to kiss Viktor’s cheek.
Well… he would at least threaten to do so. But Viktor couldn’t even joke about making the threat, not when he saw how Vi and Powder laughed freely, how they took selfies with him squished between them, how they smiled wildly even when Viktor leaned in to ask for explanations on certain jokes regarding the singers – Viktor couldn’t make himself say a word of compliment. Damn those cookies, Viktor thought to himself.
As if that was the real reason he stayed.
They found a spot for the three of them after some time, but still too close to the stage for Viktor’s liking, despite the fact that the sisters complained that they were too far. “I won’t be able to count the hairs on his beard from here!” Powder groaned.
Powder settled to Viktor’s right and Violet stayed by his left, standing by him. It took him a moment to realize that the sisters were standing in such a way to make sure no one got close enough to push at him. Once, someone stood too close to Viktor’s right leg and Powder took her homemade “Mary Me” sign with pink and blue colored letters and wacked at the man’s back.
“Oops?” Powder said with a grin.
“Why are there so many people again? Why can they not just watch online later like normal people?” Viktor asked once the man moved away.
“Didn’t you look these people up?” Powder yelled, holding her “Marry Me” sign high above her head.
Viktor didn’t answer, shifting slightly to lean more fully on his crutch. Who were these people to garner such a reaction? “I only know what you both told me.”
“Are you really curious or do you just want to complain?”
“I would rather complain,” Viktor said with a smirk.
Powder and Vi sighed in unison, before turning their heads back to look at the stage. “Thanks for being here,” Vi said after a few moments, bumping Viktor’s shoulder.
Viktor bumped into her in return. “Of course.”
Viktor pulled out his phone and started typing a message to Vander and Silco, letting them know that they were there safely - when Powder grabbed at his shoulder excitedly. “Wait, wait - Here comes Mel Medarda!”
Viktor looked up from his phone after hitting send – and was welcomed to the sight of a beautiful woman clothed in white and gold, a dazzled microphone held in her hand.
“Wow,” Vi said.
Viktor didn’t even have time to acknowledge the same sentiment. Screaming and applause started, the crowd begining to chant her name before Mel Medarda even said a word.
“She’s even prettier in person!” Powder shrieked over the roars of the audience, holding her sign even higher.
“Who is ready to see me marry the love of my life tonight?” Mel Medarda asked with a grin, holding her mic out to the crowd as they all screeched in approval.
Viktor didn’t recognize the song she started, but was really, truly regretting his agreement to stay the entire time at the concert with how the crowd cheered before she started the first line.
“I am gonna be deaf by morning,” Viktor groaned.
“I know, isn’t it great!?” Vi screamed, reaching out to hold the other side of Powder’s sign. Viktor shook his head, smiling the entire song.
Viktor gripped his crutch and waited when Mel Medarda threw a kiss to the crowd and walked off the stage. He was curious what the other singer would look like. Viktor was silent as his eyes observed the stage in front of him. Viktor wondered when – Talis, was it Talis? Viktor thought the girls called him that - would show up.
“Ooohhh I think he’s coming up!” Someone yelled from behind Viktor after Medarda’s dancers finished, another group of dancers showing up in the previous one’s stead, and all were dressed in ridiculous looking clothes.
“There he is!!” Someone, maybe even one of the girls screamed.
When Jayce Talis took his place on the stage, turning his handsome face toward the masses with a wide tooth gapped grin and eager eyes, Viktor’s world stopped. It was obvious that Jayce Talis was a handsome man, unlike anyone Viktor had seen before, but…but there was something else…
With his warm almost golden eyes, bearded face, tanned skin, and wide smile completed with that tooth gap, Viktor was sure his own face was beet red. But then, Jayce opened his mouth and –
Oh…no.
That voice? Viktor barely comprehended what the lyrics were, too focused on how he sounded.
Hm…maybe Viktor did get the hype for this sort of thing after all.
“Oh my god,” Vi’s hushed tone drew Viktor away from Jayce’s spell.
“What?” Powder and Viktor asked at the same time.
Vi moved closer and shoved her phone between Viktor and Powder with an unnerved expression. The younger sister frowned and handed her sign off to Viktor before whatever she read on Vi’s phone made her gasp.
Viktor scowled as his eyes trailed over Vi’s screen, taking in whatever news was on it. The names were mainly unknown to Viktor besides Mel Medarda and Jayce Talis, but his heart sank as he raced through the article.
Quickly skimming through it, Viktor could understand that Mel Medarda and some woman named Elora’s email were leaked and the article were focusing on all things Mel had mentioned regarding Jayce. Viktor caught glimpses of texts and emails where Mel had been talking about Jayce’s status as a younger singer and how that would help Mel’s career by taking him under her wings.
“Wait,” Viktor looked between the sisters, Jayce no longer on stage but dancers instead – maybe Mel and Jayce were changing for the wedding? – “So, wait – was Jayce aware of this?”
“Doesn’t look like it,” Vi said between gritted teeth. “Oh god it keeps getting worse!”
Viktor kept reading and found a line in the article underlining that Elora and Mel had been talking even before Jayce started officially dating Mel – There were thousands of texts and emails between them discussing how this “investment” by dating Jayce was helping both Jayce and Mel’s careers - and near the end Viktor took the phone from Vi to scroll toward the end and his heart sank when he read the last quote. The article ended with a quote from Mel Medarda saying she would be willing to marry Jayce since he was a worthy asset. She agreed to see this situation through.
No love was there.
No affection.
Just a transaction.
Viktor let out a deep sigh; god, how would Jayce react? How would anyone if this happened to them? Did Jayce just find out? He must have – God Viktor hoped he found out before the ceremony. Viktor’s heart broke for this man, someone he never even met.
“Uh oh,” Powder said.
Viktor’s head shot up as Jayce Talis reappeared, showing up in the middle of the stage. Oh, he knew alright – Jayce Talis’ walk forward was uncertain, his eyes dazed - Jayce’s expression proved he must have just found out what the others discovered moments ago.
“Ah shit,” Vi and Powder said in sync. Viktor wordlessly agreed.
“Hey um - Can we turn off the music? Please?” Jayce took a step forward, gesturing to the music that was playing off by the side. The abrupt silence was almost as jarring as the sight of a performer standing silently on stage. “I’m uh,” Jayce continued, blinking rapidly at the crowd with an uneasy smile. “I’m told that we have around twenty million people here. Here to see Mel and I get married.”
The crowd cheered before he had time to finish his sentence and Viktor felt like he was invading in private moment where only he could read the room.
“So,” Jayce pressed on, white knuckling the microphone. “I guess - I should talk about that, right? About - about love, because that is what we are all looking for, in one way or another. Romantic or platonic.”
“Maybe we should leave,” Viktor whispered to the sisters, barely registering that he was still holding that ridiculous “Marry Me” sign with one hand in front of himself.
Powder and Vi snapped their heads to him, breaking out of the trance. They shared one quick look with each other before nodding in agreement.
“I thought I found it,” Jayce scoffed, yet there was no real venom in his voice.
Viktor felt himself freeze in his spot again, seemingly unable to move whenever Jayce was speaking.
“Even though I saw the signs, I thought it was different. But it wasn’t. I guess - If you want something different, you need to do something different. So,” Jayce frowned slightly, looking over at the crowd once again with those soft eyes. The same eyes that were making Viktor’s heart crack with each passing moment. “That’s what I gotta do. I want to make a different choice this time.”
Viktor’s hands shook with sign as he gripped his crutch with his other hand. They shouldn’t be seeing this; none of them should be here – Jayce didn’t deserve that. Viktor needed to leave, they should all go, now -
“Sometimes you need to just make a choice, and say -” Jayce’s voice was starting to shake as he scurried over the crowd with sad eyes and somehow, somehow – his eyes met Viktor’s. Jayce’s expression froze, dark gaze darting over Viktor’s similarly frozen face, warm eyes softening.
“Yes,” Jayce’s whispered. “Okay, I will marry you.”
Jayce Talis pointed to the crowd, somewhere past Viktor. Viktor turned his head to see who it was the singer was pointing to, before looking back to see who Jayce was looking at when no one moved. Wait, was he not pointing past Viktor….wait…not past Viktor…pointing at Viktor?
Jayce held out his hand once Viktor turned his head back and yes, those eyes were most certainly stuck on Viktor. “Yes, you.”
Viktor froze, gaze stuck on Jayce’s large hand outstretched to him. What?
…Wait, what?
“Is he…?” Viktor privately begged that Powder and Vi would insist that he was misunderstanding what was happened. But judging from how they shared twin expressions of astonishment, he knew he wasn’t.
“Go, go!” Powder insisted, pulling Viktor out of his stupor and pushing Viktor forward a step, careful of his foot. “Go to him!” She was beaming at the turn of events. At least someone was registering what was happening.
“Viktor, wait, are you sure - ” Vi held on to his shoulder, careful not to jostle him as the crowd started screaming, shoving their phones at their faces and demanding his name.
“No, not at all,” Viktor said, but he still took the steps forward. He didn’t know why he was feeling this pull towards Jayce, but he didn’t want to ignore it.
Viktor moved forward carefully, unable to look anywhere else except for Jayce’s face. How odd; when he was just looking at Jayce, this situation didn’t seem as overwhelming.
Jayce’s eyes caught Viktor’s crutch. He mercifully said nothing or changed his tense expression. Instead, Jayce smoothly sat down at the edge of the stage and pushed himself off of it, landing close to Viktor. When he reached the ground, Jayce once again held out his hand to him - and after everything that was happening, all the eyes on him, all of the scream directed towards him, Viktor felt more nervous to make physical contact with Jayce Talis than the millions of eyes aimed at him.
“Jayce!” A girl with dark blue hair hissed at Jayce. “What are you doing- ”
“Walking my fiancé towards the stairs,” Jayce Talis answered simply, sounding oddly calm.
Carefully, Jayce’s fingers intertwined with Viktor’s, his touch gentle, soft, before he started leading Viktor towards the steps at the end of the stage. Two tenacious looking men were standing by Jayce’s side as Viktor slowly took the steps forward, his face burning with the weight of a million stares at his back.
Viktor’s crutch was trembling with his shaking hands, but Viktor kept his expression still. His eyes flickered over the crowd but he could barely make out even Powder and Vi with the lights blaring on him.
Jayce held Viktor’s hands in front of them as a man Viktor did not recognize stood between them, looking as stunned by the turn of events as Viktor did.
“Uh… I guess, Jayce Talis, do you take this man?” The stranger asked Jayce after a pause. “This stranger? That you do not know? Like, at all?” With a jolt, Viktor realized that this was happening. This was happening right now. Viktor again sought for Powder or Vi in the horde. Viktor could say no, and no one would blame him. Well, many probably would, but none of them would matter.
“I do,” Jayce said without hesitation and Viktor’s brain decided to turn off then. He did?? This man?? Really??
The crowd started screeching, some yelling out Mel’s name and others shouting for Jayce with horror and excitement.
“And uh,” The stranger looked at Viktor. “Do you take this man to be your husband?” He said nothing else, nothing more. It was up to him now.
It was an easy choice, right?
Yet, as Viktor looked into those light-honey eyes, that downturned smile, the shaking fingers that were still holding Viktor’s hands - and the answer still was obvious. Just not in the way he thought.
Viktor couldn’t look away from Jayce Talis; he didn’t want to. “Yes, I do.”
The sounds that came from these simple words almost deafened Viktor, but the feeling of Jayce cupping his burning cheeks and drawing him closer made everything else fade away. Jayce leaned forward cautiously, eyes open as he brushed his lips as gentle as a butterfly’s wings against Viktor’s.
Viktor ignored his first instinct to flinch back from the touch and stayed still, not sure if he should kiss back or not. Jayce pulled back after a few moments, soft eyes still holding that wretched expression that made Viktor want to soothe his frowns away.
Jayce Talis stared at him, truly looked at Viktor, and it felt…special. Like it was just them in a room together. Viktor instinctively wanted to lean forward to chase his lips back, but stayed firmly still, the crowd’s earsplitting yells were keeping him from making a foolish mistake.
“Jayce,” The blue haired woman said in a soft tone, standing directly behind Jayce. She shot Viktor an odd, almost sympathetic look, before she patted Jayce’s back carefully.
Her touch seemed to have done something; Jayce blinked himself back to awareness and turned his head to the screaming crowd, almost like he just realized the gathering was still there. Without a word, Jayce grabbed Viktor’s hand and moved forward, vigilantly leading Viktor towards the back of the stage.
Viktor looked back to see if he could find even a glimpse of Vi and Powder. “Wait - My friends,” Viktor started, starting to slow down. “I will not leave without them.”
Jayce looked back at him, decelerating his speed as they became surrounded by what Viktor could only assume were bodyguards, many of whom were taller than even Jayce. “Oh – oh yes of course,” Jayce started to turn towards the woman with blue hair from earlier, but stopped, catching something behind her.
“Jayce – Jayce please let me explain!”
Viktor’s eyes were going to start crossing with everything happening at once. Viktor bit back a groan and turned to see what could possibly be happening now.
Ah.
Well that was unfortunate.
The fiancée, Mel, was rushing towards the group now and Viktor was silently pleased that they were all at least behind the stage from more prying eyes – millions of prying eye to be exact. Her gold gown that was covered exquisitely with black roses was fisted in her hands as she rushed towards them, able to move with a graceful ease.
“Mel,” Jayce’s footing faltered but he didn’t stop moving, hand tightening on Viktor’s sweaty palms as they both continued moving somewhere. Still slow enough that Viktor could keep up but Viktor was starting to feel a slight twinge in his leg from the action. “Mel, I-I can’t do this right now - ” Jayce was shaking his head, staring at her pleadingly.
Mel shot Viktor an odd look, something Viktor was becoming more and more familiar with this night. “I know we need to talk,” Mel started, dropping the front of her dress to put her hands up in a placating manner. “But you can’t – Jayce, you can just marry a fan to avoid talking about this!” She gestured a hand to Viktor intensely; he darted his eyes away when he heard her voice crack.
“I am not a fan,” Viktor said unhelpfully. His face must have been as red as his tie with how Jayce and Mel gazed at him. “Well, I am a fan now - ” He added, absentmindedly clasping Jayce Talis’ hand.
“Jayce,” Mel pressed on, quickly ignoring Viktor. “Please let us just talk - I know I hurt you Jayce, and I – I have no idea how those emails got found. But we should have talked about this before you rushed into this mistake - ”
“Yeah, there’s a lot of things we should have talked about,” Jayce’s voice was low with hurt.
Mel at least had the decency to look ashamed. “Jayce…please just wait here. Let me explain.”
“Explain how none of this, none of it, was real?” Jayce whispered.
Mel hung her head low. “…I care about you Jayce, I do.”
“Just not enough,” Jayce gave Mel a final unreadable stare, and gently started moving again with Viktor close behind him.
The moment the backdoors were open, sudden blinding flashing lights were fiercely on them. Jayce let go of Viktor’s hand; before Viktor had time to miss the loss, Jayce was wrapping an arm around Viktor’s shoulder, trying to shield him as best he could. An action that was pointless since everyone had already seen Viktor’s stunned face when he was on stage, but the gesture was still sweet. They were able to slide into seats in the limo once they climbed inside and as soon as Viktor had his back to the seat, the vehicle was moving at a rapid pace.
Jayce Talis dropped his hold from Viktor's hands, placing his own in his lap and staring aimlessly at the back of their driver’s head.
Viktor quietly missed the warmth.
Moments passed and still, there was nothing but silence. Viktor opened his mouth before snapping it shut just as fast. He was debating on continuing saying nothing when he heard a wet sniffle come from Jayce Talis.
Viktor subtly scowled at the sight. “You know,” He said after a few moments of Jayce trying to stifle his sobs. “She is going to age badly.”
Jayce laughed. A wet, miserable sound, but he smiled nonetheless. “No she’s not.” Jayce answered, looking over at Viktor for the first time since they got in the limo.
“…Yeah.” Viktor said with a sigh, as if he needed to think it over. “Probably will finally look thirty when she becomes seventy.”
Jayce laughed again, a genuine smile starting to form and Viktor had to intertwine his own fingers to keep from reaching over to take Jayce’s warm hands again.
“You’re probably right,” Jayce said, wiping at his wet cheeks as he gazed outside of the tinted window.
“Are you able stay with anyone tonight?” Viktor asked suddenly.
Jayce turned his head towards him. His brows were furrowed, but his lips were not as downturned as they once were. “Why do you ask?” He did not say it unkindly, but merely inquisitively.
“I just…do not think you should be alone right now,” Viktor said truthfully. “I would not want to be.” He added, voice low.
Jayce’s expression softened. “I should be asking that of you.” Jayce let out a groan, sharply rubbing his hands over his face. “What was I thinking? To just do that – and now you’re stuck with this – gods, I shouldn’t have done that to you - ”
Viktor lifted his hand, halfway between the two of them so he could rest his fingers over Jayce’s knee - before he stopped himself. What was he doing? “It is okay,” He said instead, firmly placing his hand back to his lap.
Astonishingly, Viktor knew he meant it. Somehow, it felt like it was okay. Viktor squeezed his hands together as he looked intently at his own pale fingers, so focused on avoiding Jayce’s gaze, he missed how Jayce’s previously dim eyes lit up at the action.
“I...am happy I was able to help.” Viktor cleared his throat before pulling out his flip phone, seeing no missed calls but several missed texts, proving the girls were okay. “I should text my friends however, I am their ride and while I know they are fine on their own, I need to - ”
Jayce wiped at his red rimmed eyes, huffing out a sigh. “God, sorry - I should – Steb, can you please give me my phone? I need to ask Scar to get…” He turned his head over at Viktor, looking embarrassed. “I don’t even know your name.”
Viktor blinked. Oh yeah. “Viktor.”
Jayce smiled delicately before speaking back at Steb. “I need to ask Scar to get Viktor’s friends a ride back to his place.”
“Oh no,” Viktor shook his head. “I can do it - ”
Jayce caught his phone from the driver, who had thrown it behind him with ease as he continued driving. “I can ask someone to drive your car back, and you can ask Steb to take you anywhere.”
“I can take my car and take them back.”
“No, please, it’s not even the least I can do,” Jayce scoffed to himself, angrily wiping at his cheek one more time until it turned red as he furiously started typing on his phone. “We’ll pull into a safer place soon without lights and we can get you home.”
Viktor muttered his thanks, unsure of what else to say. What would bring him comfort if he were in Jayce’s place? Probably nothing, especially words from a complete stranger.
A total stranger that he was now married to.
The limo pulled up into a place Viktor didn’t recognize. There were more people there, including that same blue-haired girl from before. Jayce gave Viktor one more stare before he got out of the car.
“Steb will take you home, Viktor,” Jayce said, holding into the car door with one hand.
Viktor nodded, not knowing what else he could do.
“And Viktor?” Jayce said, gripping the car door. “I’m…despite everything, I am glad I got to meet you.”
Viktor smiled. “I am glad to have met you as well, Jayce.” He liked the way the name rolled off of his tongue. It’s a shame that this would be the only time he got to say it in front of Jayce.
Jayce offered him a sad smile, and gently closed the car door, giving Viktor one more fleeting look through the window before he was dragged away by security and other people that Viktor did not recognize. The limo drove off again, leaving the busy sight and the great Jayce Talis behind him.
Viktor sighed in the now silent car, rubbing at his eyes before he grabbed his phone, quickly calling the girls. Of course, they answered immediately.
“Viktor!!”
“What the hell!”
“I can’t believe our big bro is married! And is a trophy husband!”
“What the hell??”
“When will we get to meet him? We didn’t even get to give him the shovel talk yet! You can’t marry him without the shovel talk, Viktor!”
“What! The! Hell!”
Viktor smiled at their overlapping voices, wordlessly enjoying hearing a mixture of Powder and Vi’s voice as they started asking him questions. “First off, are you two safe?”
“Yeah we just got dropped off at your place,” Powder said in a muffled tone, and Viktor knew she was snacking on one of his foods. “But where are you - ”
“Viktor, answer my ‘what the hell’ question!!” Vi cut in, sounding cleared now; she most likely grabbed the phone out of Powder’s hand. “Are you safe? Where are you?? Do we need to come get you?”
“Hold on,” Viktor had to grin. He loved them so much. “I am being dropped off now, I will explain…”
*
Jayce stayed uncharacteristically quiet, barely registering the car ride over to his hotel. Scar and Steb were there at one point, each with an abnormally saddened expression on their faces. Jayce thanked them for their help and they nodded, with Scar saying nothing – Jayce appreciated it – if anyone gave him another pitying look, he was going to collapse. He dragged his feet through the door of his hotel’s bedroom and his legs buckled when he sat on the bed.
Jayce’s skin felt tight and uncomfortable and he glanced down, quickly processing that he was still wearing his outfit. The one he was supposed to be married in. The one Mel picked out. The one he didn’t even want to wear but he did it because he trusted Mel.
And instead here he was, alone, again .
Could he do anything right?
“There you are,” Sighed a familiar voice.
Jayce didn’t have to raise his head up to know who it was. Feeling the bed dip next to him, Caitlyn slowly sat next to him, hip to hip, as her hand rested on his shoulder. “What do you need, Jayce? What can I do?” She whispered, sounding so sure of herself - like this was something that could be fixed.
“Any chance that didn’t really happen?” Jayce asked, his voice sounding raw to his own ears. “Maybe this is a stress dream and Mel will be here and then none of this happened?” He looked at her hopefully, knowing the truth but maybe maybe maybe -
Caitlyn swallowed thickly, biting her bottom lip. She shook her head as her grip on him tightened reassuringly. “I…I wish I could say that.”
He knew it. He knew it. But to hear Caitlyn say it - Jayce inhaled shakenly. “Maybe it’s my fault.”
“No,” Caitlyn said sharply. “Her actions are not your fault.”
“But I should have at least seen the signs, right?” Jayce finally looked up to Caitlyn. “I should have known that she didn’t love me back, that I was - ” He scoffed, wringing his hands together when he felt metal - the ring on his finger. Jayce let out a disgusted exhale as he pulled off his ring. “That I was just an investment to her.”
“Hey,” Caitlyn poked at his chest firmly. “No. This,” She gestured to the ring. “was not your fault. You couldn’t have known. She said she loved you, and you trusted her. Of course you would. She was your partner.”
“She was supposed to be my partner. I thought I was hers too.”
Caitlyn sighed, limply letting her hand fall from his shoulder. “I know,” She said in a low voice. Jayce forgot how young she really was. All of this responsibility on her, and now she had to comfort him? “Hey, don’t make that face.” Caitlyn said abruptly. “I want to help you. I wish I knew how to…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry Jayce.”
Jayce nodded, wordlessly playing with the gold band between his fingertips.
“…Is it too soon to joke about this?” Caitlyn asked after a few moments.
Jayce scoffed, not unkindly. “…Yeah, but go ahead.”
“…You got married ten seconds after breaking up, that’s got to be some sort of record, right?”
Jayce stared at Caitlyn for a full ten seconds before laughter bubbled out of his chest, and he clamped a hand over his mouth, trying and failing to stop the hysteric giggles. “I guess it must be.” Her relieved grin grew wider when Jayce clasped her knee, arm shaking with laughter. “Oh gods, I’m married. To someone I’ve never even met before.”
“We can talk about that tomorrow,” Caitlyn said, mercifully giving him a reprieve. “For now rest, let me take care of the other stuff for now.”
Jayce nodded as Caitlyn started talking about what she would work on later, though he was having a difficult time comprehending what she was saying; Jayce was ready to sleep for a week – anything would be better than deal with what Mel did, or somehow just as painful – that Mel was out of his life for good…
And now he had a husband. He was married…to a total stranger. And it was entirely his fault. Jayce shook his head, his movement slowed and dazed, similar to how he felt when he was hungover.
“Is that okay?”
Jayce blinked rapidly when he realized that Caitlyn had been talking to him. Oops. “Sorry, what?”
Caitlyn sighed, not cruelly, before speaking, “I said maybe you should hold off on this – public appearances and such. I mean – I don’t mind taking the reins on everything while you…” Her eyes widened as she searched for words. “Take time for yourself.”
Jayce shook his head. “Honestly – Maybe we should discuss it now. I would rather do anything than be in my own head right now…But - Is – did Mel say anything? Or Elora?”
“Elora messaged me, saying Mel needs to get her head together before making a public statement,” Caitlyn scoffed. “Not even a personal one, but public. Ugh, whatever.”
Jayce smiled at her loyalty. “In her eyes, she really didn’t do anything wrong. Just trying to protect and cement her brand.”
“Ew, you are not a brand. Plus, that doesn’t make it any better,” Caitlyn huffed. “Now, since we are talking about it – about your hubby...”
Jayce’s head jerked up at the mention of Viktor’s name.
“Good job on picking - out of everyone in the crowd - an actually decent sounding guy,” She said, pulling up her phone. “Looked into it and quickly found all his info – which is not great, man should look into at least a VPN but anyway. We have that he is a professor, unmarried, no criminal record, and if I wasn’t a lesbian, I would say he is rather cute. Now,” She clasped her phone to her chest proudly. “I say we offer him some cash and offer an NDA and move on from this, and the press will lose focus on the whole marriage part…eventually.” She amended, moving her hand forward to show Jayce a tab she had open. “He seemed nice, but the NDA would be best for peace of mind.”
Jayce hummed thoughtfully, looking over Caitlyn’s phone. He saw a picture of Viktor. Looked like one from whatever school he worked at. Viktor was staring at the camera, straight faced, no sign of a smile. Two moles decorated his unamused face, and his soft golden eyes were glowering slightly as they gazed into the camera. And still, Viktor was one of the most beautiful people Jayce had seen. Though maybe he only thought that because Viktor saved his life tonight.
Viktor could have easily said no, or at least have demanded to be taken home the second they got off stage. Almost anyone else would have looked at Jayce like this situation was a joke and ran to the press the second they could. Yet Viktor didn’t. He offered comfort to Jayce, asked him if he had anyone to be with when he went home. Was worried about his friends, wanted to make Jayce laugh – he was kind, sweet.
He was different.
“Or,” Jayce said slowly. “I could stay married to him.”
Caitlyn laughed. It was awkward, a hopeful sound - before her smile faltered when Jayce didn’t join her. “…Wait, really?”
Jayce shrugged a shoulder like his heart was beating out of his chest. “Why not?”
“Why not?” Caitlyn repeated, spluttering. “Well – well for on, we didn’t file any of the paperwork!”
“So let’s file them. We’ll talk to him and see if he is okay with it.”
“If??” Caitlyn shot off of the bed, eyes practically bugging out of her skull.
“Caitlyn, please,” Jayce pushed himself off of the bed, taking a step towards her, grabbing her hands. “I want to go through with this. If Viktor says no, then obviously we’ll drop the whole thing. And try to keep his name out of the papers the best we can if he says no.”
“If he says no?? Jayce, there’s no way he is going to - ”
“Caitlyn,” Jayce was smiling, feeling lighter than he had felt since…gods, he wasn’t sure when he last felt like this. “I want to try this. Let me try this.” He couldn’t explain it – but when he saw Viktor in the crowd, it didn’t feel like he was seeing a stranger. It was more like…meeting an old friend again. Like his heart was saying, oh hello you. How are you? I have missed you.
It felt right.
“Want to try what – being married a stranger!?” Caitlyn’s voice squeaked. “What if he is a total asshole – you don’t even know the guy! I don’t even know the guy, online can only help find so many things you know!”
“Just – I will stay with Viktor and we will see what happens next,” Jayce held her limp hands tighter. “If he says no, then - then okay, we’ll go with the first idea, NDA the whole thing – everything you suggested. But if he wants to try…”
“Jayce,” Caitlyn shook her head, finally looking calmer. “Why would a stranger say yes to this?”
“Won’t know if I don’t ask,” Jayce knew he somehow convinced when her when instead of yelling further, she merely slumped forward with a defeated sigh.
“…Fine. Oh, don’t grin like that,” She snapped at him. “Go rest, we can figure out details in the morning. Try to rest.” Caitlyn softened. “I will talk about it tomorrow.”
Jayce shook his head. Caitlyn gripped his hands once, before she left his room, probably going to make some calls and see how she could swing this in their favor.
Jayce almost ripped his tie off as he removed his suit – he couldn’t wear this ridiculous thing for another moment. A soft clattering sound followed by a rolling noise caught Jayce’s attention. With a jolt, he realized he dropped the wedding ring. Jayce cautiously held it up. He held it between two fingers, starting at the simple yet elegant band. The promise it symbolized.
With a disgusted huff, Jayce started to let it fall from his fingers. Slowly, he paused. The light reflected on the soft golden band. It was a soft, soothing color. And a now familiar color.
Jayce sighed, placing the ring on the nightstand carefully, before he toed off his shoes as he fell backwards on the bed. He begged for sleep to come soon. And maybe bring with it, he would dream of a soft, honey gold hue.