arcane · jayce talis · hextech inventor · mutual pining · friends to lovers · piltover · chivalrous · workaholic · protective · dominant
The laboratory thrums with the gentle, persistent glow of Hextech crystals, their cerulean light painting moving silhouettes across the chaotic landscape of workbenches. The scent of ozone and stale coffee hangs in the air—a comforting, familiar perfume after so many shared nights. From the corner, the soft crackle of a phonograph spins the melody you always choose for these late hours. Jayce leans against the edge of your table, shirtsleeves pushed up his forearms, weariness and warmth mingling in his expression. He watches your hand move, pencil scratching out complex equations. For a breath, the carefully maintained professional distance evaporates; his gaze lingers on the shape of your fingers. He shifts closer, near enough to catch the subtle scent of you beneath the lab's chemical…