Work Text
The memory haunted Jayce's mind no matter how hard he tried to dismiss it.Smoke, clouding his vision; a burning sensation hurting his nose and any exposed skin; adrenaline spiked higher than he'd ever experienced. A crackling sound, and the embers that accompanied it, dancing like sprites of destruction. Through the confusion, Mel was there -- a vision of perfect health, save for the dirt on her dress and the trauma acquired by such an explosive event.The rest of the patrons present fared worse, and the room was a picture of violence, enforcers stumbling over the bodies of his peers. In the glow of the fire, Jayce could barely collect his thoughts. And, when he did, clinging onto Mel as if she would vanish in the chaos, he felt the absence of what was missing.Viktor. Mel was pulled away from Jayce by her mother, and he hardly noticed, already fixated on something else. Someone else. He was by Viktor's side in an instant, and it was here that the shock gave way to devastation. His partner was devoid of life, not a breath, not a heartbeat. The blood in his veins was still. Jayce was not prepared to give up, lifting Viktor from the rubble and onto the ground, flat on his back. “Fuck,” Jayce murmured, panic surging. He knelt down to listen for any sounds of breathing and was met with eternal silence. He put his hands over Viktor’s chest with the intention of starting CPR, felt the brittleness of his partner’s sternum, and feared the attempt would do more damage to his body than it would be an assistance in reviving him. Despite the lack of life, Viktor’s right hand and leg still glowed, yearning for the hexcore that wasn’t present.No hesitation, for there was hardly time. Jayce picked up him and ran, doing his best to keep the bones supported, feeling the displacement of his partner’s spine. It made his stomach turn, but he recognized that he could either give up here or press on with the slightest hope that he would see Viktor in life again. The race against the clock never faltered. Jayce burst through the doors to the lab and found a place to put Viktor down, frantically digging through both his own brain and their shared notes to find a solution to the problem before him. The answer was within the hexcore itself: an urgent incandescence made the object known, and a sense of rightfulness in Jayce’s gut confirmed the action. Careful, now. Jayce could not touch such a device with his own body, for fear that he would lose himself to it. The energy that coursed through the space around it was strong enough on its own. As he lifted it up with prongs, he felt the pull from the device to Viktor, or vice versa. He wasn’t sure which of them was the gravity, and which was the object the force was enacted upon. When the two connected, the flash of light was so intense that it nearly blinded Jayce. It sent the prongs flying in one direction and Jayce himself in the other, witnessing Viktor and the hexcore become one. Viktor was not afraid to die. In the interim between life and death, he found himself pondering the outcome. He’d imagined this moment for decades, since the beginning of his illness. This was where the road always led.Now that he was seemingly at the end, though, something was missing. The kindness of death was not there, just the bleak absence of anything altogether. Nothing he could say or do would make his conclusion arrive faster. He walked the vast lengths of infinite hallways, most brightly-colored, some dark, some saturated in hues he’d never seen in waking life. Walking was nice at first: it’d been so long since he’d drifted from point to point without any aching, without the weight of a brace or even the hexcore’s improvements. His mind felt lighter too, none of his typical ruminating thoughts taking up precious time and space. Time came and went. It seemed almost nonlinear in this state, an ebb and flow that was reminiscent of an ocean, always pushing and pulling in every direction, spiraling and swirling until Viktor was unsure which direction was up or down. In this world, he didn’t need to know what orientation he was. He was right-side-up in any semblance of organization. It was coming to an end, though. Through the haze of the waiting, he began to breathe something natural yet foreign, something he recognized as the air from life. He wasn’t sure how it was breaking through into this pristine in-between, but as swiftly as he noticed it, it took him over. The breath filled his lungs and wrenched him from the peace back into the reality he’d come to terms with leaving. Viktor woke gasping, as if the air that had just invaded his senses wasn’t enough. Instead of being able to wander freely as he had just experienced, he found himself stuck in a web of tendons and muscle, light and dark. Breaking free was easy enough. Standing on his new legs was more difficult, like learning to walk again. It was better once he reached his crutch, surprised by his own strength but still using it for support. There was nothing clothing his body, if one could call it that. While his mind was intact, he felt his body to be a sort of stranger, a new shell for the spirit he was. Where there had once been chronic pain, there was a mechanical hum — something only audible to him, something within his bones that kept all the parts held together. In place of his heart, a pulsing, like a collapsed neutron star made infinitely smaller and locked into the chest of a once-doomed man. Oh, how he wished that doom was as close as it had once been. He was walking, but with what purpose? Jayce was fast asleep, laying across the desk where they once spent endless hours working. Since Viktor’s interaction with the hexcore, Jayce had been sleeping at the lab, but he usually made it to the cot he had laid out in the corner. This morning was different.He was dreaming of the scene in which he lost Viktor, the same recurring vision whenever he tried to rest. In this version of the events, Viktor was trapped beneath heavy rubble, too great for Jayce to move on his own. Fighting with the weight regardless, Jayce panted and paced. “Jayce,” said a voice, Viktor’s. The sound alone was enough to keep up his attempts. He mustered all the strength he had and tried again, to no avail.“Jayce?”This time Viktor’s voice was louder, and Jayce woke with a start. The voice was clearly behind him, and Jayce turned, taking in the sight before him.“Viktor? My god.” It was his partner, who vaguely resembled the man he had been before. Jayce didn’t care. Viktor did.“What am I?”“You’re alive,” said Jayce, with some disbelief. He only remained sitting a split second longer, and then he was on his feet, pulling Viktor close. “You’re alive!”Viktor stood there as Jayce melted around him, arms holding him tight, chin nuzzled into the crook of his neck. The comfort was almost surprising, but Viktor relented. During his time in the in-between, he’d forgotten how the smell of Jayce put him at ease.The moment was both endless and fleeting. Jayce seemed to notice Viktor’s nakedness. “Oh! Uh, you must be cold.”Now that Jayce mentioned it, there was something to feel. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but scientist at heart, he spoke to document. “Cold? No, I don’t think so. I sense a charge-” Jayce gently dropped a blanket around his shoulders without interrupting- “a potential. A recursive impulse. Unpleasant, but… cold isn’t its name.” Viktor looked back at where he emerged from. “The hexcore.”“Viktor, it saved you! Somehow it adapted to your injuries, changing and evolving.” Viktor looked down at his hands, studying the changes. He was not afraid of the change, but of its potential. Jayce was still talking on, reaching for notes he’d dutifully taken. “It’s as if it was connected to you. I did my best using the notes from your leg, recorded everything. There are still so many questions, but-““I was supposed to die.” Viktor hadn’t been paying attention to the notes. “You promised to destroy the hexcore.” “No, don’t you see?” Jayce seemed adamant, even enthusiastic. “Heimerdinger was wrong. We were wrong, it’s not as bad as we-“Viktor interrupted again, unable to match his positivity. “It killed Sky, Jayce.”His face fell. “What? No.”Jayce noticed the look in Viktor’s eyes, a slight shift. He was paying attention to something behind Jayce, and Viktor briefly hovered on the lab notes, all the while talking: “She had such dreams. As we did once.” Jayce watched as Viktor crossed to the desk behind him, and turned to keep his gaze trained. “I’m going to resign from the council. I understand now. My place was always here in the lab, with you.” Jayce puts his arm around Viktor’s shoulders, much to the indifference of the other man. “We’ll make this right, together.”Viktor wasn’t interested. “I must say goodbye to this place, now. To you.”“Goodbye?” He sounded indignant. “Viktor, you’re my partner.”Viktor was much better at keeping his composure, but he was the one walking away. “Our paths diverged long ago. It was affection that held us together.”Jayce wasn’t ready to give up. “You think it’s so easy? To turn your back while your city looks to you for salvation? To cling to principles while your best friend bleeds out in your arms? I never asked for this!”Viktor never asked for this. He should have been dead, somewhere in that interim, closer to the end he had been waiting for. He turned, as if still searching those infinite halls for a way out. “Where are you going?”Viktor turned just enough to see him standing there, hand extended as if it would stop him in retrospect. “Goodbye, Jayce.”When he turned to leave, Jayce wasn’t negotiating anymore. “No, Viktor, wait,” he said, running forward and grabbing Viktor’s hand. Viktor must have gained some strength in his metamorphosis because he easily withdrew his hand and continuing onwards. “Viktor, come on.”Jayce’s next move was to stand in front of him. That worked temporarily, and they found themselves face to face. “You have to let me leave, Jayce.”“You can’t just leave. We’ve spent so long on this research, you’re the answer we’ve been looking for! It had the power to heal you. Imagine what we could-”Viktor slowly made an attempt to pass Jayce, which led Jayce to backing up and blocking his path again. “Viktor.” Their eyes met briefly. When Viktor looked away again, Jayce didn’t wait for him to start moving. He fell to his knees (obtaining much-desired eye contact in the act) and uttered an earnest “please.”“Jayce.” He said, focused on him. He didn’t have time to say anything else before Jayce started up again. “Please, stay. If not as partners in science, then as partners in life. You’ve been by my side for so long, I can’t watch you go. Please.”Viktor shook his head. “Get up off the floor, Jayce.”Jayce seemed resolved to remain where he was until Viktor moved to stand directly in front of him, looking down. Jayce stood, not taking his eyes off of Viktor for a second. “I can’t live without you. The hexcore saved you for a reason.”“You are not my reason,” Viktor said. “Even if it’s what we both want.” He noticed Jayce’s expression change, but was disappointed by his lack of action. “I continue to count all the missed opportunities you’ve had to kiss me.”There it was. Just waiting for permission, Jayce finally kissed Viktor with a passion he’d been holding in for years. He instinctively pulled Viktor closer, which led to an interruption. “I have to go, Jayce,” Viktor said, much quieter this time. It was a gentle acknowledgment of the lack of distance. “Please don’t,” Jayce responded, just as quiet, not letting Viktor go. “What’s the rush? You can go later.”Viktor kissed him, then, and it felt electric. When they were apart, Viktor simply desired to be closer. But when their lips were together like this, he just wanted to know every inch of him. Time could’ve passed as slow or as fast as it wanted and neither of them would have cared. It was like a trap. Before either of them had enough, another interruption. “Let me go, Jayce,” Viktor spoke. Jayce read the resolution in his tone and obeyed, taking his hands off of him. Viktor sighed, admitting his truth since he wasn’t planning to return. “I always harbored feelings for you. I just never thought you’d see it.”It was Jayce’s turn to shake his head, this time in disbelief. “Always, for me? You must see something someone else doesn’t.”“That’s not necessarily true,” Viktor said, giving Jayce a pointed look. Jayce wasn’t having it. “She’s a part of the council, and I’m a part of this. This is us. This is different.”Speaking of the council, Viktor had a point to make. “Don’t give up your position on the council. You could continue to make great progress in Piltover.”Jayce put his hands on Viktor’s shoulders. “How could I achieve this progress without my partner? These past days without you…” His voice trailed off. He didn’t want to elaborate on the work he’d done that amounted to nothing, all because his focus was misplaced. “You can’t leave. Please, Viktor.”“I want to stay,” said Viktor, tone low. “But we both know I can’t.” Jayce didn’t argue. He seemed to understand the solemnity of the situation, the fact that Viktor simply did not belong (or, rather, didn’t want to belong? Jayce wasn’t sure). It was now that the guilt was starting to settle: Jayce had brought him back using the technology Viktor wanted to see destroyed, and now Viktor was left with the consequences. One last kiss between them, one that made it clear they both understood this was final. Jayce kissed Viktor with the hope of returning, and Viktor kissed Jayce with the fury of no going back. When Viktor pulled back and started to leave again, Jayce took time to break out of the trance. “Goodbye, Jayce,” Viktor said as he had before. This time, Jayce wasn’t prolonging the inevitable. Viktor disappeared through the doors and from Piltover entirely, and Jayce went back to his notes, anything to distract his mind from the loss. Even with Viktor gone, he continued to sleep in the lab, as if something would bring his partner back to their space again.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Progress Day.To some, it was a holiday. An off day. For Viktor, it was just another late evening at the lab, faithfully working. Despite the hour, he barely felt any inkling of exhaustion. There were things to do, things beyond sleep. There would be plenty of rest come the end. His body was failing him, and his mind made up for it, racking through solutions and rationalizing every equation that led him closer to a conclusion. He was told to wait a decade, but he would be damned if it wasn’t done before he was out of time.He was focused now, pen in hand, documenting his latest findings. He’d made a few new discoveries, things he was excited to share with his partner Jayce come the morning. Once he was finished with his notes, he set the notebook on the table, pen on the pages to keep it open. Then he stood, returned to the chalkboard, erased a section, and started working again.This problem was more complicated. He never dreaded equations, but this had been haunting him for days. Now that he was facing it, he felt like he was suiting up for battle. He was on one side of the war, armed with his wits and a piece of chalk. The numbers were on the other side, with no weapons apart from their own orders and properties. He knew how their playing field worked. He only had to put the soldiers in the right positions.Viktor finished writing out the mathematics and began to look over it. There was a starting point here, if he could find it. He did, easily, and started to solve. Some time into his attempt, he groaned in frustration, and went back to the start. Minutes passed. Hell, hours. Viktor pondered the problem until his head started to hurt, and he returned to his notes, nearly sure he’d missed something. It was all correct, much to his dismay. Sighing, he resolved to take a break in the form of smoking.Usually, Viktor was respectful of the workspace. He took his break outside, away from anyone, and did his best to smell clean when he came back in. If Jayce had noticed his occasional habit, he never said anything. Tonight, with the absence of anyone apart from himself, he lit up in front of the chalkboard. Within a few hits, the equation seemed less menacing and more like a puzzle. Halfway through the joint, he started to solve again, the filter between his lips when his hands were busy with the chalk and eraser.“Oh, hey,” said a voice from the doorway.Viktor nearly dropped the joint, which was still burning. He turned to see his partner standing there, still in his day clothes. The room was dim, because Viktor believed in saving energy when he could. “Hello,” was his response.Jayce came closer, and wrinkled his nose. “You smoke?”“You didn’t know?” Viktor asked, raising an eyebrow as if his secret should have been clear from the start. He took another hit while Jayce watched closely. Sensing his gaze, Viktor extended the joint. That’s not what Jayce was after, but he stepped forward and took the joint anyway. Viktor watched his gait, noticing the slightest imbalances. Jayce took a small hit from the joint and immediately started coughing, doubled over.The intensity of the cough surprised Viktor, who took the joint back and held it away from Jayce to prevent the smoke from coming near him. “Are you okay?” Viktor asked, concerned.“I’m fine,” Jayce choked, taking a few deep breaths before returning back to his full height. “I’m fine.”Viktor watched him for a second. “Are you fine?” Jayce made eye contact with him. There was the smallest beat of silence. Viktor had something else to ask, amidst the empty space. “Are you drunk?” “Happy Progress Day?” said Jayce in response, shrugging with his hands up.“Happy Progress Day,” responded Viktor, taking the last hit of the joint. He looked back at the chalkboard, which drew Jayce’s attention.“Wow,” Jayce sighed, walking closer to the equation Viktor had written out. “You did all this?”Viktor hurried back to his notebook, picking it up. The pen rolled off the pages and hit the desk with a faint clatter. He brought the notebook to Jayce. “I worked out the other equation, I documented it all. I’ll show you all of this again in the morning, when your mind is more attuned.”Jayce wasn’t focused on the notebook. When his eyes left the chalkboard, they found Viktor, and they never left. He listened, as attentively as someone inebriated could. Viktor noticed Jayce’s focus was off, and sighed. “Is there something on your mind? I can do this later.”Jayce shook his head. “You’re just so smart.”Viktor was caught off guard by the compliment, but he played it off. “I imagine they don’t choose idiots to be a council member’s assistant. It’s been years since, but I doubt I lost my wits in the meantime.”“No,” Jayce shook his head again, this time with more fervor. “No, not like that. I just mean… you have an understanding beyond everyone else’s. You amaze me. I don’t know how you do it.”Viktor chuckled a little, somehow out of awkwardness. The things Jayce said were unspoken truths between them, sentiments that they shared about each other. “Thank you, Jayce,” was his response. Then, thinking of his friend’s wellbeing, he continued. “You should get some rest. I can explain all of this to you tomorrow.”Another head shake from Jayce. It made Viktor realize the state he was in, despite how hard he was working to feign sobriety. “I want to stay here, with you.”Viktor shrugged. “Okay,” he said. He turned back to the chalkboard, collecting his thoughts. He had a good train of thought that was derailed by Jayce’s arrival, and remained off the tracks with him still in the room. It was an odd feeling. Usually, he worked better with Jayce next to him. “I can help,” said Jayce, speaking up. “Let me see that.” He held out his hand, expectantly waiting for the chalk.“I don’t think-”Before Viktor could continue, Jayce took the chalk out of his grip and started working. “Jayce,” Viktor began to protest, but as his partner worked, he stood back in silence. Whatever alcohol was in Jayce’s body was no inhibitant to his skill with mathematics. Right before Viktor’s eyes, Jayce worked out half the problem. When he found himself stumped, he stepped back. “You got me there,” Jayce spoke to the chalkboard. Viktor watched him stand back, arms crossed, fervently studying.“You’re smart yourself,” said Viktor, repeating Jayce’s compliment from before. He held out his hand for the chalk, and Jayce obliged. Stepping up to the chalkboard, Viktor worked out the rest of the problem… nearly.While Viktor was standing close to the chalkboard looking over the last variables, Jayce was standing from behind. He wasn’t focused on the equation, though. In fact, he’d only been forcing focus for the sake of his partner, because that’s what Viktor wanted to do at this hour, and he liked spending time with him.That, and Jayce Talis had a massive crush. It had been growing for years now. He’d stuffed it down in hopes it would disappear, like it had with every other crush. He liked Mel Medarda, but was it the desire for allyship? He knew she was on his side, and that’s what he needed. He was on her side, too. He enjoyed her companionship, she was devastatingly stunning, and he would be so lucky to spend a single minute with her.But Viktor…With the drinks in his body, it was easier to fantasize they were something more than partners. Viktor didn’t even have to know that from back here, Jayce was imagining they were something more. Watching Viktor stand at the chalkboard, pretending he was a lover… it was a nice thought.A thought that Jayce didn’t get to ponder long enough before Viktor interrupted his beautiful trance. “What do you think, Jayce?”Just hearing his name on Viktor’s lips made his head spin. He was fighting to keep himself composed, but the liquor had another idea entirely. “I think you’re beautiful.”Viktor, who’d found Jayce to be haunting his dreams on and off for years, was shocked to hear the sentiment returned. He turned around and found himself captivated by Jayce’s gaze: one of adoration, care, and longing. Dismissively as possible, Viktor scoffed and turned back to the board. “Really, Jayce. I could use your brain, if it’s working.”“It’s working,” Jayce said, not faltering from his current thoughts. For Viktor’s sake, he turned his attention back to the board. Through his intense thoughts of desire, he pieced one of the numbers together. Instead of asking for the chalk, he took it directly from Viktor’s hand, fingers grazing palm. The contact alone sent shivers down both of their spines.Watching Jayce work out another portion of the equation gave Viktor’s thoughts time to ruminate. Now that he was the one behind Jayce, he took in the sight. He’d been here many times before in those dreams, always leading to something he’d never ask for in waking life. Oh, to hear his name said in a different context, Viktor, Viktor….“Viktor?” Jayce’s voice cut through the trance. “Hm?”Jayce held out the chalk. “Check my work?”Viktor took the chalk, nodding. “Of course.” His turn to stand in front of the board again. Viktor went through the work, seeing the attempt at a completed problem. Finding a fault, he shook his head. “This, here. This doesn’t fit.”Jayce was paying attention. He stepped up beside Viktor, ready to listen.“I don’t know what fits. Just… not this.” “Do you have another joint?” Jayce was wildly off-topic.Viktor hesitated, but gave in. “Do you want to smoke?”Jayce shrugged. “Only if you want.”Viktor was content to smoke more. He went to his bag, dug out another joint, and lit it up. The first drag was enough to make him sigh in relief. Not only did it help settle his mind, it succored the pain he was used to living with. When he passed the joint to Jayce, it was clear that his partner’s eyes were elsewhere. He could’ve dropped it just to maintain his gaze on Viktor, and Viktor noticed.“I’m gonna sit down, if you want to.” Jayce proposed it like a suggestion, but his immediate change of position to sit on the floor made it obvious that he was going for it regardless.Viktor looked down at the floor, and then back at Jayce. He was considering the effort it would take to lower himself down and back up again when Jayce sprang up.“Just kidding,” said Jayce, who took note of his partner’s hesitations. He handed the joint back to Viktor. “Chairs.” Without any prompting, Jayce brought their chairs over from the table Viktor had been working at earlier. He sat in one of them, and waited for Viktor to take the other. Viktor did, breathing in through the joint. When Viktor offered the joint to Jayce, Jayce just waved his hand. “I’m good.”“You wanted to smoke,” said Viktor, hand still extended. “I wanted to watch you smoke,” confessed Jayce, eyes focused on his partner. Viktor paused, then shrugged and continued smoking on his own. “Interesting thought.”“Am I not allowed to think it?”“I never said that.”“Do you like that I think it?”Viktor took a long drag before he motioned to Jayce with his finger. “Come here.”Jayce was eager, pulling up his chair closer in an instant. Viktor blew the smoke in his face. Jayce coughed and shook his head. “What the hell, Viktor.”Viktor’s smile when Jayce’s vision cleared was enough to warrant forgiveness. Hell, he was resisting the urge to ask him to do it again, just to see that same smile. “I’m sorry,” Viktor said, with amusement. “I won’t do it again.” He went on smoking for another minute, then he asked, “Want to try something?”Jayce was the type of man to try anything once, especially when it was suggested by someone close to his heart. His chair was already close to Viktor’s, but he inched up even more. “Sure.”His yearning was visible, but Viktor was dragging it along. It was nice to discover that his partner felt similarly about him. Viktor breathed in through the joint, then motioned Jayce closer. “Open your mouth.”Jayce, already captivated by Viktor’s presence, complied. He sat there obediently, mouth agape, while Viktor breathed the smoke into it. “Breathe,” was Viktor’s instruction as he exhaled, and Jayce listened. Viktor sat back as Jayce exhaled the smoke passed to him. Jayce took in the sight, locked into the moment. No amount of self-control was getting him through the night, however. Instead of sitting back in his chair, he remained leaned forward, arms propped up on his knees. “How much longer is that gonna take?” Jayce asked, referring to the joint. Viktor looked at it. “I can be done, if you’re tired of it.”Jayce shook his head, perhaps a bit too quickly. “No, carry on.”As Viktor finished smoking, the two of them sat in a comfortable silence. Viktor looked at the equation on the board while Jayce looked at Viktor. When the joint was done, Viktor seemed like he was going to stand up. “Back to work.”“Wait,” said Jayce, before his partner could move. Viktor paused, looking to Jayce expectantly. When there was nothing to be said, he prepared to rise again, but was interrupted by Jayce coming much closer than before and the sensation of lips pushed to his own.It felt natural. Kissing Jayce was like drinking water: necessary, something to be desired in its absence, and now that he’d tasted just a drop, he needed his thirst quenched. It took everything in him not to pull Jayce closer, especially now that he could taste the alcohol on his breath. “You’re drunk,” murmured Viktor, halting the moment. “It doesn’t matter,” Jayce said, tone so low it gave Viktor goosebumps. “I want you all the time.”This night had taken a turn. He’d started off working on his own, pondering numbers and equations and all the things leading up to eventual payoff. There were goals to work for, problems to solve, and ideas to pitch. This took precedence. “You don’t mean that,” was Viktor’s response, spoken with a shake of his head. “I’ve always meant it,” Jayce remained close, looking into Viktor’s eyes even when Viktor looked away. “I want you when you’re sober,” Viktor spoke.Jayce sighed, and it devastated Viktor. His partner exhaled with all the energy of a wounded dog, a disappointed sound that was indescribable in any other way. “Drunk Jayce never has any fun.”It took everything in Viktor not to laugh. “I’m not going to take advantage of you being inebriated.”“You’re inebriated too,” said Jayce pointedly. “You’ve smoked two joints.”“It’s not the same thing.”“Kinda seems like the same thing to me,” Jayce continued. He remained where he was, close but far enough for Viktor to stand up at any moment. Viktor wasn’t going anywhere. He was currently considering his options, weighing the possible regrets of any actions he could take. He leaned back in his chair. “Don’t you have meetings tomorrow?”Jayce sighed of annoyance, finally sitting back in his chair and momentarily glancing at the ceiling before returning his gaze to Viktor. “Don’t remind me. From sunup to sundown, I’m stuck in back-to-back meetings with the most esteemed officials representing important politicians. In short: very boring, alarmingly corrupt.”“You need to get some sleep.” Viktor hadn’t seen a clock in hours, but last he checked, it was already late. He stood up, and motioned towards the door with his head. “I’ll go, too. Be back here tomorrow night?”Jayce was willing to leave if Viktor was going. For one, he didn’t like being alone in the lab this late without him. For another, he knew Viktor didn’t get the sleep he needed. Jayce had been there overnight many times before, and Viktor was nearly always working longer hours. They left together, then, going their respective ways. When Viktor returned the next day, he saw the chairs still there in the middle of the room, and couldn’t help but smile to himself. Violent events overnight landed Viktor and Jayce in front of the council the next morning, discussing the safeguards that should be placed on their new technology. Jayce walked away a newly-appointed council member, and Viktor returned to the lab.The rest of the day passed quickly for Viktor, who was fully dedicated to his work. Jayce, on the other hand, suffered through the rest of his meetings. Preoccupied with business from the moment he woke up, he hardly had time to process the previous night’s events. This processing time coincided with his evening walk to their lab. Entering, he found most of the confidence he had the night before was diminished.“Viktor,” he said his partner’s name in greeting. “Sorry I’m late. Trade dispute.”Viktor was scrawling away in his notebook, detailing how the day had gone. So many things solved, yet so many to go. “Sounds fun,” he remarked, not looking up from his notes. He was determined to get all of his thoughts down before his head became clouded with new possibilities.Jayce read it differently. Where a short response from Viktor may have been normal before, he found himself wondering if the night before had been too much. “Anything of importance today?”Viktor finished his notes, and then flipped back several pages. “Actually, I wanted to review what I went over last night, just so it’s clear.”He handed the notebook to Jayce, who went through it before walking to the chalkboard. The problem was still there, untouched.“I wanted to wait for you,” Viktor said. “I don’t know. Drunk Jayce, as you called yourself, was very helpful.”Jayce shook his head. “I’m sorry I barged in on your work night.”“You were very helpful,” he repeated. “You almost finished it. I think it’s your calling.”Jayce smiled and stepped up to the board, handing the notebook back to Viktor in passing. Viktor watched him work, paying attention to the numbers. Jayce’s mind moved faster than his in this particular moment, and since he wasn’t needing to solve anything, Viktor chose to watch him instead. “I think that’s it,” said Jayce, with enthusiasm. He turned, and caught Viktor’s eyes. Viktor immediately looked to the equation, perhaps where he should have been looking all along. As he attempted to double-check Jayce’s work, he found himself completely distracted. Jayce sensed it. When Viktor didn’t have any corrections or any positive remarks for a minute, Jayce touched his shoulder. “Are you okay?” Viktor pulled himself together, looking at Jayce. “Yes, sorry.” The hand came off of his shoulder, and he missed the touch.“Does it look alright?” Jayce asked, expectantly. “The solution.”Viktor trained his gaze on the board again and went through it. On time, he responded, “That looks good to me. Very nice.” He knew damn well he would have to go back and check later.“Very nice,” Jayce repeated, smiling again.Viktor was still holding the notebook, and he went back to the desk for his pen now. Setting the notebook down, he began jotting his thoughts. There was that nagging feeling again, the sense that Jayce was watching him. Viktor made eye contact with him, waiting for him to speak, but nothing came of it. The moment became so prolonged that it felt more like a social experiment on how long it could go, or even a competition of who would outlast the other. Viktor was the loser. “I have to finish this.” He went back to the notebook, while Jayce walked over and found a seat in the chair next to him. The pair of them were always inextricably attracted to each other, almost in a magnetic sense. Instead of sitting side by side, they tended to face inwards towards each other. Jayce particularly liked it because it was less obvious when he stole glances.“You’ve been working all day, take a break.”Viktor never looked up or faltered in his writing. “Take a break? We don’t have time for that. Besides, this won’t take me long.”Jayce was usually content to watch him work, as he’d done this times before. It had been an indulgence he’d savored in the rare moments when they weren’t both preoccupied. After last night, however, his longing was becoming unsustainable through gaze alone.Viktor was dutifully scribbling away when Jayce moved his chair closer, close enough to put his knee between Viktor’s. Just the slightest touch of their legs, and Viktor’s attention was drawn. Jayce’s heart was beating so intensely that he feared Viktor would be able to hear it. Viktor, suddenly aware of the butterflies in his stomach, kept his composure. “Jayce.”“Viktor,” was the easy response. The tone in his voice was reminiscent of last night, the same sound that gave Viktor goosebumps. He still hovered over the notebook, but his eyes never left his partner.“You heard Heimerdinger. This will take years, Jayce.”“Fuck Heimerdinger,” Jayce responded, with a strong expression to match. Viktor shook his head. “I’m serious. If we don’t-” Jayce touched Viktor’s knee, causing Viktor to pause. He had his own way of staying on subject. “If we don’t finish this, you’ll have to do it when I’m gone.”Jayce scoffed. “Thanks for the reminder.” He went to lean back, lifting his hand, but Viktor reached out and grabbed it, guiding it back. The action brought Viktor ever-so-slightly closer, and Jayce took the opportunity to test the waters, leaning in. The gentlest kiss, short and sweet.Viktor just smiled. Jayce waited politely, and Viktor finally had enough, reaching for Jayce’s face and kissing him, hard. Jayce leaned over and grabbed Viktor’s waist, hooking his fingers under his knee and pulling him closer. Viktor let his arms settle around Jayce’s neck, assisting in their shared conquest to eliminate the distance between him. No separation, no conversation, just the breaths they shared and desire being spent. Jayce kept a hand on Viktor’s waist and ran the other up and down his thigh, feeling the way it made him shiver just the slightest. Viktor was practically sitting on Jayce’s thigh, and Jayce was aware of keeping them both supported. The last thing he wanted was for them to end up on the floor. In an effort to situate them more stably, he pulled Viktor closer, inching him up his leg. The action elicited a quiet moan from Viktor. Jayce laughed just a little against his lips.Viktor pulled away, then, arms still around Jayce’s neck. “Jayce.”“What?” Jayce asked, beaming. His expression changed, then. “We can stop, if you want.”“So stupid,” Viktor responded, kissing him again. Viktor liked the way Jayce melted into him. He was sitting on top, but Jayce seemed to completely encompass him. Viktor drew himself closer, if that was possible at this point. Jayce sensed his desire for the friction they’d experienced moments prior. Jayce put both of his hands on Viktor’s hips, and took control of the motion, the easy back and forth. Viktor approved audibly, a heavy sigh interrupting their make-out session. “You like that?” Jayce asked, quiet. Viktor just exhaled again, putting his forehead against Jayce’s. Jayce kissed his neck, determined to get another sound out of him. He’d heard it before, and it was the song stuck in his head. He needed to listen intently to get it out of where it remained, on loop. He succeeded, and Viktor shook his head at his own failure to remain quiet. “I need you,” Viktor murmured, barely audible. Jayce heard, but feigned as if he didn’t. “What?”“I need you,” said Viktor again, this time more clearly. Jayce kissed his neck once more before pressing a brief one to Viktor’s lips. He shook his head, moving his hands to Viktor’s face, running his fingers through his partner’s hair. When he spoke, his words were honesty in its most transparent form. “I need you. All of you. Whatever you’ll give me.”“You can have it all,” was Viktor’s response.Jayce moved them, then. With ease that Viktor quite liked, Jayce lifted him up onto the desk, and stood between his legs. Hands on the desk to support himself as he leaned in, he kissed Viktor with passion that he hadn’t demonstrated before. In all honesty, as he believed in that, he’d never been this entranced by anyone else.Viktor was into it. The longer they went on kissing each other like this, the more he desired something more. He also noticed how his sounds seemed to please Jayce, and obliged to give into another soft groan, accompanied by his hands running down Jayce’s chest. Once he reached Jayce’s belt, he pulled his shirt out so it was untucked. Oh, a sound from Jayce, then. Just the faintest moan, but enough to make Viktor understand why Jayce had been so intent on hearing him again. It was a melody, almost.Heavy breathing. Lips on lips, hands in hair, a tangled mess of where Viktor ended and Jayce began. Viktor grabbed Jayce’s collar and pulled him closer, an action that made Jayce stumble from where he had been propped up leaning over the table. “I miss your touch,” said Viktor. The look in Jayce’s eyes was something new. He would do whatever Viktor asked, and Viktor knew it. Jayce listened to the feedback and abandoned his position balancing on his hands, shifting so one was behind Viktor, holding himself in place, and the other found Viktor’s knee. When their lips met again, Viktor explored the space of Jayce’s mouth with his tongue. Jayce slowly moved his hand up Viktor’s thigh, having an exact idea of what he was doing. When he reached his upper thigh, he felt Viktor shiver under his touch, and chose to linger.Viktor, who paid attention to the way Jayce was playing with him, had tricks up his sleeve. Not breaking their kiss, he trailed his fingers up Jayce’s arms and, upon reaching his shoulders, took his jacket off. It fell to the floor without a complaint or a beat from either of them. Jayce thought Viktor was good at working while distracted, but this was something else altogether. Viktor made quick work of Jayce’s tie and vest, leaving just his buttoned shirt between Viktor’s hands and his chest. Despite the new lack of clothing, Jayce felt warmer than before.Viktor thought Jayce could stand to play catch-up. He was hardly halfway through the thought before Jayce moved to kiss his neck again, hands working at Viktor’s clothing, getting rid of everything save his now-untucked button up shirt and pants that Jayce was itching to get him out of.Jayce was the one who broke the furious kiss, much to Viktor’s dismay. “How are you doing?”In response, Viktor pulled him back in. Even as just a sentence, the separation was too long. He had never known Jayce Talis in this form, and he found himself addicted to it. Viktor blindly worked at the buttons on Jayce’s shirt. When it was undone, he ran his hand down his chest, finding muscle that he had imagined he’d see. Still, the very thought was arousing, and his longing grew deeper. “You’ve got a friend,” said Viktor, upon bringing his knee up between Jayce’s legs. Jayce groaned at the touch, sending another wave of shivers down Viktor’s spine. Jayce could only move on, kissing Viktor’s neck, violently unbuttoning his shirt to continue down his chest. Viktor had a suggestion. “You should make him useful.”Jayce stopped, then, and met Viktor’s eyes. “Are you sure?”Viktor tilted his head curiously, smiling just the slightest. “We can stop if you want,” he echoed Jayce’s words from earlier, knowing good and well that neither of them were going anywhere. “I’m good,” said Jayce, kissing Viktor again. As much as he loved doing this with Jayce, Viktor was aching for something more. Jayce sensed it, reading him as easily as he always did in waking day. His hands abandoned Viktor to work at his own belt buckle, and Viktor interrupted.“No,” he murmured against Jayce’s lips. “Just touch me.”Jayce exhaled deeply at the very thought and listened, moving his hands to Viktor’s waist again. Within moments of yet another intense make-out, he slipped his thumbs under Viktor’s waistband. His hands traveled until they found the buttons that kept them held together, and he worked to undo it.On the other end, Viktor set to unbuckling Jayce’s belt on his own. He succeeded before Jayce did, smiling against his partner’s lips like it was some sort of competition. He reached in, and Jayce groaned. “That’s not fair.”Viktor just sighed. “You should be faster next time.”Jayce nearly knocked him back against the desk with the fury in which he kissed him. He finished undoing the buttons on Viktor’s pants and felt him as Viktor was feeling him now. Viktor moaned at the first sense of any touch, and Jayce couldn’t help but laugh again. The joy of finally getting to this point was too much to ignore.“Are you going to make me ask again?” Viktor practically whispered. Upon sensing hesitation, he continued in the same tone. “Are you nervous?”Jayce searched his eyes, remaining as close as he could. “Are you not?”Viktor had been waiting for this, but he didn’t want to diminish Jayce’s confidence. “Who says I’m not?”At this point, Jayce saw through his facade of ease. Viktor wanted the same as him, and he was ready to deliver. “You ask a lot of questions.” He captured his partner’s lips again, and pulled him closer by the waist, positioning him on the edge of the desk. When he finally gave into Viktor, the both of them groaned under the satisfaction of surrender.“Fuck,” Viktor breathed, adjusting to the feeling of his partner inside of him. Jayce shared the sentiment, but did his best to hide it. What for?With the sensation of movement came the visual of Viktor giving into laying back on the desk. He had remained up close to Jayce, keeping their lips in proximity, but he was content to enjoy the current moment. Even if it wasn’t possible for Jayce to get off on the physicality (which he most certainly was), he would have been aroused just at the sight of Viktor like this. In fact, it’s something he’d imagined on his own, when he was supposed to be going to bed on time. In-between bated breaths, Viktor reached up for Jayce. His partner’s hands were on Viktor’s hips, steadying them both and maintaining the motion, but Jayce was attentive. He took Viktor’s hand. Viktor wasn’t looking for a hand-holding moment, he desired Jayce’s kiss again. The hand was a good enough guide, though. He pulled Jayce down towards him. “You aren’t going to kiss me?”That earned the attention he wanted. Lips on his, and the pace elevated. There was no trying to hide any sounds shared between the two of them, the gasps and moans creating a symphony to fill the empty space in the room. At some point in the act, Jayce separated from the kiss. Viktor let him go, watching the way Jayce propped himself up on an elbow, hovering above his partner with that indescribable look of pleasure on his face. Viktor’s hand followed Jayce’s arm up to his shoulder, where it lingered. It was serious, now. This was the endgame of the act they’d both began, and the heat was undeniable. Sweat dripping from his brow, Jayce leaned down to kiss Viktor briefly. It didn’t last, because he was breathing entirely too heavy to continue. He settled to rest his forehead against Viktor’s, a position that was suitable to both of them. Viktor’s fingers found themselves in Jayce’s hair, tracing down his jaw, his chest, any inch of him they could reach. At one particular moment he faltered, finding the back of Jayce’s neck as a safeguard against their foreheads separating. “Fuck, Jayce.”It wasn’t a command as much of a reaction, but it may as well have been. Jayce focused now, caring about how it felt for himself but even more caring about how it felt for his partner. Viktor moaned loudly, then covered his mouth with hand. When he spoke, it was breathless. “Fuck, Jayce, are you close?”Jayce didn’t have words to respond. “Mhm,” was his close-lipped response, between the heavy exhales that were melodic to Viktor’s ears. The pair of them were one, intertwined upon the desk where they did their faithful work. It was almost spiritual, an intended use for the space. This was the alter, and either of them were the offering to the other. Their god was the feeling they shared, something Viktor would worship in Jayce’s future absences, something Jayce would consider when with another.Jayce was a patron, and Viktor was his dedication. Together, the two of them worked their way up to a climax, and they shared it with resonating sighs. When it was over, the feeling didn’t end, just the moment.Drenched in sweat, Jayce rested his head on Viktor’s shoulder. Viktor’s hands found his face easily, pulling him into a kiss before he had anything to say about the event. When Viktor was done kissing his lips, he worked down Jayce’s neck, chest, anywhere he could reach without leaving his position on the desk. Jayce thought he could fall in love with Viktor, but he didn’t have the guts to say it now. Instead he fixed Viktor’s hair, running his hands through it until it fell in messy waves. Viktor just stared up at him, taking in the view. “How was that?” Jayce asked finally, almost nervous for a response. Viktor laughed a little. “That was… not what I was expected when you came in tonight.” Upon seeing Jayce’s eyes filled with a mix of confusion and fear, he hit Jayce’s shoulder and sat up. “In a good way.”Jayce chuckled, and Viktor sensed the possible discomfort. In an attempt to reassure him, Viktor gave him another kiss. While their lips were impossibly close, he whispered, “That was great. Thank you.”Jayce seemed relieved to hear that, and it made Viktor’s heart skip a beat. Viktor pushed back the strand of hair that had fallen over Jayce’s forehead, and sat up. “I didn’t want to end up on the floor, but it’s looking more comfortable by the minute.” Viktor’s words were true, something also on Jayce’s mind. “Can I carry you?” Jayce asked.Viktor raised an eyebrow, wondering where this was going. Despite not knowing, he nodded. When they had gathered the clothes they needed to look barely presentable outside, Jayce turned back to Viktor and easily scooped him up bridal style. “My room, or yours?” The question was Jayce’s to ask and Viktor’s to answer.“Yours,” was the response. In all honesty, Viktor had yet to see Jayce’s living quarters. He’d briefly glimpsed at an idea of how he lived years ago, but nothing since. Jayce was thinking just the same about Viktor, but he was content to settle.When the two of them left the lab, they were both aware that the memories of what occurred would never fade. As he fell asleep next to Jayce, Viktor just hoped that it would last. He wasn’t the type to engage in fleeting relations, especially not of this kind. Jayce meant something to him, and that was rare. Jayce was up later than Viktor for once, ensuring his partner got much-needed sleep. Only when Viktor was asleep did he attempt the same, drifting off and dreaming of variations of the night’s events.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Mid-summer, sometime closer to fall than spring. Jayce Talis was hard at work, devising plans to keep his project on track and his city in order. Two jobs were more difficult than one, as anyone would imagine. Anyone apart from Viktor, that was. On the other hand, Jayce’s partner Viktor spent every moment of his “free” time on their research. “Free” didn’t include typical work, sleeping, or playing. This meant that every moment he wasn’t sleeping or playing (on the rare occasion when both he and Jayce had time), he was ruminating over theories or mathematical equations. Viktor was every bit of Jayce’s. He was not only a partner in science but a partner in life: the pair of them bonded over their shared passion for science, and continued their relationship depths further to love one another. Jayce had fallen first and Viktor had fallen harder, a dynamic that defined them well. They were partners in every sense of the word. Years prior, when Viktor stopped Jayce from an attempt on his life, the pair of them found themselves intertwined. Concepts led to research, which led from longing to something more official. Nearly everyone they knew were aware of the relationship, including Jayce’s mother, whom Viktor had met several times.These days, Viktor spent nearly every waking second in their lab. He was withering away as a result of his childhood in the fissures, and Jayce was ever-aware. When he wasn’t preoccupied attending meetings as a councilor, he was by Viktor’s side. Apart from Jayce, no one seemed to care about Viktor’s illness or where it stemmed from. Viktor, however, was determined to keep this from happening to other children. It would be a positive side effect to benefit his own survival, but even now he feared the answer wouldn’t rid him of his ailments. There was no time. Viktor was fearing a finish line coming into sight, and Jayce was fearing not being respected by his peers. The lab was busy all times of day, with Viktor dedicating the majority of his time to it and Jayce showing up in evenings to pull double shifts (one as a councilor, the other a scientist). Viktor was dying as a result of his chronic illness. Jayce was dying because of Viktor’s lack of care: his lover even took to sleeping in the lab, something Jayce had a hard time keeping up with due to his rigorous schedule.On one particular late evening, Jayce put Viktor between a wall and a hard place. Viktor had been working until Jayce convinced him into a make-out session, something spurred between science and boyfriendism. It didn’t last very long, as Viktor was intent on returning to work. Jayce happened to mention his hard day, to which Viktor responded detailing his scientific difficulties. “It seems you’ve had a productive evening,” said Jayce, in response to Viktor’s seemingly spiraling thoughts pertaining their shared discoveries.“It seems you don’t care about this as much as your day job,” was Viktor’s response. He meant it genuinely: Jayce had hardly been in the lab recently, focused on his position as a councilor.“I doubt you could survive a day as a councilor,” returned Jayce, almost a joke, but something serious behind his tone. Viktor wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge. “You doubt,” he said, “that I could do an easy job.” Science was one thing; diplomacy another. Jayce seemed intrigued. Viktor wasn’t sure why — meetings and paperwork were easy to him. He could solo a day of controversy and critique, unfazed. He found the concept of political debate to be boring, even rote. It was always the same at the end.“Are you accepting the challenge?” Jayce questioned, wanting confirmation. He was good to do so, as he’d lost a bet earlier this year, solely because Viktor lost but they had not locked in their bets prior (and Viktor was better at debate). Viktor shrugged. “What time do you start tomorrow?”Jayce informed him the first meeting was shortly after sunrise, and Viktor was not alarmed. He had been expecting something early, and he didn’t particularly care either which way. He was only prepared to defeat his opponent, said opponent being his lover. Jayce, on the other hand, was missing Viktor. Their jobs kept them separate as much as their work drove them together. It had been weeks since the pair of them had spent a continuous shift in the lab together because Jayce preferred early mornings while Viktor lived and breathed by late nights. Jayce frequently arrived to work around sunrise, and Viktor was fast asleep at the desk, having dozed off in his attempt to stay up. The workload was slowly killing Viktor beyond his illness, and Jayce knew it.“We’ll rise at sunup,” Jayce said. “Then I’ll show you the routine.”Viktor was hardly focused on Jayce, consumed by the current problem at hand. Jayce was tired of it, but he knew Viktor was working towards a greater goal, and he extended him the same grace he’d want if he were in that position. Jayce broke through being practically ignored. “Okay. Tomorrow morning, then.”“Tomorrow morning,” repeated Viktor, still distracted.Even despite the frustrations, Jayce still thought the world of his partner. He gave Viktor another kiss, the only time he’d successfully drawn Viktor’s full attention during the course of their conversation. They shared a residence at this point. Or, rather, they shared two, each belonging to either of them. Jayce’s was “theirs” in every sense, which was founded on the fact that Jayce was often home before Viktor. Jayce liked to change out of the clothes he had to wear as a councilor before heading to the lab. The garb was different: as a councilor, his clothes were crisp and clean-pressed. As Viktor’s partner, however, his clothes were allowed to be wrinkled or worn, whatever was remaining out of the closet. Jayce went home, and did his nightly routine. He missed when Viktor had been here for it, talking to him and corresponding their lifestyles. Now, he was alone, and he could imagine how Viktor would be lethargic in the morning from a lack of sleep. When Jayce went to bed, he fully expected to have to walk to back to the lab the next morning and wake Viktor up. He was pleasantly surprised, finding that Viktor had actually come home instead of passing out when he could go no further. Jayce always set his alarms early. Therefore, he was prepared to stay in bed a little longer, pulling Viktor close and holding him. Viktor slowly awakened, complaining about the warmth (entirely radiating from Jayce) and the hour (which he had agreed to wake upon). Jayce let him go eventually, only to get situated for the day. Viktor remained in bed, completely passed out. Once he was cleaned up and ready to go, Jayce sat on the bed, his hand finding Viktor’s shoulder. “Come on,” Jayce prompted, in the sweetest tone he could manage. “I’ve got a meeting in thirty minutes. It’s a ten minute walk.”Viktor awakened quickly, sitting up. Jayce rose to bring his crutch to him, and assisted him up. At the start of their relationship, Viktor would insist he didn’t need help. Nowadays, slowly falling into decline, he took advantage of Jayce’s strength. Viktor was nonverbal in the mornings, and Jayce could usually appreciate it. He liked the quiet just as much, so it was no trouble when Viktor didn’t have much to say. Today was different, though, because Viktor was completely silent as Jayce was counting the minutes until he would be late. The moment Viktor was ready, Jayce whisked him out the door, considering how much this challenge could possibly bite him in the ass.“Where are we going?” Viktor finally spoke.“First meeting,” Jayce responded. “Representatives from Demacia came all this way to meet with us.”“Who’s included in ‘us’?” Viktor inquired. Jayce could define this as Viktor Has Awakened Phase 2: Too Many Questions. In a different setting, this curious Viktor could appear in moments of sleep deprivation. Jayce knew which version he was signing up for today.“It’s just Mel and I. She’s familiar with their trade arrangements. We’re finding a middle ground, a transversal way to skip over Noxus completely since we brought the Hexgates into play.”So many words, not enough energy. Viktor was wilting from the minute he woke up, but he wasn’t going to back out this soon. The words Jayce spoke went in one ear and out the other. Viktor wasn’t going to let him speak to empty air. “That sounds interesting,” he said, and his tone came across more sarcastically than intended. This resulted in a response from Jayce. “You don’t have to come with me, really. You can go back to bed. It’s not a huge deal, I know you’ve had a lot on your plate.”Such a good partner, as always. Jayce’s care was one thing Viktor admired the most. It’s what drew Viktor to him in the first place: the way Jayce latched onto any hopes and dreams, any ways to get his point across. When Viktor met him, he was on the brink of death as a result of losing sight of the goal he’d been working towards all his life. Viktor could relate to that. “I’m alright,” Viktor shook his head. He kissed Jayce’s lips ever so briefly, indicative of their closeness, and acting as a reassurance. “Carry on.”Dragged along to the first meeting of the day, Viktor took advantage of this chance to see the sunrise. The outdoors were faintly illuminated, shades of orange and pink framing the eastern landscape. Viktor expectantly awaited the sun’s arrival, hoping it would wake him up. As they neared the building in which the council hosted their meetings, Jayce checked in with Viktor again. “You can go back to sleep if you want. Just know that once I engage with these people, it’s not something I can turn off. There’s no bailing beyond now, until we get to a break.”Viktor shrugged. “And? I can handle it. I’m right behind you.”Shadowing Jayce seemed like an easy feat. He wasn’t intimidated in the slightest, just exhausted from the work he’d done the night before. Viktor couldn’t count on one hand the nights he’d gotten necessary sleep, focused on equations every waking moment apart from now. While this was a nice break for his brain, he was itching to get back to the lab. He’d left a problem hanging, as he always did, and it led to a desire to return.Jayce went into the first meeting with poise. Viktor had never seen Councilor Talis live in action, but it was clear that this man was someone different than the man he slept next to. For starters, Councilor Talis was polished. He had no hesitations about political indifferences; in fact, he encouraged them. Debate was commonplace, and he was an active participant. Viktor was intrigued by the subject of their discussions with Demacia: classism, inequality, recklessness on behalf of the leaders. The conversation continued on. Jayce spoke to a military man, someone in charge of Demacia’s extensive forces. Viktor found himself confused, trying to piece together this puzzle. Jayce hadn’t spoken of battle intentions, but this almost read as such. He did not ask any questions, committed to his dare to shadow Jayce and doing him a favor by not stirring up any possible trouble.Once finished with his first meeting, Jayce shook hands with whomever he was corresponding with. Viktor watched from his side, and found a hand extended in his direction directly after. He obliged with a handshake, almost grateful to be acknowledged. They moved on, something about picking up new equipment for the transcribers that dedicated their lives to documenting each conversation that occurred within the council. They found their way down to a public square, somewhere Viktor didn’t go often, as he didn’t have much of a reason to. Any equipment he needed, he acquired from Zaun or requested Jayce to bring it by (which Jayce always did, happily). “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Jayce almost seemed concerned. The behavior flew over Viktor’s head, solely because he was intrigued by certain booths as they passed through a section of town consisting of resellers. These folks purchased important product and upsold the general public. Viktor knew it was legal, but was annoyed it was even a possibility. “It could have been worse,” Viktor admitted. “What’s next?”“We’re just making a quick stop, then I’m visiting the secondary school. The students are studying government, so I’m making an appearance and answering some questions.”Viktor raised an eyebrow. That wasn’t what he’d imagined, but it wasn’t the worst thing to do. Before he could say anything, Jayce continued.“Mel suggested it. We were planning to do the event together but there was a last minute schedule change.” He looked down to Viktor with a smile. “I’m happy you’re going with me. I’m excited to show them the potential in connecting science and policy.” Jayce seemed enthusiastic, which make Viktor smile. Jayce noticed, and Viktor caught a glimpse of that familiar sparkle in his eyes. When they arrived at the secondary school, the students were still in class. Jayce and Viktor were introduced to the principal and lead teachers, and given a brief tour before being led into an auditorium. The principal explained the format of this appearance, and Jayce listened attentively, asking relevant questions. Within the half-hour, the seats were filling with teenagers who chatted amongst themselves. The principal addressed the crowd first, and then stepped down for Jayce to take over.Jayce began by introducing himself and Viktor, who chose to remain sitting offstage. (Being in the spotlight did not count as shadowing Jayce’s job.) He went on to explain his role as a council member, what responsibilities it entailed, and how he made it to this position. All in all, he spoke for some five minutes, deciding against pushing the limits of the class’s attention span. Following his short speech, he informed the teenagers that he would be answering questions. Viktor missed the explanation of how he would interact with the students, completely lost in experiencing this Councilor Talis.Seeing Jayce in this setting was causing Viktor’s thoughts to ruminate. At the start of the day, he’d been overthinking the same equation he left off on the night before, but now he was focused on the moment. Jayce was currently being asked several different questions at once. He laughed, good-natured about the chaos, and raised his voice. “Okay, okay, one at a time. Let’s start up here in the front and work our way back.” He motioned to student in the front who had a notebook with him, pen at the ready. The student was primed. “What advice do you have for someone wanting to pursue a political career?”Jayce thought for a moment. Viktor was focused on him more than anyone else in the room. “Be prepared for anything. There are a lot of moving parts, and you have to be adaptable.” Jayce made eye contact with the owner of the next hand in the air, and nodded, encouraging speech.Viktor lost the conversation at that point, too focused on Jayce to process anything being said. At some point he was brought back down to earth by a nudge on his arm. He turned to see a red-haired teenage girl, dressed in all black. “Sorry,” she said. “I just wanted to ask you something, if that’s okay.” In waiting, she fidgeted with the hem of the sleeve on her jacket. Viktor nodded. “Go ahead. I’m no politician, though, only a scientist.”She smiled. “I know. I’ve heard about your work, although it’s hard to find any information about you.” She stopped messing with the cuff of the jacket and pulled it up slightly, raising her arm. Underneath the jacket was a brace of silver metal, fitted to her skin. “I had an accident when I was a kid. I’ve been trying to figure out the mobility on this, I thought you might know what to do.”Viktor met her eyes again before looking at the brace closer. He raised his hand, hovering near. “May I?” She nodded. With permission, Viktor touched the brace, turning her forearm around ever-so-slightly to see it from an angle. “You did this on your own?”Another nod from the girl, who remained silent as he examined the work.“It’s very impressive, Miss…”“Sienna,” she introduced. “And you’re Viktor.”He smiled, happy to be recognized. “That I am.” He continued looking at the brace, and nodded. “I think this is a good start. I can see where you’re having trouble. I think it’s all about the measurements. See how it extends over the wrist just slightly?” He pointed to the metal piece. “It restricts. You want to feel aided, not hindered.”Sienna’s eyes lit up. Viktor let go of the brace, and she twisted her arm to feel the resistance he spoke of. “Oh, that’s genius! Thank you so much. You’ve really helped, you have no idea.”Satisfied with her answer, she began to drift back into the now-dispersing crowd of teens. “Anytime,” Viktor said, giving her a little wave as she went. He felt a hand on his shoulder, then and turned to see Jayce, who had caught the end of the conversation and hadn’t dared interrupt. Jayce’s hand lingered even as Viktor turned, and then made its way down his arm and to his hand, holding it tight. His expression was one of admiration. “Ready to go?”Viktor wanted Jayce alone, but he knew that wasn’t happening anytime soon. “Where to next?”“Back into another meeting, this time with the council. It may get heated. We’ll find out.” Jayce motioned towards the door, letting Viktor lead them back out of the building. He was always close behind.Once outside, Jayce remained by Viktor’s side. Due to the distance between the future meeting room and the school, they opted to take transportation. They both took a moment to sit and breathe in silence, resting from how busy it had been. Jayce was revisiting possible topics to bring up at the meeting. Viktor was imagining him breathing heavy on the council bathroom counter.“How are you doing?” Jayce checked in again. Viktor was in another world. “Viktor?” Even that didn’t work. Jayce put his hand up and waved. “Hello? Viktor?”Back to earth. “Sorry,” Viktor said. “There’s… a lot on my mind.”Jayce’s face fell, assuming Viktor was talking about work. He knew it was important, because he thought it held the same importance to him. Viktor noticed the shift, and reached out to touch Jayce’s knee. “I’m here, Jayce,” he said. “I’m on the job with you. Just tell me what to do.”Jayce was pleased to hear that Viktor was willing to keep following him around. Viktor was internally screaming at Jayce for being right — this was a busy job. It was also entertaining, as long as he got to witness Councilor Talis in action. Their arrival at the council meeting kicked off another spur of important events: Jayce negotiating with the rest of the members about economic stability, lines of defense, even future changes to their own scheduling. Viktor remained in a chair beside Jayce, attempting to keep up with the quick conversation. He was glad he didn’t have to remember any of this. He was also starting to see why Jayce was so tired when he came in after a full day of meetings. “It would be a poor use of our resources,” Jayce was saying, and Viktor was lost on the subject entirely. “There’s no reason for us to spend beyond our means when we own the means of production.”“Production that is executed better by an outside source, mind you,” Salo argued. “What persuades anyone to choose our method over something that delivers faster?”Another eruption of back-and-forth. All the while, Viktor became more focused on his partner. This longing had been overtaking him all day, and he was nearly at his wits end. He found himself daydreaming about where this specific scene could take them: the meeting concluding, everyone else leaving the room, him convincing Jayce to stay behind. He could imagine the feeling of Jayce’s hands on him, the cold surface of the table, the acoustics in a space this large…The meeting continued on. Minutes passed, and half an hour, and then a full hour… which extended into another. Viktor was itching to get home, and for once, it wasn’t work-related. When the council finally came to an agreement on the last topic, Jayce seemed relieved. Everyone dispersed, and Jayce turned to Viktor for unprompted approval.“You’re very well-spoken,” Viktor affirmed. Jayce smiled, confidence refreshed. “Thank you.” He picked up the pages he’d been referring to during the meeting, and stood. “I just have to stop by the lab, and then we can head back.”The lab! An excellent place for the things that were on Viktor’s mind. It wouldn’t be the first time they utilized the space, and surely it wouldn’t be the last. Viktor followed Jayce out, falling behind with the intent purpose of watching Jayce as he led the way. His partner was far too attentive, slowing just the slightest so Viktor could catch up. Therefore Viktor forfeited the view he’d worked for, and they travelled side-by-side. At the lab, Jayce moved quickly. He dropped off the notes he’d referred to at the meeting, and searched around for other notes he planned to look over with his morning coffee the following day. When he found them, Viktor was standing nearby, completely lost to his imagination.Jayce was surprised Viktor wasn’t rushing to finish any of his equations. In all honesty, he’d expected for this lab visit to be more of a drop-off for Viktor to inevitably spend the night working. It was a way for Jayce to guarantee he could say goodnight.Viktor, on the other hand, was exercising self-control. He’d made it to this point so Jayce couldn’t say anything about him distracting from the work day, and this felt like the home stretch. Forget the moments they could share here and now: he was going to get Jayce home, and he was going to tire him out. “Ready?” Viktor asked.Jayce was visibly excited to go home together. He nodded, smiling faintly, and leaned down to give Viktor a brief kiss. He had no clue of the effect it had on Viktor, making it infinitely harder to continue waiting until they were home. Viktor remained where he was as Jayce began to exit, and Jayce seemed concerned when he looked back, as if Viktor may change his mind about returning home.Meanwhile, Viktor was once again lost in thought. Jayce still had no clue. Viktor caught up, his longing guiding the way home. He was getting closer to abandoning all sense of decency and jumping Jayce in the street. As he genuinely considered the consequences of a detour, their final destination came into sight.Jayce, unaware of Viktor’s thoughts, approached the door. He reached in his pocket for his keys, and found the one corresponding to the door. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” “I told you I could handle it,” Viktor remarked.“You proved me wrong,” Jayce said, unlocking the door. Viktor watched him intently, counting each second it took him to let them inside. The moment the door was open, Viktor pushed Jayce inside. “Hey,” Jayce protested.Viktor didn’t have a thing to say in response. He blindly pushed the door shut and reached for the crisp jacket Jayce only wore as councilor, pulling him right into a kiss. It was immediately intense, catching Jayce off guard. He easily adjusted, giving into the rush. Viktor threw Jayce’s jacket somewhere near the door. Jayce was backing up, then, with Viktor’s guidance. Viktor continued kissing him, slowly moving them to the bedroom, fingers working at Jayce’s shirt, kicking off his own shoes. Jayce did the same, leading Viktor to trip on them, which caused him to accidentally overestimate the door in their blind travel. Jayce’s back hit the door frame, halting their motion. “Are you okay?” Viktor immediately asked, pausing the action of undressing Jayce. Now that Viktor had started things off, Jayce was equally into it. He didn’t speak a verbal confirmation of his wellbeing, he just moved himself into the actual doorframe, put his hands on Viktor’s hips, and kept moving backwards to bring them further into the room. Viktor finished getting rid of Jayce’s shirt, and threw it wherever they were now, reaching for his belt. Jayce was matching the energy, unbuttoning Viktor’s shirt. Viktor pushed Jayce to sit down on the bed as they got close enough, but he remained standing for a moment, staring down at his lover. He shook his head. “You looked good in that outfit.” He moved closer, reaching for Jayce’s chin and angling his face upwards, looking down at a very attentive councilor. “You don’t know what I went through today, watching you walk around in it, having to wait to take it off.”Jayce remained where Viktor directed him, expectant. “I was elated to have you with me. You know I would do whatever you asked.”“I know,” Viktor said in a low tone. He leaned down, kissing Jayce gently. Jayce followed his lead. It was gentle for all of a minute, before Viktor changed up the mood. He sank into Jayce’s lap, giving himself a better angle. He reached down to finish undoing Jayce’s belt, settling to undo his pants and pushing Jayce backwards onto the bed. Viktor wasn’t wasting any time. Shirt still hanging from his shoulders, completely unbuttoned, he kissed Jayce’s neck and down to his chest before returning to his lips. He took control, reaching down and playing with Jayce to rile him up before taking all of him in. He sighed heavily upon the initial contact, and Jayce reached up to touch his cheek. Viktor moved his head to kiss Jayce’s palm, and worked on the pacing. Jayce let him have control, taken by Viktor’s forwardness this time around. The last times they’d engaged in this sort of activity, Jayce had been the one taking the lead. Jayce had even gotten the impression he wanted it more. Now was completely the opposite: Jayce was captivated by Viktor’s desire.Another sigh from Viktor, this one louder and followed by a sound of pleasure. His hands found Jayce’s chest, and Jayce’s rested on Viktor’s hips. Jayce was having a good time, satisfaction increased by his perception of Viktor’s need. A slight change in the pace, and Viktor became increasingly more verbal until he muttered a quiet “Oh my god, Jayce.” He stopped, then, collapsing onto Jayce’s chest, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry.”The smallest laugh from a very amused Jayce. “Already?”Still catching his breath, Viktor nodded against Jayce’s chest. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “What for?” returned Jayce, running his hands through Viktor’s hair.Viktor’s mood never faltered. “I’ve needed you all day, more than you know.” He kissed Jayce’s neck before propping himself up again, meeting his lips hard. Impressed with the order of events, Jayce continued following Viktor’s lead during the increasingly intense make-out. He reached up and finally got rid of Viktor’s shirt. Within a few minutes, Jayce gripped Viktor’s hips and flipped them so he could look downwards at his lover. Viktor hardly broke the kiss during the switch.“Let me take care of you,” Jayce interrupted. Viktor pulled him back into another kiss, seemingly unwilling to let them part. Jayce had another idea, moving from Viktor’s lips down to his neck, trailing to his chest and his stomach, and then even lower, territory he’d claimed as his own. He finished undressing Viktor, and moved to give him another kiss on the lips. “Yeah?”Viktor nodded, and Jayce returned to tracing his way down Viktor’s body. The very moment he set to work at his destination, Viktor inhaled sharply and exhaled deep. Jayce should have received an award for his skill with his tongue. Viktor had seen him as Councilor Talis, delivering well-worded speeches and getting his point across. This was a different use of his ability, something reserved for his partner.Viktor admired how the feeling took him to another place. This moment was a world all its own, somewhere with endless clear skies and just enough light, lush forests surrounding the beautiful isolation they lived in. Jayce took him on a journey through the trees, up to a mountain that both of them were intent on climbing. Jayce took the longest path up the mountain, guiding Viktor through the landscape. When Viktor noticed a shortcut, Jayce kept him walking down the same winding road, leaving Viktor aching to find the summit and see the view. It came into sight, now, and Jayce gave him the nudge he needed to finally reach the top.Viktor’s hands were tangled in Jayce’s hair. Jayce returned to his lips by taking the long way home: trailing gentle kisses up Viktor’s body. Viktor met him halfway, eager. Jayce was determined to keep the control for a little longer, and Viktor pushed back on it.The intensity of Jayce’s desire caused him to nonverbally emphasize his desire to lead. Viktor deferred, wanting Jayce to find satisfaction as he had before. Jayce wanted it concurrently with his partner, which led him to position Viktor on the edge of the bed. When he moved himself inside, Viktor thought the sound was heavenly. Jayce’s hands drifted from Viktor’s hands to his waist, his chosen place of rest. Loving Jayce was all there was for Viktor. Jayce was kind to him, and caring in every way. Even now, he made Viktor his priority, looking down at him with an indescribable glint in his eye: a reflection of fascination, passion, and adoration. Viktor caught each meaning, cherishing the fact that he could feel this understood. Jayce was the only person who’d ever made Viktor aware of the fact that there was beauty beyond his flaws.In a similar sense, loving Viktor was everything to Jayce. Viktor was intelligent, something that had initially drawn his interest. It served him well in the way he remembered all of the details about Jayce: his preferences, his deepest thoughts, the expressions he made to himself when he was focused. Jayce only ever desired to be near him, most comfortable in his presence. These private nights meant more to him than any achievement. Jayce was setting the pace this time around, and Viktor was incapable of keeping himself together. It had been a long time since Jayce had seen him like this: visibly sweating, craving closeness until they could go no further, only desiring more despite fulfillment. Viktor was, in every sense of the word, desperate. Jayce was, in every sense of the role, a people-pleaser. “Hang in there,” Jayce muttered, in response to Viktor speaking up. Viktor responded in breaths, heavy and hitched. “Wait for me.”Viktor nodded, unable to say anything through the intense satisfaction. He would shadow Jayce a hundred more shifts if this was the outcome. He always wanted his lover in this way, but it was magnified in this circumstance. “Fuck,” Jayce was barely audible. He was working now, keeping Viktor from tipping over the edge. He gripped Viktor’s hips, more focused on maintaining the pacing and the consistency and less so on the possibility of bruises in the morning. Viktor agreed with the decision. Viktor shifted, then, causing Jayce to slow his rhythm. “You’re almost there,” Jayce encouraged. “Wait for me.”“I can’t,” Viktor breathed, hands finding Jayce’s on his own hips. “You can,” Jayce groaned. “I’m almost there.”Viktor found a grip on the sheets, and Jayce reveled at the sight. He considered it an honor to be this person for Viktor, who he believed to be the most important figure in his life. Without Viktor, he wouldn’t be here today. Without Viktor…“Okay,” Jayce murmured, breathing heavily from the exertion. Finally, they finished together. Viktor grasped at Jayce’s arm, holding onto him tight, even as Jayce laid down next to him. Jayce searched Viktor’s eyes for any nonverbal communication. Once he’d barely caught his breath, Viktor kissed him again. When the kissing continued longer than expected, Jayce laughed against Viktor’s lips. “You want to go again?”“Mmhm,” Viktor affirmed as he kissed Jayce, forgoing language and instead running his hands through his lover’s hair. Jayce obliged to continue on, wrapping his arms around Viktor’s waist. Almost as if in sync, they each reached down with the intention of pleasing the other. And so it became a sort of game as they continued to kiss, tongues exploring familiar territory. This wasn’t new for them. They’d been dating long enough to understand each other well enough, so well that they knew precisely how the other wanted it. All parts of their bodies were useful to one another, especially their hands, which they utilized now. Jayce gasped against Viktor’s lips, and Viktor smirked.“Wait for me,” Viktor whispered, teasing Jayce with his own words from before. This was the first time since they started that Jayce was truly at Viktor’s mercy. Viktor knew exactly what to do, how to make him feel just right. It was harder to focus since Jayce was doing the same to him, but he was determined to win. For Jayce, the experience was more like crossing an ocean. There was an island off in the distance, and Viktor was rowing the boat that drew them closer, perfect clouds dotting the sky above the horizon. Viktor knew how to cross the sea directly, but he seemed intent on weaving through the waves, slow and steady.There was no sense of Viktor’s plan to reach the island, only that he was guiding Jayce just as Jayce had before. While Viktor was patient along his previous journey up the mountain, Jayce didn’t care if he jumped overboard. He decided to swim to shore.Jayce took control again, switching the tides. Viktor found himself staring up into his eyes, which spoke of his hunger. Viktor was equally approving of the change, feeling as if he was knowing Councilor Talis as opposed to his research partner. Crossing this ocean on his own accord required more effort, but yielded better results. Jayce was a voyager, and he carried them both. He catered to each of their needs, finding his way inside Viktor once again and verbally appreciating this new position. Viktor wrapped his arm’s around Jayce’s neck to keep him close, needing the symphony of Jayce’s approving breaths in his ear.“You’re everything to me,” Jayce said, tone low, barely a whisper.“Show me,” Viktor returned, just as quiet. Jayce didn’t have to be told twice. He focused, the faintest noises finding their way from his throat to Viktor’s ear. A barely audible murmur of Viktor’s name, a heavy exhale, all of it made his partner spiral. As they reached the island from the initial journey, Jayce looked to see if Viktor was close behind. Viktor sensed this inquiry, and nodded, his cheek brushing Jayce’s.“Go on,” he said, speaking of the shore they neared. Jayce listened, and Viktor was thinking of any mathematic formula that would allow him to bottle up this moment for future reference. At a loss for any ways to immortalize the feeling, he followed Jayce’s lead as he made it to the beach. The sun shone brighter than ever from this place in the landscape, and the relief of arrival washed over both of them.Exhausted from his efforts, Jayce collapsed onto Viktor. Both of them were breathing heavily, out of sync but in a way that still sounded symphonic: rounds, harmonizing. They remained there until Viktor tapped Jayce’s arm. “You’re heavy,” he said. “Sorry,” was Jayce’s response as he lifted himself back up, kissing Viktor. He then rolled to lay next to him, staring up at the ceiling. “Fuck,” he murmured. “You wanted me that bad, all day?”“I want you that bad, all the time,” Viktor turned to face him, laying on his side. “We’ve been busy, but I miss you.”Jayce just smiled, and Viktor could see his cheeks flush. It made Viktor smile in return, and he touched Jayce’s cheek, a gentle gesture. Viktor continued before Jayce could speak, tracing his fingers across his partner’s skin. “I wish we could be here forever. I wish I could stop the flow of time, just to stay with you.”It was a somber shift of topic, a reminder that Viktor had limited time. Jayce hated to talk about it, but he gently caught Viktor’s hand and kissed the back of it. “We’ll find a way,” he said. Viktor smiled again, but it was sad. He nodded in affirmation, falling quiet. Jayce knew where his thoughts had wandered to, because he knew Viktor. Jayce gave him a kiss on the forehead. “You go take a shower,” he said, combing through Viktor’s hair with his fingers. “I’ll change the bedding, and I’ll be right there.”Viktor nodded again, listening to Jayce and heading towards the door directly off of the bedroom. It was a large bathroom, one they’d spent plenty of time in together, getting ready or discovering new ways to explore each other. Viktor’s mood shifts were not atypical, especially in the moments where he was able to grasp all that he would miss when he did reach the end of the road. He tried not to think about it, turning the shower on and waiting for the water to warm up.Jayce was right behind him, as promised. It only took him a few minutes to get their room ready for sleep, and when he wandered to the bathroom, he found Viktor sitting and staring. The dissociation wasn’t uncommon, and Jayce knew how to bring him back to earth. He walked to Viktor and put a hand on his back, a gesture that spoke of his care for Viktor and his own love language of physical touch.“Hey,” Jayce said, voice quiet, easy to break through Viktor’s trance. He successfully drew Viktor’s attention, and his lover looked up at him, sighing.“Sorry,” Viktor said. He shook his head, as if it would expel the thoughts. He hated feeling like this, especially after he spent all day wallowing in longing and reaching for a moment that already occurred. The previous experiences felt futile, some heartbreaking resolve that he assumed it would be the last time. Many moments felt like the last time, even if they weren’t. It felt impossible to overcome.His partner was understanding. “For what?” Jayce said, hand still on Viktor’s back, tracing circles that grounded his racing thoughts. “Let me help with your brace.”Viktor nodded, still nearly nonverbal, a position he was only in upon waking and nearing bedtime. Jayce could sense his exhaustion, and did all of the work to unfasten the bolts and screws that kept Viktor’s leg in working condition. Free of the brace for once, Viktor sighed, hand rubbing his upper thigh.“Is it still causing resistance?” Jayce asked, looking up at Viktor from where he knelt in front of him. “I can adjust it to be more comfortable.”“It’s perfect,” Viktor said. It was hard to be in this state. Jayce had known him prior, and he almost felt burdensome for needing this much attention. He meant his words, though: the brace was as comfortable as it could be. Even with the odd pressure points and occasional blisters, it was better than living without it.The steam from the hot water running in the shower was starting to cloud the room, and Jayce offered support to Viktor, who took it. Together, they stepped into the shower, something Jayce was hoping to have replaced soon so Viktor would have a place to sit during the rare moments he wasn’t in the brace.Where Viktor had taken the lead in kicking off events, Jayce took the lead in the interim between the action and falling asleep. He took care of Viktor, washing his hair, giving him gentle kisses under the showerhead. Viktor was grateful, albeit lost in his pre-sleep nonverbal exhaustive state. Jayce was aware, taking care of him and sitting him down once they were finished, wrapping a towel around Viktor’s shoulders and singlehandedly focusing on reinstalling Viktor’s brace before he dressed himself. Viktor reached down to help, and Jayce stopped him, shaking his head. “I got you,” Jayce said, a guarantee that he was willing to take care of his partner. It wasn’t the first time he’d done this for Viktor, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. “Thank you,” Viktor responded, looking at Jayce with affection. He didn’t have much energy to speak paragraphs of admiration, but it was understood between them. Jayce knew everything about Viktor, from the way he communicated when he wasn’t able to speak to the way he preferred to sleep in the brace to prevent twisting and turning during the night. Jayce had been there when he’d woken up in pain in the middle of the night. Jayce had been there when he was unable to speak for days after a temporary illness. Jayce had been there when he thought no one was.He helped walk Viktor back to their room, and put the crutch by his side of the bed. Viktor was grateful beyond words, and Jayce understood beyond language.When Jayce settled into bed, Viktor was already asleep. Jayce watched him until he could stay awake no longer, drifting off with peace knowing that his partner was comfortable. He had to get up early in the morning, but every opportunity he was given to be with him was taken. Viktor knew of his love, but Jayce's was deeper than perception: care within his very bones, something Viktor could not see without ripping him apart. Settled next to Viktor, Jayce found it easy to sleep, remaining close enough to feel his partner’s warmth without the complaints of his own body heat. In the early morning, Jayce pulled Viktor close before his departure. Despite feeling overheated from his partner’s closeness, Viktor refrained from complaint, recognizing that this sort of care only came around once in a lifetime. In all timelines, he would search for this Jayce, desiring any semblance of what they had experienced together.