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Viktor isn’t sure how he ended up here. He should go back to his own quarters, but these were closer than his and he’s fairly sure he is about five minutes away from passing out. All things considered, though, he isn’t sure he can bring himself to knock on the door. It seems his body decided to knock for him as the hand gripping his cane falters and he finds his shoulder slamming against the door.
He bites back the yelp, trying to force himself into a standing position despite how impossible it feels. The door swings open and immediately he collapses into the pair of strong arms he knew would be waiting there. Once upon a time, Jayce had mentioned that if Viktor ever needed help, he would be there. He was sure the other had meant for it to help with their project, the development of HexTech, but this will do.
“Hey, hey, are you okay?” Jayce whispers, breathless in his ear as he tries to keep Viktor from collapsing. He’s fighting the help, an instinct he’s never quite been able to kick, but Jayce just adapts and helps him into a standing position. His knee aches, searing red as he tries to take the weight off of it. “I’m gonna take that as a no. Here, c’mon let’s get you over to the couch and I’ll brew you some tea, yeah?”
Viktor doesn’t have the energy to respond so he just nods and lets himself be guided while still trying to do most of the work. Once he is settled down on the sofa, he drops his cane and lets it clatter to the floor, his hands clammy with the stress of trying not to collapse. Jayce, ever the saint, grabs it and places it against the armrest, easily within reach of Viktor. He runs a brief hand through the other’s long hair, as if on subconscious desire, before heading over to the stove to put the tea on. He breathes a sigh of relief as the pain finally seems to settle and he can catch his breath.
“I am terribly sorry for the intrusion,” he musters out through gritted teeth, “I feared I would not make it to my own quarters and well, you were closer.”
Jayce shakes his head, looking at Viktor with a quizzical glance as he rolls the sleeves of his academy uniform up to his elbows and crosses his arms. “No, never apologize for that. I said I’m here if you need anything and I meant that. We’re partners, Vik.”
Vik. The nickname seems to roll off his tongue as if it’s the easiest thing in the world and Vikor’s heart swells with a painful ache. He knows that Jayce will see him as lesser now that he has seen Viktor when he is truly in pain, all chances of any affections Viktor may harbor being reciprocated are burning to ash in the licking flame of the burner beneath the kettle. He can see the other studying him and he returns the observation, drinking in the sight of Jayce and making sure nothing is amiss. His forehead is creased with worry and Viktor hates it.
“Do not take up that look with me,” he comments, “I am fine, I simply needed to rest a moment.”
“You need to stop sleeping in the lab, it’s making it worse,” is Jayce’s response, almost a non-sequitur, humming to himself as he grabs teacups down from his cabinet. “If you can’t make it home, just come here. I’d rather you take my bed than spend one more night on that stiff piece of crap.”
Viktor scoffs, even though he knows the other is right he will never once dare give him the satisfaction of knowing it. “I am a grown man, I can surely handle myself.”
“Says the grown man who was collapsing into my arms two minutes ago,” Jayce retorts with that smart mouth Viktor had taken such a liking to when they first met, although he would never admit it.
He sighs, putting his head in his hands as Jayce comes to sit next to him. “You probably think I am pathetic.”
“I could never think such a thing of you, Viktor.” His voice is softer now as if he knows the conversation has struck a nerve. Viktor’s pride is wounded, already a mortal fate, but especially fatal when it is in front of the man he fears he has been falling in love with since they met. “I will always help you when you need, no judgment. These things happen. You’re only human, a brilliant one at that, but not even a man as smart as you is safe from a bum knee.”
“One day,” Viktor groans, not looking up. “Not today, evidently. I should go.”
He reaches for his cane, but the moment he puts weight on his knee, a sharp pain shoots up through his thigh and down to his toes. Jayce reacts instantly, a hand softly pushing his shoulder so that he settles back down on the couch. It is not forceful, it is careful; inviting.
“Stay,” Jayce speaks breathlessly as their eyes meet properly for the first time since he entered the quarters. “Please. Just rest for a little bit.”
A stern silence settles between the two of them and Viktor has always been observant, so surely he must not be mistaken when the hand on his shoulder tightens and Jayce’s eyes flick down to his lips. If Viktor were as brave as he was smart he would have leaned in, but he is not, not today. The other man, it seems, is braver and it seems as if Jayce were moving towards him. There must be mere centimeters between them when the whistle of the tea kettle echoes against the walls and the moment comes to a harsh stop.
Viktor clears his throat as the other stands to walk over to the stove, leaving him behind on the couch. Maybe he hit his head when he fell because certainly there is no way that Jayce was about to kiss him. That wasn’t in the cards, it wasn’t even in the deck. His heart pounds against his chest as he reels with the idea of what could have happened if that stupid kettle hadn’t sounded.
He watches as Jayce’s hands shake while he pours the tea and he realizes he is not alone in this sensation. Jayce walks over to where he is with a teacup, handing it over to him and all Viktor can think about is kiss him, kiss him, kiss him, but he can’t. He takes the cup with careful hands as the other sits next to him once more, cautious but not vast distance between them.
Jayce’s eyes flicker between his eyes and his lips and Viktor can’t take much more of this.
“Jayce,” he says quietly, handing out his cup of tea, “Can you hold this for me?”
The other perks up, nodding and taking his cup with his free hands. He looks confused at first, but then Viktor takes the other’s face in his hands (being very mindful of the hot tea, of course) and presses their lips together. Jayce makes a noise of surprise, but the affection is instantly returned as the other seems to melt against Viktor’s hands and lips.
He pulls away and Jayce has a devilish grin on his face, “You are evil for that one.”
Viktor just shrugs, leaning back against the sofa, watching as the other places the cups down very carefully before returning the favor. Still standing, he towers over Viktor as he kisses him again, hands coming up to cup his sharp jawline as Viktor pushes up into the kiss. His mind reels and his heart races as he kisses back, still not quite believing that this is happening. All things considered, Viktor is rather glad he collapsed against Jayce’s door, knowing he would never have had the courage to do this himself.
Needless to say, their tea gets cold before either of them manages to take a sip.