[ Pride and something warmer, insistent, curls in his chest at that sound. Jayce continues to massage Viktor's scalp with the the tips of his fingers, the occasional graze of his nails, a pleased smile on his face. ]
Viktor. [ It's said just as fondly, his heart skipping a beat. ] I don't forget. I just see more than Zaun when I look at you. [ Jayce is practically pouting, and it's clear in his voice. ] Is someone giving you a hard time?
You do, yes. [ Viktor exhales a noise that sounds more like a sigh than anything else, melting into that touch. He feels goosebumps flare up all over his skin, and for a moment, he drifts a little, warmth and comfort washing over him.
Even while they're having a difficult conversation. Typical. ] Are you going to defend me from the entire city? [ There's teasing in his voice, but also so much fondness. Viktor's heart is in his throat, and he realizes he's starting to give too much away.
So he gently eases his head away from his partner's hand, leaning all the way forward to return to his notes. ] Leave it, Jayce. I can handle this.
I will, yeah. [ There's certainty in his voice, stubbornness and defiance. ] If I have to, I'll defend you from the whole world. You're my partner.
[ Somewhere along the road, the meaning of that word changed, heavier, warmer, bigger than what he thought it was when they started. Or maybe it's just what it's always been and he's just finally coming around to realizing it.
The worst part is that is entirely possible. For a man as smart as he is, Jayce can be so stupid. ]
What? Hey. [ Jayce chases after him, but his hand finds its place on the back of his neck, sliding down to sit between his shoulder blades. ] We're partners. [ That word again, and all it's meanings. ] I'm here for you.
[ Another gust of air shudders out of Viktor, and he shifts his weight on the stool, always so noisy when he's working through a problem. How could he explain a lifetime's worth of experiences in just one conversation?
Tapping his pen against the pad, he worries his bottom lip, that weighed and warm use of the word partner shaking something loose between his ribs. Viktor glances at Jayce's chair, gesturing to it. ] Bring that here, [ is all he says at first. ] And sit with me.
[ Not that he wants that hand to leave, but this is too important to rely on a single casual conversation. Once Jayce is settled, he tries again. ] This is my reality, Jayce. It is the world we live in. There is no changing it overnight, as much as you and I would like to.
[ Jayce can't help but feel like a kid being told he's too young to be involved in an adult conversation, but he nods and steps away to pick his chair up (because he'd only needed the one lecture about the irritating noise of dragging it across the floor to not do it again, ever the people-pleaser) and bring it over.
He turns it around though, sitting down so he can fold his arms over the back of it, resting his chin on his forearms and trying not to look like he's pouting. ]
I know. [ He sighs. ] Sometimes I wish we could. You've done so much, you're the co-founder of Hextech. People shouldn't treat you like that. They never should have. Even before. [ His thoughts are all over the place, spilling out of him haphazardly, but he can't stop himself once he starts like this. ] I'm sorry, V.
And what if you asked what I wanted you to do for me? [ Viktor's voice is gentle, as is his touch, hand rubbing along Jayce's forearm soothingly. He leans forward into his space, too, a soft look on his face. He loves this ridiculous man so much it aches in his chest, a piercing, intense sensation he wouldn't escape even if he wished to.
Hand resting on his partner's shoulder, Viktor curls his fingers, protective and grateful. ] I know I don't always accept help, [ he says dryly, self-aware enough to see he's mostly resistant to it, ] But I will work on that. Yes?
[ Without hesitation, Jayce leans in when Viktor does, melting a little on the chair and under that touch. It doesn't untangle all the hurt that's bundled up in his chest, but it soothes it a little. Jayce sometimes just feels so helpless and all of his big, consuming feelings make it harder to dig himself out, but Viktor is patient and Jayce wants to be worth the wait.
Jayce perks up a little. ] So what can I do to help? What would you want me to do?
[ It happens automatically — almost like a reflex — his knuckles brushing along Jayce's cheek gently. Later, he'll tell himself it was the look on his face, those unbearably soft eyes and being the focus of them pulling him in before he's thought better of himself.
Realizing what he's done a second too late, Viktor is quick to drop his hand to Jayce's arm again, flustered.
He clears his throat, trying to ignore the blush creeping back up his neck again. Mortifying. ] To start, [ and he's grateful his voice is even, ] When I'm spoken over, if I look to you, I need you to interject. Your voice will have more weight.
[ A sigh rushes out of him, one that shakes his whole frame as he exhales, like it's releasing years of tension and stress. His eyes flutter closed too, and he basks in the feeling of Viktor's slightly cold fingers against the warmth of his face. It's comforting in a way he doesn't how how to describe, but he immediately feels the loss of it when Viktor pulls his hand away.
Jayce's eyes open immediately, looking up at Viktor again looking for anything and yet not knowing what he's looking for.
He sees that flush and he's a little relieve because it matches his own. ]
If you look at me, interject. [ Jayce nods, so serious and enthusiastic at the same time. ] Anything else?
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Viktor. [ It's said just as fondly, his heart skipping a beat. ] I don't forget. I just see more than Zaun when I look at you. [ Jayce is practically pouting, and it's clear in his voice. ] Is someone giving you a hard time?
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Even while they're having a difficult conversation. Typical. ] Are you going to defend me from the entire city? [ There's teasing in his voice, but also so much fondness. Viktor's heart is in his throat, and he realizes he's starting to give too much away.
So he gently eases his head away from his partner's hand, leaning all the way forward to return to his notes. ] Leave it, Jayce. I can handle this.
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[ Somewhere along the road, the meaning of that word changed, heavier, warmer, bigger than what he thought it was when they started. Or maybe it's just what it's always been and he's just finally coming around to realizing it.
The worst part is that is entirely possible. For a man as smart as he is, Jayce can be so stupid. ]
What? Hey. [ Jayce chases after him, but his hand finds its place on the back of his neck, sliding down to sit between his shoulder blades. ] We're partners. [ That word again, and all it's meanings. ] I'm here for you.
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Tapping his pen against the pad, he worries his bottom lip, that weighed and warm use of the word partner shaking something loose between his ribs. Viktor glances at Jayce's chair, gesturing to it. ] Bring that here, [ is all he says at first. ] And sit with me.
[ Not that he wants that hand to leave, but this is too important to rely on a single casual conversation. Once Jayce is settled, he tries again. ] This is my reality, Jayce. It is the world we live in. There is no changing it overnight, as much as you and I would like to.
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He turns it around though, sitting down so he can fold his arms over the back of it, resting his chin on his forearms and trying not to look like he's pouting. ]
I know. [ He sighs. ] Sometimes I wish we could. You've done so much, you're the co-founder of Hextech. People shouldn't treat you like that. They never should have. Even before. [ His thoughts are all over the place, spilling out of him haphazardly, but he can't stop himself once he starts like this. ] I'm sorry, V.
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Hand resting on his partner's shoulder, Viktor curls his fingers, protective and grateful. ] I know I don't always accept help, [ he says dryly, self-aware enough to see he's mostly resistant to it, ] But I will work on that. Yes?
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Jayce perks up a little. ] So what can I do to help? What would you want me to do?
[ Because more than anything, he wants to help. ]
We'll work on it together. As partners.
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Realizing what he's done a second too late, Viktor is quick to drop his hand to Jayce's arm again, flustered.
He clears his throat, trying to ignore the blush creeping back up his neck again. Mortifying. ] To start, [ and he's grateful his voice is even, ] When I'm spoken over, if I look to you, I need you to interject. Your voice will have more weight.
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Jayce's eyes open immediately, looking up at Viktor again looking for anything and yet not knowing what he's looking for.
He sees that flush and he's a little relieve because it matches his own. ]
If you look at me, interject. [ Jayce nods, so serious and enthusiastic at the same time. ] Anything else?