Work Text:
Viktor dissapeared for a few days again. As always, once he arrived back into the lab, he pretended nothing happened and kept working. And Jayce knew. He always knew, it was like a sixth sense he never wanted. It brought him uncomfortable amount of anxiety that crept up his back and woke him up from nightmares. They had an amazing friendship and trusted eachother with life. But Viktor with his "The weak die in Zaun" mentality never told him when his pain got to his head. And Jayce knew, in fact it drove him insane.
So, one day on a morning jog with Caitlyn, he got an splendid idea. "I have a great idea" He proposed a conversation after their last lap. "Oh no, that's going to be bad. You always get bad ideas when we go for a run" The woman said with light-hearted laugh, although she knew he was worried about his partner. Cait was like a sister to him, she knew he was in love with him before Talis got the brains to figue it out himself- therefore she knew, how much it bugged him. Jayce gave her a grumpy look. "I was kidding, enlighten me" She tried to lift the mood, they always joked around like this. "So, Viktor has been rather depressed lately. And since my clear attempts to cheer him up never work, I'll act oblivious and do nice things!" Caitlyn scoffed: "Right Talis, being oblivious is what you do best." She remembered the night Jayce told her. Or, to be precise, the night she forced it out of him. "Do you have the list i gave you?" The enforcer added after a bief moment. When somethings on Jayce's mind, he's more insufferable than usual. So Cait borrowed him for a coffee date and researched. They came up with list of things that cheer Viktor up, even if it was just to put Jayce at peace. "I do!" He was very glad Caitlyn approved.
So revolution was born. Since Jayce was in great mood, the atmosphere in lab was better already. It cheered Viktor up at least to a point where they had a good old meaningless chats, the ideas flowed and projects were flourishing. Another late night in the lab, hammerman noticed that Viktors hair got long enough to fall into his field of vision when he was scribbling notes. Viktor didn't seem to care, but Jayce, on the other hand, noted it down in his mental notes. He liked brunnete's hair longer, so barber was out of question. Jayce is going to give Viktor a gift.
He wanted it to be something personal, yet still furtive. Jayce considered getting a hairpin from Valdiani, yet couldn't shake off the feeling that Viktor might not appreaciate 'Topsider-like' gifts. So he went to his place and rummaged old gadgets he got from Benzo's shop, day he met Viktor. He found some cogs, cleaned them and went to their family workshop. Jayce believed that it would be just a quick weld, but boy was he wrong. He wanted it to be perfect. Personal, yet not too personal, not too flamboyant yet flamboyant enough to match his colleague's charm. The man was beyond pleased with the finished product. Simple hairpin with two cogs that could spin, nice nod to their work. Simple hairpin for such an exquisite man.
"Im going to get us lunch, same as usual?" Jayce broke the silence another day in the lab. Viktor nodded, too busy with redesigning Hexgate. The "usual" were sandwiches for them. But they were easy to eat during worktime and Viktor knew a place, where they made the best sandwiches. It was a lovely diner, owned by former Zaunites, so they loved Viktor there. Evertime Vitya and him went there, they always preened over how lovely it is to see him again, with a friend. "See Vitya? I told you you can find someone who can appreaciate you without topside predjuices!" Jayce never seen so much color in Viktor's face. It's also where he got used to the habit of calling his fellow scientist Vitya. Viktor was taken aback, scoffed, but in reality, it made his heart skip a beat. If there was anything that made people close to Viktor's heart, it was attention to detail.
When Jayce got back, Viktor seemed like he barely moved. So, naturally, Jayce crept up from behind, took the annoying strand of Vik's hair and pinned it to the place. Viktor screamed in shock, almost falling from his chair. "JAYCE! What the fuck! Are you trying to kill me?" He took off his goggles, noticing there's something in his hair. "We're little too old for pranks, don't you think?" He furrowed his brow, taking the pin out while struggling to calm his breath. And for the first time that day, Jayce felt nervous. His colleague observed the pin, looking in awe. "Jayce" his thick accent made Jayce come back to his reality. "What is this?" For a second Jayce felt like Viktor was speaking in a different language. "I, uh its a-gift! Its a gift." He told the other man, struggling to find words. Why didn't he think this through? He didn't even consult it with Caitlyn before doing this! He was so sure of himself. Viktor was rarely a comediant, mostly he was philosophical and serious. Jayce was being goofy and he wasn't sure how the latter is going to react.
"Well..thank you.. but next time consider not giving me cardiac arrest, will you?" joked Viktor in flat tone, observing pin once more before clipping his hair back again. "Its rather beautiful, Jayce, did you make it?" Questioned Viktor and Jayce was sure he's going to die. This wasn't planned! Well maybe because he didn't have a plan, but, if he'd have one, this wouldn't be included. "No." He said immediately. "no, i bought it." "No you did not." Viktor said, amused "Unless there's another family who does hammerwork and stole your signature erb." He smirked. "Fine, i made it, i just wanted to do something nice. You take care of me when im anxious and i just don't know how to be of help to you!" He exclaimed like he was in an argument. Viktors features softened. "I really appreaciate it Jayce, as i said, its beautiful. And as a matter of fact, its far from true that you don't help me." Viktor thought of how thanks to his partner he had a proper diet and when Jayce was more protective, even a solid sleeping schedule. And that stupid man gave him something to live for. But he doesn't have to know that. Viktor handed jayce a sandwich from the bag the latter brought, took one for himself and got back to work. "Well if it isn!t much more practical." He mused, smilling. And that was all Jayce needed. A geniune smile from Viktor face.
"Thank you, Jayce." he said after a moment before putting his goggles back on. "You're welcome, Vitya." Jayce said with a faint smile, and too, got to work.