Work Text:
It had been a very long year for Jayce and Viktor. The latter had been in and out of the hospital throughout the year, which had been stressful to say the least. Thankfully, with the holidays came better luck. Viktor was doing better and was home with his loving boyfriend. Jayce couldn't be happier about that and decided they should host a get-together at their place as a celebration. Jayce decided to go all out too since this felt like a big deal.
“Are you sure we need all this food?” Viktor asked from his seat at the bar. Jayce had been cooking nonstop all morning. It seemed like there would be way more food than they could all eat.
“Of course! Everyone’s coming over and I want to make sure there’s enough. Besides Vi can eat enough for like, three people.” Jayce waved the concerns off, pulling a pan of macaroni and cheese from the oven. He was determined for everything to go perfectly. With everything being a mess lately, they all deserved a great day.
“Well, I can at least help then.” Viktor offered.
“No way, I got this.” Jayce shook his head.
“Dear, I’m not made of glass. I can cut some vegetables or stir a bowl. I admit I’m not the best cook but you just need to tell me what I need to do.” Viktor huffed. Jayce had a bad habit of coddling Viktor. When Viktor was feeling really bad it was nice, but it was not nice when he was perfectly capable of helping. It was a good pain day too.
“Fine.” Jayce considered the dishes in various stages of preparation sitting around the kitchen. He didn’t want Viktor to overexert himself before the party. “Why don’t you finish the fruit for the fruit salad?” He suggested, moving to move all the materials in front of Viktor. Viktor had to stifle a sigh and a comment about being able to move over there.
“Easy enough.” Viktor nodded, taking the knife in hand. A fruit salad was hardly a culinary feat, he could manage it with his skill level. Jayce hesitated a moment before going back to work. He knew Viktor hated hovering.
“Why don’t I put on some music? Get us in the spirit.” Jayce walked over to their radio to turn on some Christmas music. Maybe that would help his anxieties over everything going well. Viktor just hummed his assent, not looking up from his task.
The two worked in relative quiet for the next fifteen minutes or so. Occasionally one of them would make a comment, but both were content to listen to the music and just enjoy each other’s company.
At least until Viktor’s grip slipped and he nicked himself with the knife.
“Shit.” Viktor muttered, sticking the bleeding thumb in his mouth. It wasn’t bad at all and wouldn’t bleed for long.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” Jayce did not take it so mildly of course. He was too much of a worry wart. He hurried over to take Viktor’s hand, wrapping a towel around the cut. “You have to be careful. These knives are sharp.” He fussed.
“Jayce, I’m alright. It’s only a little cut.” Viktor assured.
“You know some of our medications thin your blood. We have to be careful if you get cut.” Jayce said. Viktor had a pretty nasty cut earlier in the year from working in the lab and Jayce did not want a repeat of that. He dug around in one of their drawers for the first aid kit.
“It’s certainly not bad enough to warrant serious medical attention or pose a danger to my health,” Viktor argued. Jayce ignored him and set the first aid kit down, pulling out an alcohol wipe and gauze.
“We need to put pressure on it.” Jayce removed the towel to clean the cut and wrap it tightly, but not too tightly. They didn’t need to cut off circulation and cause a bigger injury.
“Jayce this is a bit-” Viktor started but stopped abruptly when he saw the pot on the stove boil over. “Jayce the stove!” He shouted, jerking his hand away.
“Fuck.” Jayce yelped and more or less threw himself at the stove. He immediately turned off the burner as he searched frantically for a potholder. When he couldn’t find one he just grabbed the handles and pulled it off the burner. Jayce hissed in pain but thankfully it didn’t last long. There was now burnt sauce on the stove and down the sides of the pot.
“Are you alright?” Viktor moved over to grab Jayce’s hands, inspecting his palms.
“They’re fine,” Jayce grumbled, looking away from his boyfriend. Fortunately, his palms were just a little red so Viktor pulled them over to the sink to run them under the water. Once that was sorted out he put his hands on Jayce’s cheeks, turning his boyfriend’s head to look at him.
“Dear,” Viktor murmured, waiting until he had Jayce’s attention.
“I said I’m fine.” Jayce reluctantly looked at him.
“You need to breathe. I’m okay and everything is going to be fine. You’re stressing yourself out too much. It’s been a hard year and you could use the breather.” Viktor spoke gently, rubbing his thumb across Jayce’s cheekbone. Jayce couldn’t help a small smile.
“I just want everything to go perfectly. You deserve a nice party.”
“It’s going to be great no matter what because not only will our friends be there, but I’ll be with you. I love you Jayce, and I will always be immensely happy as long as I have you by my side.”
“You make me happy too.” Jayce pulled his hands from the water to pull Viktor into his arms, ignoring the fact he would get Viktor’s clothes wet.
“Good, that’s all that matters. Things won’t always be easy but we have each other and that’s what matters.” Viktor smiled. Jayce smiled back and then leaned in for a soft kiss, enjoying holding Viktor in his arms. It always made everything feel alright.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They enjoyed the moment for a little bit longer before Viktor pulled away with a chuckle.
“Alright, now we have to get everything cleaned up.”