Chapter Text
“Viktor, where is the pasta we just bought?” Jayce turns, seeing Viktor sitting at the kitchen island of their home. Doing the daily crossword as he does every morning.
“Isn’t it on the second shelf of the pantry?” Viktor replies not looking up at Jayce. Smiling to himself when he gets yet another word correct. Fidgeting with the pencil in his hands.
“No,” Jayce sighs, “I just looked there.” He crosses his arms, in plaid pajama pants and a robe over his broad shoulders. Watching the pot on the stove still not boiling.
Viktor looks up at Jayce, he knows the pasta is exactly where he put it. The second shelf of the pantry. “Check again,” He says looking back down the crossword.
Jayce sighs and walks back into the pantry. Pushing away a bag of chips to find the pasta exactly where Viktor had put it. Whoops.
Jayce comes back into the kitchen, with a sheepish smile and a box of pasta. Viktor again looks up and gives him an ‘I told you so’ look. The same look Jayce gets every so often when things slip his mind.
Though Viktor thinks it’s funny. The light blush dusting Jayce’s cheeks makes him want to let out a small laugh.
“Exactly where I put it, yes?” Viktor says resting his chin on his hand. Giving Jayce a grin, he knew he was right.
“Maybe.” Jayce turns away, the pot now boiling. Dumping in the box of pasta holding back his giggles.
“Are you laughing at me?” Viktor asks, smiling at the brute who can’t make pasta to save his life.
“Laughing— what? No,” Jayce clamps a hand over his mouth. Grabbing a utensil to stir the pot of what he’s deemed ‘spiral pasta’. Still holding in his laughing.
“I believe you are laughing, Jayce. Am I that funny?” Viktor bites the inside of his lip gently, holding back his cocky grin.
Jayce couldn’t risk laughing now, so he stood there. Facing the stove with a hand over his mouth and spoon in the other. Stirring the pasta in the pot.
“You’re a fool,” Viktor mumbled as he goes back to his crossword. Penciling in the last word, and shutting the book with a proud smile. Grabbing his cane and peeking over Jayce’s shoulder. The taller man’s face red from suppressed laughter.
“Your fool,” Jayce laughs out, breathing in succession of his laughter. Tapping the spoon on the edge of the pot and setting in on the counter. “Hey— is that my shirt?” He asks accusingly,
“Maybe, or maybe not.” Viktor smiles, letting out a small laugh. Leaning his hip on the counter. Looking up at Jayce with a soft smile.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the college I went to.” Jayce feigns ignorance at the sweat that is 100% his. “But if you say so,”
“Mhm,” Viktor just looks over Jayce for a moment. Taking in the soft beard. His hair had grown longer. He’s grown softer, sweeter, domestic even.
“Your pasta is cooked, love.” Viktor teases as Jayce whips his head around. Looking at the pasta.
“Wait, where’s the strainer?” Jayce then proceeds to ransack the kitchen for a strainer he had already put in the sink. Viktor laughing his ass off as Jayce finds it in the sink. “You suck,” he points a playful finger at Viktor.
“I can cook without setting off smoke alarms too.” Viktor smiles, brushing some hair away from his own face. Jayce pouts a moment before removing the pot from the stove.
“Remind me not to let you cook dinner tonight.” Says Viktor as he walks into the living room. Sitting on the couch turning on the tv for background noise. Grabbing his paperback off the coffee table.
“Wait, what’s so special about tonight?” Jayce calls from the kitchen. Pouring the pasta into the strainer. Then into the pot again. Adding some sauce and seasoning. Bringing the servings into the living room for him and Vik.
“We invited Vi and Caitlyn, remember? You offered dinner to Caitlyn and the continued to brag about my cooking skills.” Viktor isn’t exactly surprised Jayce forgot.
“Oh, uh. Just eat your pasta.” Jayce says through slight embarrassment. Handing Viktor fork and grabbing his own bowl.
The smaller man rolls his eyes and dogears the page he’s on. Setting it back onto their coffee table. Taking a bite of the pasta. Not awful, atleast it’s edible this time. Looking over at Jayce who eats like its last meal. Scarfing down the pasta his eyes focused on the tv.
Viktor took small and slow bites as opposed to Jayce’s… whatever he was doing. Jayce quickly finished and laid on the couch. His head in Viktors lap. Viktor smiled and continued eating. Jayce watching tv heavily focused on the show.
They stayed there, in comfortable silence. Content in each other’s presence.
Viktor eventually finished most of his bowl. Bending slightly to set the bowl on Jayce’s. Jayce shifted from his spot on the couch.
“You are aware you’ll have to get up in,” Viktor looked over to check his phone. “Maybe ten minutes. I need to start dinner.”
“You don’t have to,” Jayce murmurs into the skin of Viktors thigh
“Nonsense, get up.” Viktor taps Jayce’s head impatiently. Jayce grumbles and wraps his arms around the smaller man’s waist. Locking him into the embrace. “Jayce, I have to start dinner. Let me up.”
Viktor makes a poor attempt in pushing Jayce’s head off of his lap. Flicking his forehead and forcing the oversized man-child off his lap.
Going into the kitchen cane alongside him. Ignoring Jayce’s protests. Getting the meat out and beginning to prep it.