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He had learn once that time was subjective. Which at the time sounded stupid. Don't get him wrong, he knew if he learned about it, it had something to back it up, but like a lot of philosophical or hypothetical thinking, it didn't mean much to working people.
But now, freezed here, in this extent of flowers, for he doesn't know how long, he gets it. Time isn't a concept he can grasp anymore. The sun may rise and fall, but to his eyes, it didn't mean much anymore. He can't even recall how long it has been, since.. everything.
He hears soft footsteps behind him. The sound of fabrics scrapping the soil. A familiar touch, despite being unable to feel it, he knows it's here, on the side of his head, falling down his face. He looks down, unable to close his eyes. If he could, he'd take a deep breath.
"Jayce." The all too recognizable voice says. He will never stop loving this accent.
"Today, I've been in a new universe." starts Viktor, with his usual calm voice.
They were opposites in many things, when they were lab partners, but after the event, everything went down right oxymoronic.
Viktor had the power to move freely, but in the little left he knew of their world, it wasn't much of a power.
But of course, he couldn't just walk, he could travel in a multitude of universes.
Stuck here, up this hill, surrounded by beautiful and eternal flowers, Jayce decided that he had thought about that way too much. That he was past ruminating. So he stopped.
He, ironically, had thought to stop thinking, hopping that after enough sun rises, his conscious will understand that it was a waste, and let him fall into a deep slumber. But no. It never did. Maybe it's because Viktor always comes back to talk to him? To make him wait for something new to be told every day. Or maybe not, maybe he will never fall asleep, and Viktor is doing him a favour. Maybe he is being ungrateful, after all, Viktor could stay in those good universes he helped, but no, he always comes back.
"In this universe, I was a simple zaunite, and you were an enforcer." After every trip he did, Viktor would come here, around the same sun placement, and recounts what he saw. Like a tale you tell a kid before putting them to bed.
It kind of was their ritual.
Maybe time existed thanks to habits. Without wild life, or death, Jayce couldn't grasp time. The only thing grounding the concept to him, was Viktor's 'daily' tale.
And he is sure in an other universe he would've loved it. Loved hearing about them. Knowing that they were bound to met, bound to impact one another.
And he might be. He just doesn't understand his feelings anymore. Not sure if they're still there.
He might just feel a bit of regret that he ended up in the universe where their impact had such horrendous consequences.
Viktor sits next to Jayce, legs crossed. He touch a flower, careful to not pick it.
"In this universe, we acted like mortal enemies, not understanding that our interest in the other wasn't based in hatred but affection."
Jayce regrets how he left Viktor to struggle at first. He knows Viktor had already forgiven him, a long time ago, he told him. But Lord he can't even try to redeem himself.
Forced to be, for eternity.
"You probably noticed Jayce, but, lately, I.. stayed a little more than I usually do in those universes. I'm sorry."
Viktor probably already know that he doesn't really feels time passing. But despite that, his voice his full of regret. Sometimes he ask himself if Viktor always was like this, expressive like this.
One of the big inconvenient with no perception of time, is that every memory you have gets crushed together, unable to thread a cohesive timeline. How did Viktor used to be?
"I just miss the sound of your voice." Viktor rarely delve on sad things. He is not an idiot. He knows that Jayce is still here, and might already have so much in his head, that he doesn't need someone else to sad talk to him.
"Your mannerisms and your dumb jokes." Viktor's voice was always soft when he told his tales, but never really varied in emotions. But right now, Viktor sounded.. nostalgic?
Jayce couldn't do much. Viktor knew. So he took a deep breath and lied down on the grass.
"But you know Jayce, I'll always come back. I just make sure.."
The last part of the sentence left unsaid, because they both know, because Viktor said it so many times he fears it might get on Jayce's nerves.
Did he met Viktor the wrong way? He knows he did a lot of wrong choices, so many, but were any of them.. the way they met? The way they loved?
"One day, I hope I could show you, these universes."