Work Text:
It was quiet in the lab.
Jayce was filling out paperwork for a deal involving Hextech, signing his name and such, Viktor doing the same not very far from him.
A rather normal day… the week had been exhausting, so both colleagues were thankful for the semi-break. Yet, it had been a lengthy one.
Jayce glanced over at his partner now and then, as well as outside as the sun began to sink lower in the sky. Not long after it started dipping below the horizon, a heavy, annoyed sigh escaped Viktor.
“Everything alright?” the question slipped from Jayce’s mouth without thinking, turning his focus to the other.
“Yes, just… lots to do...”
Jayce looked at the way Viktor seemed to peer at the paper, as if the words made no sense to him. And when Viktor stood, he wobbled.
Usually, the man could stand for a while without his cane—if he didn’t lean too hard on his bad leg—so that wasn’t naturally the problem…
When Viktor then swayed—bad—Jayce almost overturned his chair, clipboard hitting the desk as he got to Viktor’s side. His hands hovered, not wanting to seemingly coddle Viktor but still concerned at the sight.
“V…”
“I’m fine, Jayce.”
His hand gripped the side of the desk, knuckles white and eyebrows drawn together. He took rapid breaths, his eyes fixed on the ground.
“Viktor…”
Jayce recognized some of the symptoms and lifted his wrist to his partner’s forehead. He had taken notice of Viktor acting a bit off today, but he had previously summed it up to the average instance of inadequate sleep. Not odd for either of them; though he wasn’t too sure of that conclusion now.
“...You are burning up, Viktor! That isn’t fine,” he chimed.
Viktor, on the other hand, was foggy. Thoughts hazy and his mind cloudy… he tried to take in a breath. His clothes felt too tight and he considered himself way too warm. He was not an idiot, he knew he wasn’t well.
“You need rest, proper hydration….”
Jayce’s brows were furrowed and his eyes glistened with obvious concern for his partner.
“Let’s call it a day. Alright?”
Viktor simply nodded, giving into thoughts and past considerations of leaning on Jayce. He felt too fuzzy to argue about doing more work anyhow.
“Ah… alright,” Jayce murmured, grabbing Viktor’s cane. He turned to the window, it was starting to get dark.
He allowed Viktor to stand up more on his own, using his cane, and began an unhurried travel to the latter’s room. The former still leaned on him a bit, and Jayce resisted the urge to pull an arm around the man.
Despite the resilience, Viktor felt a hand firm on his back and the stare of a worried partner.
Jayce was slightly annoyed at himself for not recognizing clear signs of illness earlier, for chalking it up to fatigue, but at least he hadn’t left Viktor alone in the lab or never noticed at all.
It wasn’t too far to Viktor’s space, but far enough Viktor became increasingly unstable and practically heaved air. He was roasting to the touch.
Thankfully, arrival came rather shortly.
The pair entered the room, Jayce carefully shutting the door. Cane being leaned on the wall, Viktor collapsed onto the sofa with a hushed groan—and the former paused.
“...I’ll get you some water,” he said softly, only flipping on a lamp. He didn’t want to make it too bright.
He returned swiftly, seeing Viktor still leaning back against the plush cushion—legs carefully upon the couch as well. He had removed his vest as well as the brace occupying his back. His eyes were half shut before they flicked over to Jayce at his appearance.
The latter sat down beside him and handed over the water, which was downed rather quickly. The cup was placed on a nearby table.
“Thank you, Jayce,” Viktor muttered, voice raspy. Jayce made the assumption his throat probably didn’t feel the greatest.
“It’s no problem,” he said with a certain fondness. He knew he’d take care of Viktor any day, would it really be Jayce Talis if he hadn’t silently volunteered to help his partner?
Viktor was drifting off, and he chose to lean his head against Jayce.
The latter knew he could only sit in that position for so long. Quick thinking; he grabbed a pillow not far from them and allowed Viktor to slip his head down onto his lap as he placed the pillow there. It would be better for both of them… less neck pain.
It was so quiet. Jayce wished he could do more, he hadn’t taken care of many sick individuals before. He’d helped his mother, as well as Caitlyn once or twice. But that was it. And this was Viktor, Jayce wasn’t entirely sure of what food the man kept or if he had any medication for a cold.
Jayce tested his boundaries, gently running a hand through Viktor’s hair. He did not resist, his eyelids only fluttering in the slightest. It felt intimate. Too intimate.
Jayce was touchy. A hand on Viktor’s shoulder, a hug after a long day… it was his affection. It was how he showed love. Resting his grip on Viktor’s lower back as they walked, or poking him teasingly when they both should’ve gone to bed a long time ago.
But this was different, wasn’t it?
His hand moved down to cradle Viktor’s face now, and the man leaned into the touch as he hummed lowly.
Jayce felt his heart simply burst at the seams; he slowly ran a thumb across his partner’s cheek. His stomach seemed to flip at the mere sight and feeling of gently grazing across his partner's beauty marks, tracing his cheekbones in the most tender of ways.
Nothing he’d experienced before with Viktor could compare to this. Jayce felt acutely warm; he considered maybe he was the one running a fever.
Viktor looked… calmer now that he was resting, and of course a bit cooler. It was usually chilly in his space, almost uncomfortably so, but Jayce could assume they were both thankful for the low temperature today.
The former stared. He wondered if Viktor would ever let this happen while not very feverish, whilst he was thinking straight, or if he would be mad at Jayce for trying to take care of him. Viktor was an independent man. He didn't want to be alone, Jayce had come to that conclusion… he liked collaboration.
But he often felt almost babied when people offered excessive help or assistance. Jayce tried his best to understand. But Viktor was ill, this had to be an exception…
Jayce sat there. Still anticipating the case in which Viktor requested or showed a need for anything specific. But nothing came from him.
Right now, he was warm to the touch; face nestled in Jayce’s hold. Mouth slightly parted and eyes closed, the lamp nearby causing shadows to be cast across his face. He was beautiful, even in such a feverish, sick state. Was Viktor ever not gorgeous? Jayce gently bit at his lip.
He knew his answer to that question.
Jayce's thoughts felt relentless as he stared at the man in his lap.
He wanted to pull Viktor to his bed, to lay in the covers and hold him close. He knew he shouldn’t, for multiple obvious reasons; especially the fact they couldn’t get anything done if both of the men became unwell.
So for now he watched Viktor lightly rest upon his—rather large—couch, head almost on his thighs. He could probably move… easily lay down beside the man if he so tried… he decided to consider that later.
This would suffice for the time being. A smile crept onto his face as he listened to his partner breathe slowly.
Maybe he’d check for medicine later, get more water… perhaps find a thermometer for when Viktor awoke.
He couldn’t bear to leave him right now though, not as he unconsciously shifted even closer. A soft sigh left him.
Jayce let his eyes flutter shut for a bit. It had been a long day.