Work Text:
Viktor took note of everyone's names in his various classes as a courtesy, but he didn't truly notice Jayce, a boy in his math class, until a few weeks in.
Viktor had arrived in class at the same time he always did but, as he hobbled toward the desk he'd chosen on the first day in the back right corner, he found another student there.
"Excuse me" he said, as respectfully as he could. The kid glanced at him, looked him up and down, and then scoffed. That was rude, Viktor thought, but he decided not to comment on the kid's attitude. Nothing good would come of that. "This is my seat"
"There aren't assigned seats" the kid rolled his eyes. Viktor saw now that he was sitting next to another boy who was similarly dressed and seemed to be smirking.
"Or, what, are you retarded, too?" the other kid said. Jayce, who was sitting in the back left corner, stood up at this, glaring pointedly at the two kids.
"What did you just say to him?" Jayce asked challengingly. One of the kids rolled their eyes.
"What, is the cripple your boyfriend or something?"
Jayce opened his mouth to say something, but Viktor shot him a warning look before silently hobbling over to him.
"May I sit here?" Viktor asked timidly, gesturing with his free hand to the desk next to Jayce's. Jayce nodded and sat back down. "You didn't need to stand up for me like that, you know"
"Those kids were being horrible to you" Jayce replied, exasperated. Viktor just shrugged at this. It made Jayce sad that Viktor was apparently used to this, but he didn't comment on it. "My name's Jayce"
"I know" Viktor nodded again. "Viktor"
"Nice to formally meet you, Viktor"
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. Or, well, it was awkward to Jayce. Viktor didn't notice it, as he was more focused on resting his cane securely against the wall and pulling out his math textbook.
Jayce couldn't stand the silence, though"
"So, you have an accent, where are you from?" Jayce asked, then immediately winced as he heard how it came out. Once again, though, Viktor either didn't notice or didn't care.
"I was born here, my parents are from Czechoslovakia" Viktor replied halfheartedly as he began the bell work that the teacher had left up on the board. "I was homeschooled throughout elementary school because the school I was zoned for refused to implement accommodations for my leg, so I picked up the accent from them"
"It's nice" Jayce muttered. Viktor shot him a glance and Jayce swore he felt his face heat up. "So, do you-"
"Jayce, do you understand this unit at all?" Viktor gestured between his paper and the board. "I am, eh, quite lost"
"Oh, right" Jayce nodded and leaned over to look at what Viktor was working on. "So, if you look here, you're gonna want to carry the two, but..."